A Wyoming elk hunt can cost anywhere from about $1,600 for a nonresident DIY trip on a regular price license to $12,000 or more for a guided hunt on a special price license. Here is where the money goes.
License costs (2026)
These are fixed costs from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD).
| Item | Nonresident (regular) | Nonresident (special) | Resident |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elk license (includes application fee; nonresident includes fishing) | $707 | $1,965 | $62 |
| Conservation stamp | $21.50 | $21.50 | $21.50 |
| Archery license (archery season only) | $72 | $72 | $16 |
| Elk Special Management Permit (Areas 70, 71, 75, 77, 78, 80–98 only) | $15.50 | $15.50 | $15.50 |
| Total for one elk license, rifle | about $729 | about $1,987 | about $84 |
Card payments add a 2.5% processing fee. If you also want a cow elk, a nonresident reduced price cow/calf license is $303, and a youth nonresident elk license is $290.
Preference points: If you are building points instead of hunting, a nonresident elk point costs $52 a year.
DIY hunt: what to budget
If you hunt general or limited quota country outside wilderness on your own, the license is often less than half of your total cost. A typical nonresident DIY trip:
| Expense | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Licenses and fees (regular price) | about $730–$840 |
| 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 $1,600–$5,000 |
These ranges are estimates. Gear is extra, and good boots, optics, a pack frame for meat, and cold-weather clothing can cost more than the trip if you are starting from scratch.
Drop camp
A drop camp is the middle option. The outfitter packs you and a furnished camp into the backcountry by horse or mule, then packs you and your elk out at the end. You hunt on your own.
One western Wyoming outfitter lists a 7-day drop camp in general country in the Greys River and Salt River Ranges starting at $2,500 per hunter, with a wall tent, wood stove, and pack-in and pack-out. Food, cots, and cooking gear are not included.
Important: In designated wilderness, nonresidents must be accompanied by an outfitter or resident guide, so a standard drop camp where you hunt alone is not an option there. Drop camps work only outside wilderness.
Guided hunt prices
Here are real examples from Wyoming outfitters’ published prices:
| Hunt type | Example price |
|---|---|
| 7-day wilderness horseback elk hunt, 2 hunters per guide | $6,500 |
| Same hunt, 1 hunter per guide | $7,500 |
| 6-day general region archery or rifle elk, private ranch, 2 hunters per guide | $8,950 |
| 6-day limited quota archery or rifle elk, private ranch, 1 hunter per guide | $10,950 |
| 5-day private-land bull elk, limited quota area | $6,500 |
| 8-day Teton Wilderness/Thorofare backcountry elk | from $10,500 |
| 3-day cow elk | $1,500–$3,550 |
Wyoming hunting media report a median guided elk hunt price of around $8,000, with top trophy hunts reaching $30,000.
Prices depend on the hunt area, wilderness vs. private land, the season, how many hunters share a guide, and the quality of bulls the outfitter usually takes.
What’s usually NOT included in a guided hunt
- Your elk license, conservation stamp, archery license, and points
- Travel to and from Wyoming
- Meat processing and shipping
- Taxidermy
- Lodging and meal taxes, which some outfitters bill separately
- Tips. A common rule is 10% to 20% of the hunt price, split among guide, wrangler, and cook
Ways to save
- Apply at regular price and build points. Special price gets you there faster, but costs $1,258 more each time you draw.
- Hunt cows. Cow/calf licenses use no points, often go unsold in the draw, and many outfitters charge much less for cow hunts.
- Look for discount and last-minute hunts. Outfitters sometimes have cancellations, especially after the May results. See discount guided hunts.
- Split a drop camp. Price per hunter drops when you fill the camp.
- Go semi-guided outside wilderness. Some outfitters offer camp and pack-out without a full-time guide. Browse DIY and self-guided hunts.
Compare prices
See Wyoming elk outfitters and what they charge
Contact outfitters directly through their Horn & Fin listings.
Related: How Wyoming draw points work · Draw odds by unit · Wyoming Elk Hunting Guide · Guided vs. DIY vs. drop camp · How to apply for the elk draw
License fees are from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department for 2026. Guided hunt examples are from outfitters’ published price lists and can change at any time; confirm license costs in the current WGFD regulations.