Nevada deer tags are cheap for residents and moderate for nonresidents. The real cost is time, because most hunters apply for years before drawing a good tag, and every year of applying costs money. Here is where the money goes, from the first application to the hunt itself.

License and tag costs (2026)

These are fixed costs from the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

Item	Nonresident	Resident
Hunting license (adult)	$155 (combination)	$38
Big game application fee	$10	$10
Game tag application fee	$3	$3
Processing fees (license and application)	$2	$2
Due each year you apply	about $170	about $53
Mule deer tag, if drawn	$240	$30
Restricted guided deer tag, if drawn	$300	—
Total in the year you draw (regular tag)	about $410	about $83

Youth combination licenses (ages 12–17) are $15 for residents and nonresidents. A bonus point only application is $10 plus your license.

The cost of building points

Because points are squared, many hunters apply for years before they draw a top unit group. A nonresident who applies five years in a row spends about $850 on licenses and fees before buying a tag. The good news is that the nonresident license is a combination license, so it also covers fishing in Nevada that year.

If you want to keep costs down, put hunts you can actually draw in your lower choices, and never skip two years in a row, or you lose your points.

DIY hunt: what to budget

Nevada’s mule deer country is remote. Towns are far apart, and you’ll often camp miles from the nearest gas station. A typical nonresident DIY trip includes:

Expense	Typical range
License, fees, and tag (year you draw)	about $410
Travel (gas or flights, rental)	$400–$1,500
Food, water, and camp supplies for a week	$150–$400
Extra fuel and spare tires for long dirt roads	$100–$300
Lodging if not camping	$0–$1,000
Meat processing	$150–$400
Trip total, not counting gear	about $1,200–$4,000

These ranges are estimates. Good optics matter more in Nevada than almost anywhere: most bucks are found by glassing big, open country. Carry extra water and plan for long drives on rough roads.

Guided hunt prices

Here are real examples from Nevada outfitters’ published prices:

Hunt type	Example price
Guided rifle mule deer, 2 hunters per guide, 5 days	$4,900
Guided rifle mule deer, 1 hunter per guide, 5 days	$5,900 to $7,000
Guided rifle mule deer, 1 hunter per guide, 7 days	$7,500 to $8,500
Guided rifle mule deer, 1 hunter per guide, 10 days	$10,000

Prices depend on the unit group, the number of days, how many hunters share a guide, and whether lodging is a motel, a lodge, or a backcountry camp. Most of these hunts include lodging, meals, and field care of your deer.

What’s usually NOT included in a guided hunt

• Your hunting license, application fees, and deer tag
• Travel to and from Nevada
• Meat processing and shipping
• Taxidermy
• Trophy fees, if the outfitter charges them
• Tips. A common rule is about 10% of the hunt price for your guide.

Ways to save

• Apply every year. Missing two years wipes out your points, and the money you’ve already spent.
• Pick groups with bigger quotas. You’ll draw sooner and spend less on years of applications.
• Go 2-on-1. Sharing a guide with a partner can save $1,000 or more per hunter.
• Look for discount and last-minute hunts. Outfitters sometimes have open dates when a client can’t make it. See discount guided hunts.
• Go self-guided. Some outfitters offer camp and scouting help without a full-time guide. Browse DIY and self-guided hunts.

Related: How Nevada draw points work · Draw odds by unit · Nevada Mule Deer Hunting Guide · Guided vs. DIY · How to apply for the draw

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