Market Report · 2026
Elk
Hunting Market
379 verified outfitters offer guided elk hunts on SearchHuntr, spread across 24 states.
Operators
379
States
24
Avg All-In
$9,942
fully guided
Typical Length
5d
Top States for Elk
Pricing by Hunt Style
| Style | Budget | Average | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully Guided (1:1) | $5,500 | $7,500 | $11,500 |
| Semi-Guided (2:1) | $3,500 | $4,800 | $6,500 |
| Drop Camp | $1,800 | $2,400 | $3,200 |
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 elk tags vary widely by state. The cheapest option is Oklahoma at $506, while the most expensive is California at $1,872. That's a 270% premium for the top-tier state.
What Outfitters Publish
156 outfitters publish prices for guided elk hunts. Most fall between $3,250 and $10,000, with a midpoint around $6,875. These are the outfitters' own published figures and exclude the licence and tag.
| State | Outfitters Publishing | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 43 | $6,875 |
| Colorado | 33 | $6,000 |
| Idaho | 27 | $7,375 |
| New Mexico | 16 | $7,000 |
| Utah | 4 | $3,150 |
| Texas | 4 | $13,625 |
| Arizona | 4 | $6,750 |
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 elk hunt cost?
Across published prices for guided elk hunts, most fall between $3,250 and $10,000, with a midpoint around $6,875. Based on prices published by 156 outfitters on their own websites. Prices exclude the hunting licence and tag, which are paid to the state separately.
Where are guided elk hunts least expensive?
Among states where at least 8 outfitters publish prices, Colorado has the lowest midpoint at about $6,000 across 33 outfitters, and Idaho the highest at about $7,375 across 27. 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 elk 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 elk tags run $692 in Wyoming (regular draw), $845 in Colorado plus a $105 qualifying small game licence, $651 in Idaho, and $773 in New Mexico (standard draw). Those come from each state agency's published nonresident fee schedule.
What else should I budget for beyond the elk 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 Elk 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.
Big Chino Outfitters
Yavapai County, AZ
Arizona Trophy Hunting Outfitter & Guide Service since 1987
Sierra Blanca Outfitters
Otero County, NM
Premier New Mexico hunting guide offering trophy big game hunts
Elk Creek Outfitting
Flathead County, MT
Trophy hunting for elk, deer, bear and more in Northwest Montana.
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.