Alaska is the most expensive state to hunt in the U.S., mostly because of how you get there. Licenses and tags are a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. Getting into the country by plane or boat, and getting meat and trophies back out, is where the money goes. Here’s how the costs break down.
License and tag costs (2026)
These are fixed costs from ADF&G. Nonresidents need a hunting license plus a locking tag for every species they plan to hunt.
| Item | Nonresident | Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Annual hunting license | $160 | $45 |
| Moose locking tag | $800 | Not required |
| Caribou locking tag | $650 | Not required |
| Brown/grizzly bear locking tag | $1,000 | $25 in some areas |
| Dall sheep locking tag | $850 | Not required |
| Black bear locking tag | $450 | Not required |
| Sitka black-tailed deer locking tag | $300 | Not required |
| Drawing permit application | $5 per application | $5 per application |
| Harvest tickets | Free | Free |
Example nonresident totals:
- Caribou only: $160 + $650 = $810
- Moose and caribou: $160 + $800 + $650 = $1,610
- Brown bear: $160 + $1,000 = $1,160
- Dall sheep: $160 + $850 = $1,010
- Deer: $160 + $300 = $460
Nonresident aliens pay more, for example $630 for the license and $1,000 for a moose tag.
The big cost: getting into the field
Most Alaska hunts start with a flight from a hub town like Anchorage, Fairbanks, King Salmon, Dillingham, McGrath, Bethel or Kotzebue to a remote strip, lake or gravel bar. A transporter or air taxi flies you and your gear in, and comes back for you on a set day. Prices depend on distance, aircraft and weight. Moose hunters often pay extra for a second flight to haul out meat.
Commercial airfare to the hub town, freight for gear, a night or two in a hotel, and food add more.
DIY and drop-off hunt: what to budget
These are general estimates, not quotes. Gear is extra.
| Expense | What to expect |
|---|---|
| License and locking tags | $810–$1,610 for caribou, moose, or both |
| Airfare to Alaska and to the hub town | Varies widely by where you live |
| Transporter or air taxi | Often the largest single cost |
| Raft, boat or camp rental | Some transporters include or rent these |
| Meat processing and shipping home | Several hundred dollars to well over $1,000 for a moose |
| Hotel and food in town | Plan on at least a night on each end |
Weather delays are common. Plan extra days and extra money.
Self-guided and outfitted packages
Some operators offer self-guided packages: they fly you to a set camp or a river, supply the boat, motor or raft, and pick you up, but you hunt on your own. Example published prices from one Alaska operator:
| Package | Example price |
|---|---|
| Self-guided fixed-camp moose hunt with boat and motor (2026) | $14,000 |
| Self-guided float moose hunt (2027) | $15,000 |
| Self-guided caribou hunt | $9,000 |
Guided hunt prices
Here are real examples from Alaska guides’ published price lists. Hunter-to-guide ratios are shown only where the outfitter lists them.
| Hunt | Example price |
|---|---|
| Moose, 10 days (September 2026) | $28,500 plus $4,000 charter |
| Moose, 10 days, 2 hunters per guide | $27,000 |
| Moose, 10 days, 1 hunter per guide | $35,000 |
| Moose float or spike camp, 10 days | $36,500 |
| Coastal brown bear, 10 days (May 2026) | $30,500 plus $4,000 charter |
| Spring or fall brown/grizzly, 10 days | $31,500 |
| Dall sheep, 12 days (2025) | $25,500 plus $4,000 charter |
| Baited black bear, 9 days | $14,500 |
| Moose and grizzly combo, 14 days (September 2026) | $32,500 plus $4,000 charter |
Prices depend on the species, how remote the area is, how many hunters share a guide, and the size of animals the guide usually takes. Combination hunts can cost less than two separate hunts.
What’s usually NOT included in a guided hunt
- Your hunting license and locking tags
- Charter flights from the hub town to camp, which some guides bill separately
- Airfare to Alaska and hotels in town
- Extra species, which often carry a trophy fee
- Meat charters and meat shipping
- Trophy prep, shipping and taxidermy
- Tips. Guides commonly suggest 10% to 12% of the hunt price.
Ways to save
- Hunt caribou, black bear or deer. None require a guide for U.S. citizen nonresidents, and the tags cost less.
- Split a charter. Air taxis price by the load, so two or more hunters sharing a plane pay less each.
- Hunt Sitka blacktails. A Southeast deer hunt by boat or ferry is one of the cheapest ways to hunt Alaska.
- Look for open dates. Guides sometimes have cancellations. See discount guided hunts.
- Consider a self-guided package. Browse DIY and self-guided hunts.
Compare prices
See Alaska guides and what they charge
Contact guides and transporters directly through their Horn & Fin listings.
Related: How Alaska draw points work · Draw odds by unit · Alaska Hunting Guide · Guided vs. transporter vs. DIY · Guide requirement and tags
License and tag fees are from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for 2026. Guided hunt examples are from outfitters’ published price lists and can change at any time.