Oregon is a mid-priced elk state. A nonresident pays about $850 in licenses and tags, and guided hunts generally cost less than in the big Rocky Mountain states. Here’s where the money goes.

License costs (2026)

These are fixed costs from ODFW.

Item	Nonresident	Resident
Annual hunting license	$193	$39
Elk tag (general or controlled)	$660	$56
Controlled hunt application (only if applying)	$10	$10
Total for one elk tag	about $853–$863	about $95–$105

Youth ages 12–17 can buy a $10 resident combination license. The resident Sports Pac ($253) bundles hunting and angling licenses with deer, elk, bear, cougar and turkey tags, and the Youth Sports Pac is $75.

If you hunt ODFW wildlife areas, you may need a Wildlife Area Parking Permit ($10 daily or $30 annual).

DIY hunt: what to budget

A typical nonresident DIY trip includes:

Expense	Typical range
License and elk tag	about $853
Travel (gas or flights, rental)	$300–$1,500
Food and camp supplies for a week	$150–$400
Lodging if not camping	$0–$1,000
Timberland access permit, where required	Varies by landowner
Meat processing	$300–$600
Trip total, not counting gear	about $1,600–$4,350

These ranges are estimates. Good rain gear is a must for western Oregon in November, and a pack frame for meat is a must everywhere.

Drop camp

Some eastern Oregon outfitters offer drop camps or packing services into wilderness areas like the Eagle Cap. The outfitter packs you and a camp in by horse or mule, and packs out you and your elk at the end. Ask what’s in camp, how far in it is, which hunts it serves, and whether meat pack-out is included.

Guided hunt prices

Here are real examples from Oregon outfitters’ published prices:

Hunt type	Example price
Guided archery elk, eastern Oregon (2026)	from $6,000
Guided rifle bull elk, eastern Oregon (2026)	from $6,000
Guided rifle cow elk, eastern Oregon (2026)	from $3,000
Guided rifle elk	$4,500–$6,800
Guided archery (elk or deer)	$3,500–$5,800

Prices depend on whether the hunt is on public or private land, the season and weapon, the tag type, and how many hunters share a guide. Some eastern Oregon outfitters offer guaranteed tags for nonresidents through ODFW’s outfitter and guide tag allocation, and some hunt private land with landowner preference tags. These hunts usually cost more, and you should ask exactly how the tag is provided.

What’s usually NOT included in a guided hunt

• Your hunting license, elk tag and application fee
• Travel to and from Oregon
• Meat processing and shipping
• Taxidermy
• Access permits for private timberland, if needed
• Tips. One eastern Oregon outfitter suggests 15% for the guide plus a smaller amount for the cook. Around 10% to 15% is common.

Ways to save

• Hunt a general season. No application, no points, and the same tag price.
• Hunt cows or spikes. Antlerless controlled hunts and the Rocky Mountain spike season are cheaper to guide and often easier to fill.
• Look for discount and last-minute hunts. Outfitters sometimes have cancellations. See discount guided hunts.
• Go semi-guided. Some outfitters offer camp, scouting help and pack-out without a full-time guide. Browse DIY and self-guided hunts.
• Build points while you save. Buy a point saver and hunt a better controlled hunt later.

Related: How Oregon draw points work · Draw odds by unit · Oregon Elk Hunting Guide · Guided vs. DIY vs. drop camp · How to apply for controlled hunts

License fees are from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for 2026. Guided hunt examples are from outfitters’ published price lists and can change at any time.