Market Report · 2026
Mule Deer
Hunting Market
328 verified outfitters offer guided mule deer hunts on SearchHuntr, spread across 13 states.
Operators
328
States
13
Avg All-In
$8,504
fully guided
Typical Length
5d
Top States for Mule Deer
| State | Operators | Nonresident Tag | Avg Hunt Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 112 | $374 | $8,504 |
| Colorado | 52 | $493 | $8,623 |
| Idaho | 49 | $351 | $8,481 |
| New Mexico | 22 | $398 | $8,528 |
| Nevada | 17 | $240 | $8,370 |
| California | 15 | $377 | $8,507 |
| Arizona | 14 | $315 | $8,445 |
| Utah | 12 | $599 | $8,729 |
| Montana | 10 | $760 | $8,890 |
| Nebraska | 9 | $369 | $8,499 |
| Oregon | 8 | $432 | $8,130 |
| Washington | 7 | $506 | $8,130 |
Pricing by Hunt Style
| Style | Budget | Average | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully Guided (1:1) | $4,500 | $6,500 | $9,500 |
| Semi-Guided (2:1) | $2,800 | $3,800 | $5,200 |
| Drop Camp | $1,500 | $2,000 | $2,800 |
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 mule deer tags vary widely by state. The cheapest option is Nevada at $240, while the most expensive is Montana at $760. That's a 217% premium for the top-tier state.
What Outfitters Publish
118 outfitters publish prices for guided mule deer hunts. Most fall between $3,500 and $10,000, with a midpoint around $6,000. These are the outfitters' own published figures and exclude the licence and tag.
| State | Outfitters Publishing | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 47 | $6,450 |
| Colorado | 18 | $6,250 |
| Idaho | 14 | $6,150 |
| California | 7 | $6,650 |
| New Mexico | 7 | $6,500 |
| Washington | 4 | $4,060 |
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 mule deer hunt cost?
Across published prices for guided mule deer hunts, most fall between $3,500 and $10,000, with a midpoint around $6,000. Based on prices published by 118 outfitters on their own websites. Prices exclude the hunting licence and tag, which are paid to the state separately.
Where are guided mule deer hunts least expensive?
Among states where at least 8 outfitters publish prices, Idaho has the lowest midpoint at about $6,150 across 14 outfitters, and Wyoming the highest at about $6,450 across 47. 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 mule deer 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 mule deer tags run $374 in Wyoming, $493 in Colorado, $351 in Idaho, and $377 in California (First-Deer Tag, covers mule and blacktail deer). Those come from each state agency's published nonresident fee schedule.
What else should I budget for beyond the mule deer 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 Mule Deer 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.
Big Chino Outfitters
Yavapai County, AZ
Arizona Trophy Hunting Outfitter & Guide Service since 1987
Knight Canyon Outfitters
Norwood, CO
Guided big game hunts for elk, deer, mountain lion, bear, and bighorn sheep in Southwest Colorado.
Sierra Blanca Outfitters
Otero County, NM
Premier New Mexico hunting guide offering trophy big game hunts
The Cross C Ranch
Johnson County, WY
Wyoming outfitter offering antelope, elk, mule deer, and predator hunting on 20,000+ acres.
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.