LAST EDITED ON Apr-08-13 AT 10:02AM (MST)[p]The simple answer is that it's so late due to the residents having until May 31 to apply for deer, antelope, and elk. The G&F can't do any of the draws for the NRs until after the application period for everyone closes and they can have the resident draws first. So yes, they hold all the applicant money until after the draw is completed in late June and then they only refund the money to ones who didn't get drawn, minus the small application fee that they keep. We've discussed the interest theory before and I don't believe it's ever been proven one way or the other whether they put it in an interest bearing account or not. Some say that's illegal, but I don't know if that's ever been determined either.