Setting Your Kids Up to Hunt: Youth Tag Application Strategies Across the West

One of the best investments you can make as a hunting parent is not a new rifle or a backcountry tent. It is getting your kids into the application game early. If you have children who are old enough to hunt, or who will be soon, the western states have more youth specific opportunities than most people realize. Discounted licenses, youth only draw pools, permit transfers, mentored hunting programs are all part of the system which is is set up to get kids into the field, and it is up to us as parents to take advantage of it.

This article covers youth hunting application strategies and opportunities across eleven western states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Whether your goal is to get your kid a tag this fall or start building a point portfolio they will benefit from for decades, there is something here for every family.

Arizona

Age Range: 10 to 17 | License Cost: $5 resident and nonresident

Arizona is one of the cheapest states in the West to apply youth hunters, and that alone puts it near the top of the list. The combination hunting and fishing license for youth is just $5 which is the same cost for residents and nonresidents, and applicants do not have to front the cost of permits unless they draw. The bonus point fee per species is $15, which is the application fee itself.

Hunter Education: Youth ages 10 to 14 must have completed hunter education before hunting. At 14 and older, hunter education is not required to hunt big game. Youth can complete the course at age 9, but cannot hunt big game until age 10.

Permit Transfer: This is one of Arizona's best features for families. A parent, grandparent, or guardian can legally transfer their big game permit to a youth ages 10 to 17. If you have been building points for years and want to give your kid the hunt of a lifetime, Arizona allows that. The youth must hold a valid license, be accompanied by the transferring adult, and if under 14, must have completed hunter education.

What to Know: Arizona uses a bonus point system. The number of points you hold equals the number of entries you have in the draw. Up to 5% of tags can go to nonresidents with the most points, and another 5% are randomly allocated. That random pass portion means even first year applicants have a shot, which is why everyone should be applying and not just buying points. Always include a first and second choice on your application.

For youth specific opportunities, Arizona offers youth only hunts for antlerless elk, javelina, and select muzzleloader and rifle deer hunts. Those permits are more affordable and carry better odds than most general draw tags. If your youth draws a youth only deer tag in select units, they can also pick up an over the counter companion javelina tag, a fantastic combo hunt to introduce kids to western big game.

For bull elk, antelope, sheep, and the premium deer tags, costs rise significantly, and some tags reach into the $600 to $1,800 range for nonresidents. The strategy there is to apply and build points now while they are young and the license fee is only $5. Arizona point creep is real, and starting early matters.

California

Age Range: 12 to 16 | Junior License Cost: $16.46 resident and nonresident

California is not the first state most people think of for youth hunting, but the cost to apply is reasonable, and for residents especially, there are legitimate opportunities worth pursuing.

Hunter Education: Required for all applicants. Youth can apply for preference points if they will turn 12 by December 31 of the application year. California also has an apprentice license program that waives hunter education for one year, requiring the hunter to be at least 12 and accompanied by a licensed adult mentor.

Draw System: California uses a modified preference point system. For youth deer hunts, half the permits go to maximum point holders and the other half are randomly allocated. For elk, antelope, and bighorn sheep with four or more permits, 25% are allocated randomly and 75% go to maximum point holders. Hunts with fewer than four permits allocate one randomly, with the rest going to maximum point holders.

What to Know: Nonresident odds for elk, antelope, and bighorn sheep in California are extremely long. In many cases, there is only one nonresident permit available statewide for those species, which means if any nonresident draws, all other nonresident applications are rejected. For a nonresident adult, the high license cost makes California hard to justify. For youth, though, the license is affordable, and applying is essentially buying a lottery ticket with a small cost, which may be worth it depending on your goals.

For deer, California has youth only hunts and better odds than some general draws. If you are a resident or live close enough to make the drive, it is worth researching the youth draw odds and unit specific opportunities.

Colorado

Age Range: 12 to 17 | Qualifying License: $1.50 resident and nonresident

Colorado is one of the most youth friendly states in the West, and it is not particularly close. The qualifying license is $1.50 for all youth, and application fees are $8 for residents and $11 for nonresidents per species. Youth deer, elk, antelope, and bear licenses are all under $130 for nonresidents, a remarkable value.

Hunter Education: Colorado has an apprentice license program allowing a one time, one year waiver of hunter education for hunters 12 and older who are accompanied by a licensed adult mentor at least 18 years old. An adult cannot transfer their drawn permit to a youth in Colorado.

Weapon Rules: Archery requires a minimum 35 lb draw weight with no more than 80% let off. Muzzleloader restrictions are more primitive than most states, no pelletized powder, smokeless powder, sabots, or scopes. Iron sights only.

Big Opportunity — Free Point Fees: One of the most important things to know about Colorado for youth is that the $100 preference point fee for moose, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, and mountain goat does NOT apply to youth. Adults pay $100 per species to build points for those once in a lifetime species. Your kids can build those points for free. Once they turn 18, they will need to decide whether continuing to build points at $100 per year makes financial sense — but by then they will already have a meaningful stack. At minimum, apply your kids for moose, sheep, and mountain goat every year until they age out of the youth discount.

Draw Opportunities: Colorado does not offer separate youth only bull or buck tags, but youth do receive preference on all hunt codes in the Secondary Draw — meaning any leftover licenses after the first draw cycle give youth first priority over adult applicants. That secondary draw is a smart place to pick up a license while still building preference points in the primary draw.

Colorado also still has over the counter rifle elk opportunities in the second and third rifle seasons in many units. At $126.18 for a nonresident youth license, getting your kid into a Colorado elk unit over the counter is one of the best values in western big game hunting. Use draw odds and unit filtering tools to identify the right units and seasons.

Looking Ahead to 2028: Colorado's draw system is changing significantly for the 2028 season. Going into that draw, 50% of licenses for any given hunt will go to maximum point holders, and the remaining 50% will be randomly allocated with points improving odds on the random side. Point creep will likely increase as applicants chase harder tags with the new random component. For youth, the practical advice is to focus on hunts that can be drawn with few or no points now, rather than chasing the hardest permits, and get them into the field as often as possible.

Idaho

Age Range: 10 to 17 | Junior License: $8.25 resident / $91.75 nonresident

Idaho is one of the most opportunity rich states in the West, particularly for residents. The general season over the counter deer and elk tags available to residents represent some of the best big game access anywhere.

Hunter Education: Required for all youth to purchase a hunting license. A nine year old can purchase a license to apply in a controlled draw if they will turn 10 before the hunt opens. Bowhunters must also show proof of completion of a bowhunter education course.

Draw System: Idaho has no point system. The controlled draw is completely random, meaning every applicant, regardless of how many years they have applied, has an equal chance at a permit. First year applicants have the same odds as someone who has applied for 20 years.

Permit Transfer: A parent or grandparent can transfer a drawn controlled big game permit to a youth under 18, excluding moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat. Only one controlled tag can be transferred per year, and it must be processed before the opening day of the hunt.

Weapon Rules: Archery requires a minimum 40 lb draw weight with no more than 85% let off, plus proof of bowhunter education. Muzzleloader restrictions are primitive: flint, percussion cap, or musket cap ignition only. No scopes, sabots, pelletized powder, or 209 primers.

What to Know: Nonresident youth can take advantage of Idaho's Junior Mentored Hunting program for deer. If a licensed nonresident adult has already drawn a general season deer tag, they can obtain a Junior Mentored License for their child in March after the draw is complete. Those deer tags are unlimited for junior mentored hunters — no draw required. The adult must accompany the youth and hold a valid license for the same species.

For the controlled draw, Idaho offers youth only hunts for deer, antlerless and either sex elk, and antelope. These are listed separately in the regulations booklet. While not all youth only controlled hunts are dramatic improvements in odds, some are worth a closer look. Apply your youth for the controlled draw and for any species they have interest in — including moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat if you can front the permit cost, since those are fully refundable if unsuccessful.

Montana

Age Range: 12 to 17 | Base License: $10 resident / $15 nonresident

Montana has a more layered application system than most states, but once you understand it, the opportunities are excellent — especially for families willing to plan ahead.

Hunter Education: Required for anyone born after January 1, 1985. Youth ages 10 to 17 can hunt deer under an apprentice program without completing hunter education, provided they are accompanied by an adult at least 21 years old. Apprentice hunters cannot apply for limited quota draws. Youth can begin building bonus points starting at age 12. An adult cannot transfer a drawn permit to a youth in Montana. Archery hunters must have completed a bowhunter education course.

Nonresident Youth Combo License Opportunity: Montana has a unique and valuable provision for nonresident families. If a nonresident adult draws or purchases a general combo, elk, or deer permit, they can purchase a reduced price youth combo license for a youth in their immediate family — natural or adoptive child, stepchild, grandchild, or sibling 18 or older. The youth must be accompanied by the adult while hunting. This is one of the best ways to get your nonresident kids into the field in Montana without relying solely on the draw.

Application Structure: Montana's system has two layers. First, applicants apply for a general season combo license covering deer, elk, or both. Then they can optionally apply for special limited quota permits. If unsuccessful in the special draw, applicants can either hunt on the general license or receive an 80% refund. General licenses for nonresidents are allocated by preference point — 75% go to the highest point holders and 25% are randomly allocated. Special permits use a bonus point squared system, where squared bonus points give better odds at the random allocation.

Bonus Points: Buy bonus points for your kids for every species you are interested in, starting at age 12. The earlier you start, the better position they will be in for limited quota permits as they get older.

Youth Two Day Deer Season: Montana offers a statewide two day youth only deer season for ages 10 to 15 immediately before the general rifle deer opener. It is a great low pressure introduction to big game hunting.

Nevada

Age Range: 11 to 17 | Youth Combo License: $15 resident and nonresident

Nevada is one of the best states in the West for building a point foundation for youth. The combo license is only $15, the same for residents and nonresidents, and youth can apply for elk, deer, antelope, desert bighorn sheep, California bighorn sheep, and Rocky Mountain goat for a combined cost of around $100.

Hunter Education: Required before applying. Additionally, before your first Nevada application, a copy of your hunter education certificate must be emailed to Nevada Department of Wildlife. Do this at least seven days before the deadline — do not wait until the last minute.

Draw System: Nevada uses a bonus point system combined with a random draw. Every applicant has a chance in the draw, but more bonus points mean better odds. Apply for hunts rather than points only — you will earn a point if unsuccessful anyway, and there is always a random chance component.

What to Know: Nevada sets aside resident youth specific deer permits, including rifle antlered and antlered classic mule deer tags. The classic permit allows youth to hunt archery, muzzleloader, and rifle seasons until they tag out. There are no nonresident youth only permits, but nonresidents should still be applying and building points through age 17.

Nevada is not known for massive populations, but what it lacks in numbers it makes up for in quality. Anyone who draws a Nevada permit is typically walking into a great hunt. The cost to apply is minimal compared to other western states, and the bonus point system rewards persistence. Build points for your kids now, and by the time they are adults with a decade of points, they will be positioned for some of Nevada's best tags.

New Mexico

Age Range: Under 17 | Youth License: $10 resident / $15 nonresident

New Mexico is the most youth friendly state for tag specific opportunities. They actively set aside permits specifically for youth across multiple species — something very few states do with this level of intentionality.

Hunter Education: Youth under 9 must complete New Mexico's hunter education course to hunt there with no out of state certification accepted at that age. Youth 9 and older who hold a valid out of state certification can hunt as nonresidents. New Mexico also has a mentor youth program for ages 8 to 17 that allows first time hunters to complete an online quiz and receive a mentor number, allowing them to hunt under adult supervision for up to two consecutive license years.

Draw System: New Mexico is a pure random draw with no preference or bonus point system. Every applicant has an equal chance. Residents receive 84% of permits, the guided hunter pool receives 10%, and nonresidents receive 6%. Applicants can submit three choices ranked best to worst odds. A fourth choice can be submitted, but accepting it means accepting any leftover permit in your chosen region — read the regs carefully before entering a fourth choice.

What to Know: New Mexico requires you to front the cost of permits at the time of application. This is the biggest practical drawback. If you apply your nonresident youth for elk and deer, make sure you have the credit card room to cover those permit costs — they are refunded if unsuccessful, but you need to float the money during the draw process.

For nonresident youth, mule deer and Coues deer offer the most realistic draw odds. Trophy quality for mule deer in New Mexico is not at the top of the western rankings, but the opportunity is legitimate, and the draw odds are more reasonable than elk or antelope for nonresidents.

Resident youth have significantly better opportunities. After the initial draw, residents who were unsuccessful can often purchase encouragement elk licenses — antlerless elk permits that have historically numbered close to 2,000. These go on sale online in early July on a first come, first served basis. If your youth did not draw in the spring, mark your calendar and be ready to log on in July.

For nonresident applicants considering a guided hunt, applying in the guide pool gives better odds and is worth the cost for families pursuing that route.

Oregon

Age Range: Under 17 | Youth License: $8 resident and nonresident

Oregon is not the easiest state for adults to justify applying in, but for youth, the economics work differently. An $8 license and $10 application fees per species make it easy to get your kids into multiple draws for minimal cost.

Hunter Education: Required for all hunters ages 17 and younger, unless hunting on land owned by a parent or guardian. Oregon has a mentored youth program for ages 9 to 15, requiring accompaniment by a licensed adult who is 21 or older with a valid license and tag for the species being hunted.

Draw System: Oregon uses a preference point system for limited entry deer, elk, and antelope — 75% of tags go to maximum point holders and 25% are randomly allocated. There is no point system for bighorn sheep or mountain goat, making those species especially compelling for nonresident applicants. Nonresidents receive roughly 2.5% of deer and elk tags, and 3% of antelope tags.

Resident Youth First Time Program: Oregon resident youth have one of the best guaranteed tag programs in the West. Youth ages 12 to 17 who apply and are unsuccessful in the controlled draw for certain series — 100, 200, and 600 series — can apply beginning July 1 for guaranteed permits covering one buck deer, one antlerless elk, and one antlerless deer. They must never have drawn those series before. They can collect all three in one year or spread them across multiple years. This program is largely unknown to many Oregon residents and should be on every resident family's radar.

What to Know: For nonresidents, bighorn sheep and mountain goat are the standout opportunities — the random draw with no points required and the manageable permit cost make those worth applying for annually. The $1,513.50 tag cost for sheep or goat is steep, but if you are drawing in a random system with no points required, the investment is justified.

Oregon also has solid youth only controlled hunts for deer including rut timing November and December through January seasons for mule deer and blacktail, antlerless elk, and early season antelope. Review those youth specific odds separately from the general draw — they are worth comparing before you finalize your choices.

Utah

Age Range: 12 to 17 | License: $11 to $16 resident / $44 nonresident

Utah is one of the premier western states for youth hunting opportunity. Between over the counter elk permits, a 20% allocation of general deer tags for youth, summer antlerless draws, and a bonus friendly system for limited entry species, Utah gives families a lot of legitimate paths to getting kids in the field.

Hunter Education: Required before applying. Youth 11 years old may apply if they will turn 12 within the calendar year the permit is issued, but cannot use the permit until their 12th birthday. Youth under 16 must be accompanied by a legal guardian or qualified adult over 21.

Draw System: Utah uses a bonus point system for limited entry deer, elk, antelope, and once in a lifetime species including moose, bighorn, goat, and bison — half the permits go to maximum point holders and half are randomly allocated. General season deer and dedicated hunter deer use a preference point system. Applicants do not need to front permit costs for most species, which makes building a draw history easier financially.

Mentored Hunting Program: Utah has one of the best mentored hunting programs in the West. Any qualified adult over 21 — not just parents and grandparents — can share a drawn or over the counter permit with a resident youth, with written parental consent. A mentor can share a permit with up to four youth simultaneously, though only one can hunt at a time. Youth can also hunt their own drawn permit and participate in the mentored program in the same year.

Youth Tag Allocations: Utah reserves 20% of general season buck deer permits specifically for youth in the draw. Youth who draw rifle deer can also hunt the archery and muzzleloader phases of the season before the rifle season begins. Youth who do not draw can often purchase an over the counter archery deer tag in mid July.

The same 20% youth allocation applies to antlerless deer, antlerless elk, and doe antelope tags in a separate June draw. Cow elk hunting on Utah's extensive public land with rut adjacent season dates is one of the most underrated youth hunting opportunities in the West.

For elk, Utah offers over the counter spike permits on limited entry units — a genuinely cool experience for young hunters who get to pursue spikes on some of the West's most well known elk country. Youth can also draw any bull permits in designated any bull units during rut adjacent dates in mid September. Apply your youth for both the any bull draw and the limited entry bull elk draw — you can do both.

Washington

Age Range: Under 16 | Application Fee: $5.05 resident and nonresident

Washington is hard to justify for nonresident adults given the draw odds and costs, but for youth under 16, it is a completely different calculation. The application fee is only $5.05, moose and bighorn sheep permits are $77.90, and residents and nonresidents compete in the same draw pool.

Hunter Education: Required before purchasing a first license. Washington also requires all applicants to verify their hunter education information through the state's WILD system before applying — a step that can take time. Do this well in advance. Washington allows a once in a lifetime deferral for first time hunters ages 10 and older.

Draw System: Washington uses a weighted bonus point squared system where more points increase draw odds, but the draw still has a random component. All four choices are considered before moving to the next applicant, so ranking your choices from best to most attainable makes sense. For deer, elk, and bear, you must front tag fees. For moose, sheep, and goat, fees are only charged if you draw.

What to Know: Washington offers youth only hunts across nearly all species in addition to the general draw. Review youth specific odds before finalizing choices. The sweet spot for nonresidents is applying your kids from when they are eligible until they turn 16 — after that, the cost increases dramatically and the odds do not improve enough to justify continued applications in most cases.

For the few years your youth qualifies, Washington is genuinely worth the $5.05 application fee per species. Build bonus points early and let the draw system do its work.

Wyoming

Age Range: 11 to 17 | No license required to apply

Wyoming is a must apply state for youth hunters. The combination of affordable youth tag prices, a preference point system with legitimate draw opportunities in the early years, and strong populations of elk, mule deer, and antelope make it one of the best states to build a long term strategy around.

Hunter Education: Required for all applicants. Wyoming has a mentored hunting program for new hunters who have not completed hunter education, requiring accompaniment by a licensed mentor 18 or older.

Draw System: Elk, deer, and antelope for nonresidents use a preference point system — a bulk of permits go to maximum point holders, with a portion randomly allocated to all applicants regardless of points. There is no point system for mountain goat — it is a pure random draw. Moose and bighorn sheep have preference points even for residents.

Important Note on Points: In Wyoming, unsuccessful applicants do not automatically receive preference points for deer, elk, and antelope. You must go back during the summer point purchase window and buy them separately — $10 per species. Set a reminder and do this every year without fail. Point fees for moose and bighorn sheep are $150.

Regular vs. Special Draw: Nonresidents can apply for elk, deer, and antelope in either the regular draw paying youth prices or the special draw paying full adult prices for better odds. For youth, the regular draw at youth prices is usually the right move. The discounted license costs are substantial — a nonresident youth bull elk tag is $275 versus the full price nonresident tag — and the preference point system still gives youth with points a real shot at quality hunts.

Best Opportunities: Antelope and mule deer are the most accessible species for nonresident youth, and Wyoming has more antelope than almost every other state combined. Use draw odds tools to find hunts that can be drawn with a handful of points — there are legitimate hunting opportunities available in the early point tiers.

The reduced price doe and fawn antelope, antlerless deer, and cow and calf elk tags are an often overlooked gem. These are allocated in a separate random draw, do not impact preference points, and are priced significantly lower. Apply for both full price and reduced price in the same application cycle and maximize your youth's chances of getting in the field.

The Bottom Line

The best time to start applying your kids in western states was when they were born. The second best time is right now. Across these eleven states, the math overwhelmingly favors early action — discounted license fees, free point programs, youth only draw pools, and over the counter opportunities that will not exist once they age into the adult system.

At East 2 West Hunts, we help families build multi state application strategies that account for both immediate hunting opportunities and long term point accumulation. If you want to put together a youth application plan, whether that is for next fall or laying the groundwork for the next decade, please book a time on our calendar.

This article is based on information available for the 2026 application season. Regulations, fees, and draw structures change annually. Always verify current requirements with the applicable state wildlife agency before applying