Market Report · 2026
Bear
Hunting Market
294 verified outfitters offer guided bear hunts on SearchHuntr, spread across 25 states.
Operators
294
States
25
Avg All-In
$5,785
fully guided
Typical Length
5d
Top States for Bear
| State | Operators | Nonresident Tag | Avg Hunt Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 59 | $231 | $5,785 |
| Wyoming | 51 | $373 | $5,927 |
| Alaska | 40 | $1,000 | $6,554 |
| Colorado | 37 | $293 | $5,847 |
| Maine | 20 | $74 | $5,628 |
| Nevada | 12 | $300 | $5,854 |
| New Mexico | 9 | $360 | $5,914 |
| Arizona | 9 | $165 | $5,719 |
| Montana | 7 | $350 | $5,904 |
| New Hampshire | 6 | $194 | $5,554 |
| Washington | 6 | $121 | $5,554 |
| North Carolina | 6 | $225 | $5,554 |
Pricing by Hunt Style
| Style | Budget | Average | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully Guided (1:1) | $2,800 | $4,200 | $6,500 |
| Semi-Guided (2:1) | $1,800 | $2,500 | $3,800 |
| Drop Camp | $1,200 | $1,700 | $2,400 |
Base hunt prices — excludes tags, travel, and tipping. Use the cost estimator for all-in totals with those costs layered on.
Tag Cost Range
Nonresident bear tags vary widely by state. The cheapest option is Maine at $74, while the most expensive is Alaska at $1,000. That's a 1251% premium for the top-tier state.
What Outfitters Publish
99 outfitters publish prices for guided bear hunts. Most fall between $1,650 and $20,000, with a midpoint around $4,500. These are the outfitters' own published figures and exclude the licence and tag.
| State | Outfitters Publishing | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 23 | $4,000 |
| Alaska | 14 | $24,375 |
| Wyoming | 13 | $5,000 |
| Colorado | 10 | $3,925 |
| Maine | 7 | $2,625 |
| New Hampshire | 7 | $1,600 |
| North Carolina | 4 | $5,700 |
Read from each outfitter's own website. States with fewer than 4 outfitters publishing prices are left out rather than shown on a sample too small to mean anything.
Common Questions
How much does a guided bear hunt cost?
Across published prices for guided bear hunts, most fall between $1,650 and $20,000, with a midpoint around $4,500. Based on prices published by 99 outfitters on their own websites. Prices exclude the hunting licence and tag, which are paid to the state separately.
Where are guided bear hunts least expensive?
Among states where at least 8 outfitters publish prices, Colorado has the lowest midpoint at about $3,925 across 10 outfitters, and Alaska the highest at about $24,375 across 14. These are not like-for-like: trip length, guide ratio and whether lodging is included all differ between states, as do tag costs and draw odds.
Does a guided bear hunt price include the tag?
No. Outfitters quote their guiding, lodging and logistics; the licence and tag are bought separately from the state wildlife agency. Nonresident bear tags run $231 in Idaho, $1,000 in Alaska (brown / grizzly), $373 in Wyoming, and $293 in Colorado. Those come from each state agency's published nonresident fee schedule.
What else should I budget for beyond the bear hunt price?
Beyond the outfitter's fee and the tag, budget for travel to the trailhead or camp, licence fees, and a gratuity for the guide, which is commonly 10 to 15 percent of the hunt price on a fully guided trip. Meat processing and taxidermy are billed separately if you take an animal.
Top 6 Bear Operators
Big Horn Outfitters
Hayden, CO
Colorado elk, mule deer, antelope, and bear hunts in the Routt National Forest.
Bearpaw Outfitters
Wallace, ID
48-year family outfitter offering guided & unguided elk, mule deer, bear, cougar, moose, antelope & more across ID, MT, UT, WA.
Knight Canyon Outfitters
Norwood, CO
Guided big game hunts for elk, deer, mountain lion, bear, and bighorn sheep in Southwest Colorado.
Alaska Elite Outfitters
Alaska, AK
Trophy moose and brown bear hunts in Alaska's Unit 17 wilderness.
Elk Creek Outfitting
Flathead County, MT
Trophy hunting for elk, deer, bear and more in Northwest Montana.
Wilderness Mule Outfitting
Riggins, ID
First Class Guided Hunts in America's Largest Wilderness Complex
Methodology
All data is aggregated from our directory of verified hunting outfitters. Hunt prices come from our national pricing model (see the cost estimator for details). Tag costs are from state Fish & Game departments, 2026. See full methodology.