A Montana elk hunt runs from about $2,100 for a nonresident who drives in and hunts public land on their own to $12,000 or more for a one-on-one guided hunt on a private ranch. Here’s where the money goes.

License costs (2026)

These are fixed costs from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP).

Item	Nonresident
Elk Combination (general elk, upland bird, fishing)	$1,112
Base hunting license	$50
Conservation license	$10
Application fee	$5
Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass (16+)	$7.50
Total for an Elk Combination	about $1,185
Big Game Combination instead (adds general deer)	add $200
Bow and arrow license (archery only)	$10
Preference point (optional, recommended)	$100
Elk permit application (optional)	$9, plus $20 for a bonus point
Elk B license, for a second (antlerless) elk	$270–$275

Residents pay $20 for a general elk license, plus resident prerequisite licenses. Reduced-price nonresident combinations are available for youth ($556 for an Elk Combination), college students, Montana natives, and Come Home to Hunt applicants.

DIY hunt: what to budget

Expense	Typical range
Licenses, fees, and a preference point	about $1,200–$1,300
Travel (gas or flights, rental)	$400–$1,500
Food and camp supplies for a week	$150–$400
Lodging if not camping	$0–$1,200
Meat processing	$300–$600
Shipping or hauling meat home	$0–$500
Trip total, not counting gear	about $2,100–$5,500

These ranges are estimates. Your combination includes a season fishing license and upland bird license, so pack a rod and a shotgun. Gear is extra.

Drop camp

A drop camp is the middle option. The outfitter packs you and a furnished camp into the backcountry, often in a wilderness like the Bob Marshall, then packs you and your elk out. Montana outfitters typically price drop camps per hunter, often with a discount for a full camp. Ask exactly what’s included: tents, stove, cots, cooking gear, food, and whether meat pack-out is part of the price.

Guided hunt prices

Here are real examples from Montana outfitters’ published prices:

Hunt type	Example price
7-day backcountry horseback elk, archery or rifle, 2 hunters per guide	$5,250
Same, 1 hunter per guide	$6,000
5-day private ranch rifle bull elk, 2 hunters per guide	$8,500
5-day archery elk, 1 hunter per guide	$9,250
5-day rifle elk, 1 hunter per guide	$9,500
7-day private lease archery elk/deer, 1 hunter per guide, combination license included	$12,000
3-day cow elk, 2 hunters per guide	$2,950

Prices depend on public vs. private land, the season, how many hunters share a guide, and what’s included. Note that at least one outfitter above includes your combination license in the price, which is worth about $1,100 on its own.

What’s usually NOT included in a guided hunt

• Your combination license, prerequisites, and points (unless the outfitter says otherwise)
• Travel to and from Montana, and sometimes airport pickup
• Meat processing and shipping (often several hundred dollars for an elk)
• Taxidermy
• Tips, commonly 10% to 20% of the hunt price

Ways to save

• Apply for the Elk Combination instead of the Big Game Combination if you aren’t hunting deer. It saves $200.
• Hunt cows. Elk B licenses and cow hunts cost much less, and some outfitters run 3-day cow hunts.
• Use your points wisely. A preference point costs $100 a year, so apply when you are ready to go rather than building points you don’t need.
• Look for discounts and cancellations. See discount guided hunts.
• Split a drop camp, or go semi-guided. Browse DIY and self-guided hunts.

Related: How Montana draw points work · Draw odds by unit · Montana Elk Hunting Guide · Guided vs. DIY vs. drop camp · How to apply for the elk draw

License fees are from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks for 2026. Guided hunt examples are from outfitters’ published price lists and can change at any time; confirm license costs in the current FWP regulations.