Market Report · 2026
Whitetail Deer
Hunting Market
384 verified outfitters offer guided whitetail deer hunts on SearchHuntr, spread across 41 states.
Operators
384
States
41
Avg All-In
$5,704
fully guided
Typical Length
4d
Top States for Whitetail Deer
Pricing by Hunt Style
| Style | Budget | Average | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully Guided (1:1) | $2,500 | $4,000 | $7,500 |
| Semi-Guided (2:1) | $1,500 | $2,400 | $3,500 |
| Drop Camp | $800 | $1,200 | $1,800 |
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 whitetail deer tags vary widely by state. The cheapest option is South Carolina at $50, while the most expensive is Montana at $760. That's a 1420% premium for the top-tier state.
What Outfitters Publish
157 outfitters publish prices for guided whitetail deer hunts. Most fall between $1,000 and $6,900, with a midpoint around $3,250. These are the outfitters' own published figures and exclude the licence and tag.
| State | Outfitters Publishing | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 12 | $4,894 |
| Missouri | 11 | $3,000 |
| South Carolina | 9 | $1,645 |
| Illinois | 9 | $2,600 |
| Texas | 8 | $3,875 |
| Wisconsin | 8 | $3,550 |
| Oklahoma | 7 | $3,250 |
| Iowa | 7 | $4,750 |
| Kentucky | 7 | $3,700 |
| Nebraska | 6 | $3,425 |
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 whitetail deer hunt cost?
Across published prices for guided whitetail deer hunts, most fall between $1,000 and $6,900, with a midpoint around $3,250. Based on prices published by 157 outfitters on their own websites. Prices exclude the hunting licence and tag, which are paid to the state separately.
Where are guided whitetail deer hunts least expensive?
Among states where at least 8 outfitters publish prices, South Carolina has the lowest midpoint at about $1,645 across 9 outfitters, and Wyoming the highest at about $4,894 across 12. 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 whitetail 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 whitetail deer tags run $374 in Wyoming and $50 in South Carolina (first unrestricted antlered (buck) tag) plus a $100 nonresident big game permit. Those come from each state agency's published nonresident fee schedule.
What else should I budget for beyond the whitetail 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 Whitetail Deer Operators
Bearpaw Outfitters
Wallace, ID
48-year family outfitter offering guided & unguided elk, mule deer, bear, cougar, moose, antelope & more across ID, MT, UT, WA.
Elk Creek Outfitting
Flathead County, MT
Trophy hunting for elk, deer, bear and more in Northwest Montana.
Occoneechee Hunting Lodge
Hillsborough, NC
The Best Whitetail Deer Hunting in North Carolina since 1989
Tioga Boar Hunting Ranch
Tioga County, PA
Guided Deer and Big Game Hunting Trips in Pennsylvania
Idaho Whitetail Guides
Boville, ID
Licensed Northern Idaho guided hunts for elk, whitetail deer, bear, cougar, and bobcat.
157 Outfitters
Lingle, WY
Licensed waterfowl and big game hunting outfitter in Southeast Wyoming
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.