Market Report · 2026
Exotic
Hunting Market
95 verified outfitters offer guided exotic hunts on SearchHuntr, spread across 17 states.
Operators
95
States
17
Avg All-In
$5,938
fully guided
Typical Length
3d
Top States for Exotic
| State | Operators | Nonresident Tag | Avg Hunt Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 29 | $48 | $5,938 |
| New Mexico | 11 | $1,610 | $7,500 |
| Hawaii | 9 | — | $5,890 |
| Florida | 7 | — | $5,890 |
| Oklahoma | 6 | — | $5,890 |
| Idaho | 5 | — | $5,890 |
| Louisiana | 5 | — | $5,890 |
| Tennessee | 4 | — | $5,890 |
| California | 4 | — | $5,890 |
| Wyoming | 4 | — | $5,890 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | — | $5,890 |
| West Virginia | 3 | — | $5,890 |
Pricing by Hunt Style
| Style | Budget | Average | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully Guided (1:1) | $2,500 | $4,500 | $9,500 |
| Semi-Guided (2:1) | $1,500 | $2,800 | $5,500 |
| Drop Camp | $1,000 | $1,700 | $3,000 |
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 exotic tags vary widely by state. The cheapest option is Texas at $48, while the most expensive is New Mexico at $1,610. That's a 3254% premium for the top-tier state.
What Outfitters Publish
51 outfitters publish prices for guided exotic hunts. Most fall between $1,400 and $7,000, with a midpoint around $4,500. These are the outfitters' own published figures and exclude the licence and tag.
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 exotic hunt cost?
Across published prices for guided exotic hunts, most fall between $1,400 and $7,000, with a midpoint around $4,500. Based on prices published by 51 outfitters on their own websites. Prices exclude the hunting licence and tag, which are paid to the state separately.
Where are guided exotic hunts least expensive?
Among states where at least 8 outfitters publish prices, Florida has the lowest midpoint at about $1,750 across 9 outfitters, and Texas the highest at about $4,813 across 16. 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 exotic 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 exotic tags run $48 in Texas (5-day small game & exotic licence). Those come from each state agency's published nonresident fee schedule.
What else should I budget for beyond the exotic 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 Exotic Operators
Goodman Ranch
Memphis, TN
Tennessee's premier hunting outfitter offering world-class guided trophy hunts near Memphis & Nashville.
Shonto Ranch
Kerrville, TX
Trophy exotic and whitetail hunting in the Texas Hill Country
Stonebridge Hunting Preserve
Laurel Mountains, PA
Top Deer Hunting Preserve Near Pittsburgh with Guided Hunts
Nomad Hunts
Hill Country, TX
Premier Texas exotic hunting and whitetail hunts with expert guides
Why Not? Ranch
Central Texas, TX
Fully guided Axis Deer hunting year-round in central Texas
LOH Outfitters
Magdalena, NM
Trophy elk and exotic game hunting in New Mexico with 90%+ opportunity rates.
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.