Idaho resident hunters may exchange tags to hunt in a different area if tags are available, such as uncapped elk zones or capped elk zones that are not yet sold out. Resident hunters with controlled hunt tags may exchange them for general season tags before the controlled hunt begins, but controlled hunt fees are not refunded. Resident hunters may also exchange controlled deer hunts for general deer hunt tags. 

Typically, a tag must be exchanged prior to that tag's season opener—although regional Fish and Game offices will occasionally extend deadlines for exchanging a tag when there are extenuating circumstances for a specific hunt.

Nonresident hunters may not exchange a controlled hunt tag because the nonresident limit of general hunt tags has sold out for 2024. Fish and Game may consider requests for rain checks or refunds on a case-by-case basis, but typically only in rare cases where all access to a controlled hunt area, or an elk zone, is blocked by fire or fire closures for the duration of a hunt.