Arizona elk tags are hard to get. Most hunters wait years, and nonresidents compete for 10% of the bull tags in each hunt. When the tag finally comes, the question becomes simple: how do you make the most of it? Here’s how guided and DIY hunts compare.

The options at a glance

	DIY	Guide-only	Fully guided
Who finds the elk	You	Your guide	Your guide and spotters
Camp, lodging, meals	You	You	Outfitter
Pre-season scouting	You	Guide	Guide and team
Packing out an elk	You	Usually guide	Outfitter
Typical cost (beyond tag)	Lowest	About $6,000–$9,500	About $7,500–$12,500+
Best for	Experienced hunters, cow and late hunts	Hunters who can camp but want local knowledge	Rut tags, trophy hunts, first-timers

DIY: hunting on your own

Pros: Lowest cost, and Arizona is friendlier to DIY elk hunters than many states. Much of the elk country is national forest with good roads, and the terrain on the Mogollon Rim is gentler than the high Rockies.

Cons: You get one shot at a hunt you may not draw again for years. Big bulls can be hard to find among the many smaller ones, and a hunter who doesn’t know the unit can spend days learning it. Water is scarce in many areas, and elk patterns change with monsoon rains.

DIY works best if you:

• Have a cow tag or a late-season bull tag with better odds
• Can scout in summer or arrive several days early
• Have good optics and are willing to glass for hours
• Have a plan for cooling meat in September heat

Guide-only hunts

Several Arizona outfitters offer guide-only hunts: a guide who has scouted the unit hunts with you every day, but you handle lodging and meals. This saves a meaningful amount compared to a fully outfitted hunt.

Fully guided

A full-service outfitter scouts for weeks before your hunt, often uses extra spotters to cover more country, and provides camp or lodging, meals, and field care. Many specialize in specific units and seasons.

Pros: The best chance at a mature bull, especially on a hard-won rut tag. The outfitter’s team can locate bulls before your hunt even starts.

Cons: Arizona guided hunts are among the more expensive elk hunts in the West, and you usually book after the draw, when good outfitters may already be full for your unit.

Questions to ask any Arizona elk outfitter

1. Do you and your guides hold Arizona guide licenses? Arizona requires hunting guides to be licensed by AZGFD. Ask to see them.
2. Do you have a Forest Service permit for the area you hunt? Outfitters on national forest land need a special use permit.
3. Which units and hunt numbers do you guide? Then check the draw odds.
4. What were your success and opportunity rates the last few years? Ask for both.
5. How many hunters per guide, and do you use spotters? Are extra spotters included or extra?
6. What’s included, and what costs extra? Lodging, meals, field care, meat delivery, taxes.
7. What is your deposit policy? Many Arizona outfitters take deposits only after you draw.
8. Can you help me with my application strategy? Good outfitters will tell you which hunts make sense for your points.
9. Can I talk to past clients? Read reviews, too.

So which should you choose?

• Drew a rut tag after years of points? Go fully guided.
• Experienced, with a cow or late-season tag? DIY or guide-only.
• First elk hunt, limited time? Guided.

Related: How Arizona draw points work · Draw odds by unit · Arizona Elk Hunting Guide · Cost of an Arizona elk hunt · Season dates

Draw and license rules are from the Arizona Game and Fish Department for 2026. Confirm the current rules in the regulations before you book.