A nonresident Montana deer hunt can cost as little as about $1,600 for a DIY trip on public land, or $8,000 or more for a one-on-one guided hunt. Here’s how it adds up.
License costs (2026)
From Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP):
| Item | Nonresident |
|---|---|
| Deer Combination (general deer, upland bird, fishing) | $760 |
| Base hunting license | $50 |
| Conservation license | $10 |
| Application fee | $5 |
| AIS Prevention Pass (16+) | $7.50 |
| Total for a Deer Combination | about $833 |
| Big Game Combination instead (adds general elk) | $1,312 instead of $760 |
| Bow and arrow license (archery only) | $10 |
| Preference point (optional) | $100 |
| Deer permit application and bonus point (optional) | $5 + $20 |
| Deer B license (extra antlerless deer) | $75–$80 each |
Residents pay $16 for a general deer license, plus resident prerequisites, and $10–$15 for a Deer B.
DIY hunt: what to budget
| Expense | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Licenses and fees | about $833–$1,000 |
| Deer B licenses | $0–$160 |
| Travel (gas or flights, rental) | $400–$1,500 |
| Food and camping for 5–7 days | $150–$400 |
| Motel if not camping | $0–$1,000 |
| Meat processing | $150–$300 per deer |
| Cooler, ice, getting meat home | $50–$300 |
| Trip total, not counting gear | about $1,600–$4,700 |
These are estimates. Your combination includes fishing and upland bird licenses, so a pheasant or sharptail hunt can be added for no extra license cost.
Hunting deer and elk on one trip
Nonresidents can apply for only one combination license a year. If you want both a deer and an elk, the Big Game Combination ($1,312) is the way to do it. You can’t draw a Deer Combination and an Elk Combination separately. The Big Game Combination also has the largest quota, at 17,000 licenses.
If you can’t go
A drawn nonresident combination license can be returned for an 80% refund before August 1, or 50% from August 1 until the season opens. Prerequisite licenses, the application fee, and permit fees are not refunded, and your preference points don’t come back. Trip insurance from your outfitter or a travel insurer can cover the rest.
Guided hunt prices
Real examples from Montana outfitters’ published prices:
| Hunt type | Example price |
|---|---|
| 5-day archery deer, eastern Montana, 2 hunters per guide | $5,950 |
| Same, 1 hunter per guide | $6,950 |
| 5-day rifle deer, eastern Montana, 2 hunters per guide | $7,000 |
| Same, 1 hunter per guide | $8,000 |
| 5-day lodge-based whitetail hunt, November, 2 hunters per guide | $4,500 |
| Same, 1 hunter per guide | $5,000 |
Some private-ranch elk outfitters also include a deer license or a deer hunt as part of an elk/deer combo package, so ask if you plan to hunt both.
What’s usually NOT included
- Your combination license, prerequisites, and points
- Deer B licenses
- Travel to Montana
- Meat processing, shipping, and taxidermy
- Tips, often 10% to 20% of the hunt price
Ways to save
- Pick the Deer Combination if you’re not hunting elk. It costs $552 less than the Big Game Combination.
- Add a Deer B. For $75–$80 you can add an antlerless deer to your trip.
- Use Block Management. It’s free to hunt enrolled private land, though you need to follow each area’s rules.
- Hunt public land mule deer in the east. Big BLM and state land blocks make DIY practical.
- Look for discount or last-minute hunts. See discount guided hunts, DIY hunts, and hunting leases.
Compare prices
See Montana deer outfitters and what they charge
Contact outfitters directly through their Horn & Fin listings.
Related: How Montana draw points work · Draw odds by unit · Montana Deer Hunting Guide · Guided vs. DIY deer hunts · How to apply for the deer draw
License fees are from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks for 2026. Guided hunt examples are from outfitters’ published prices and can change at any time; confirm license costs in the current FWP regulations.