An Idaho elk hunt costs from about $1,700 for a nonresident DIY trip to $11,000 or more for a one-on-one wilderness hunt. Idaho’s license costs are lower than most western states, and because there are no points, you don’t pay to build them. Here’s the breakdown.
License costs
These are fixed costs from Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG).
| Item | Nonresident | Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting license (adult) | $185 | $15.75 |
| Access/depredation fee (once a year) | $10 | $5 |
| General tag application fee | $18 | Not required |
| Elk tag (adult) | $651.75 | $36.75 |
| Total, rifle hunt | about $865 | about $58 |
| Archery permit (archery-only seasons) | $81.75 | $19.50 |
| Muzzleloader permit (muzzleloader-only seasons) | $81.75 | $19.50 |
| Controlled hunt application (optional) | $18 | $6.25 |
| Wolf tag (optional) | $31.75 |
The nonresident hunting license is nonrefundable and includes a three-day fishing license. Phone and online purchases add a processing fee. Some outfitters quote the nonresident license as $195, which matches the $185 license plus the $10 access/depredation fee.
DIY hunt: what to budget
| Expense | Typical range |
|---|---|
| License, tag, and fees | about $865–$950 |
| 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 $1,700–$5,150 |
These ranges are estimates. Idaho elk country is steep. A good pack, boots, and a plan for getting meat out matter as much as your rifle or bow.
Drop camps and air taxis
A drop camp is the middle option: the outfitter packs you and a furnished camp into the backcountry by horse or mule and packs you and your elk out at the end. Published examples from Idaho outfitters:
| Drop camp | Example price |
|---|---|
| Rifle drop camp, central Idaho, 2–3 hunters | $2,700 per hunter |
| Archery drop camp, central Idaho, 2–3 hunters | $2,500 per hunter |
| Frank Church or Selway wilderness drop camp, 2-hunter minimum | $4,000 per hunter |
In the Frank Church wilderness, many trips start with a flight into a backcountry airstrip. One outfitter lists a $600 round-trip air taxi per hunter for 2026, plus fees to fly out game.
Guided hunt prices
Here are real examples from Idaho outfitters’ published 2026 and 2027 prices:
| Hunt type | Example price |
|---|---|
| 6-day archery or general rifle elk | $7,400 |
| 6-day controlled rifle elk | $9,200 |
| End-of-the-road archery or rifle elk, 2 hunters per guide | $6,975 |
| Backcountry archery or rifle elk, 2 hunters per guide | $7,650 |
| Same, 1 hunter per guide | $8,500 |
| Frank Church/Selway wilderness elk, 2 hunters per guide | $7,800 |
| Same, 1 hunter per guide | $9,800 |
| Wilderness rifle combo (elk, deer, bear, lion, wolf), 1-on-1 | $11,000 |
| Archery elk and mule deer, 1-on-1 | $8,000 |
| 6-day controlled cow elk | $5,200 |
Prices depend on the zone, wilderness vs. road-access hunting, the season, and how many hunters share a guide.
What’s usually NOT included in a guided hunt
- Your hunting license, tags, and permits
- Idaho sales tax (6%), and in some cases a Forest Service use fee, which outfitters add to the hunt price
- Air taxi and game flights for wilderness hunts
- Travel to Idaho
- Meat processing and shipping (often around $450 for an elk)
- Taxidermy
- Tips, commonly 15% to 20% of the hunt price for guide and cook combined
Ways to save
- Hunt a general tag in an uncapped zone. Lower demand, same tag price.
- Book a drop camp instead of a fully guided hunt.
- Hunt cows. Controlled cow hunts are cheaper and good for meat.
- Look for cancellations, especially after the January tag purchase deadline. See discount guided hunts.
- Go self-guided. Browse DIY and self-guided hunts.
Compare prices
See Idaho elk outfitters and what they charge
Contact outfitters directly through their Horn & Fin listings.
Related: How Idaho draw points work · Draw odds by unit · Idaho Elk Hunting Guide · Guided vs. DIY vs. drop camp · How to apply for elk tags
License fees are from Idaho Fish and Game. Guided hunt and drop camp examples are from outfitters’ published price lists and can change at any time; confirm license costs in the current IDFG fee schedule.