Nonresident Western Hunting Licenses: State-by-State Costs and Requirements

Hunting in a western state as a nonresident costs more than hunting as a resident. Sometimes dramatically more. Wyoming’s nonresident elk tag runs approximately $866. Residents pay about $61. Montana’s nonresident elk combo clears $900 while residents pay under $50. These aren’t rounding errors — they’re the actual cost structure you’re working with, and building any real application strategy requires understanding them clearly.

The fee structure also changes your prioritization. A state that looks attractive based on unit quality might sit at the bottom of your list once you run the actual numbers. A state that looks expensive up front might make more sense once you factor in point fees, multi-species portfolio costs, and realistic timeline to a draw.

This guide covers eight western states — Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oregon — with current approximate fee structures for nonresidents. License costs change annually. Verify directly with each agency before applying.

Wyoming

Wyoming is the anchor state for most serious western hunting portfolios. The preference point system produces predictable draw timelines, the species variety is exceptional, and the tag quality in premium units rivals anything in North America. The costs reflect that.

Approximate nonresident costs:

• Combo license (includes small game and fishing): ~$148/year
• Elk limited-entry tag: ~$866 NR
• Deer limited-entry tag: ~$267 NR
• Pronghorn limited-entry tag: ~$297 NR
• Sheep/moose/goat: ~$2,206 NR
• Point fee: $15/species/year

Wyoming requires you to purchase a nonresident combo license before applying for draw tags — it’s not optional, and it’s not refunded if you don’t draw. You’re paying $148 annually just to maintain your application eligibility. Factor that into your multi-year cost calculation.

The point fee is $15 per species per year. Applied across elk, deer, pronghorn, sheep, and moose, a full Wyoming portfolio runs $75/year in point fees plus the $148 combo license — roughly $223/year to maintain all five species.

Applications are submitted through wgfd.wyo.gov. Wyoming’s draw deadline falls in January.

Colorado

Colorado has the cheapest per-species application cost in the West, which changes the math on running a full multi-species portfolio from day one.

Approximate nonresident costs:

• Combo license: ~$66 NR
• Elk limited-entry tag: ~$565–650 NR (varies by unit)
• Deer limited-entry tag: ~$390 NR
• Bighorn sheep: ~$2,079 NR
• Point fee: ~$5/species/year

That $5 point fee is the number that matters most for portfolio construction. A full multi-species Colorado portfolio — elk, deer, pronghorn, sheep, moose, goat — costs approximately $30/year in point fees. There’s no reasonable argument for skipping Colorado on cost grounds.

Colorado uses a weighted preference point system, not a pure queue — higher point totals multiply your draw entries exponentially. One point gives you 1 entry. Seven points gives you 49. The math rewards consistent application.

Applications are submitted through cpw.state.co.us. Colorado’s draw deadline is typically early April.

Montana

Montana’s nonresident cost structure is unusual among western states. The general elk A-license is OTC — no draw required — but it’s expensive. You’re paying approximately $900 upfront for elk access without waiting on any draw.

Approximate nonresident costs:

• Combo license (conservation license + base hunting license): ~$111 NR
• General elk A-license (OTC): ~$900 NR
• B-license draw tags: additional fees on top of combo (varies by species and unit)
• Application fee for B-licenses: ~$5/species

Montana’s B-license draw operates as a pure random lottery. No preference points. No advantage for previous applicants. That makes it the best near-term probability state in any NR portfolio — you have the same draw odds in year one as someone who’s applied for twenty consecutive years.

Applications are submitted through fwp.mt.gov. Montana’s B-license deadline is typically in February.

Idaho

Idaho offers OTC elk access at a lower price point than Montana, which makes it a useful immediate-hunting state while points accumulate elsewhere.

Approximate nonresident costs:

• Combination license: ~$185 NR
• General elk tag (OTC): ~$620 NR
• Deer tag (general OTC): ~$181 NR
• Controlled hunt tags: additional costs above general license

Idaho’s combination of affordable OTC elk access and quality public land makes it competitive for nonresidents who want to hunt while their preference point banks build in Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. The combination license plus elk tag runs approximately $805 before any additional controlled hunt applications.

Controlled hunt applications for premium units run on separate deadlines. Applications are submitted through idfg.idaho.gov.

Utah

Utah’s tag costs sit in the mid-range, but its limited entry units are among the highest-quality in the West. The catch is the 10% nonresident quota cap on most premium units.

Approximate nonresident costs:

• Hunting license: ~$65 NR
• Elk limited-entry tag: ~$540–600 NR (varies by unit and weapon)
• Deer limited-entry tag: ~$240–290 NR
• Point fee: ~$10/species/year

The 10% NR quota is the variable that most hunters underestimate. Utah’s statewide draw odds data reflects the full applicant pool. But nonresidents are competing only for that 10% slice of available tags. The effective NR draw odds in premium units are harder than headline numbers suggest.

That constraint doesn’t change the math on applying. It changes your timeline expectations. Start all species in year one and plan for a longer accumulation window in premium units. Utah’s Paunsaugunt elk and Book Cliffs mule deer are legitimate long-game targets worth 10–15 years of consistent applications.

Applications are submitted through wildlife.utah.gov. Utah’s draw deadline is typically in late January or early February.

Nevada

Nevada has limited tag allocations and strict NR quotas, which means longer timelines but potentially exceptional quality.

Approximate nonresident costs:

• Combination license: ~$142 NR
• Elk tag: varies significantly by unit and season — overall NR allocation is very limited
• Deer tag: ~$340–400 NR
• Point fee: ~$15/species/year

Nevada’s elk is a genuine long-game target. Tag numbers are small and NR quotas are tight. The per-species point fee is $15, same as Wyoming, but the overall portfolio cost is manageable given the species count involved.

Pronghorn archery is Nevada’s best near-term opportunity for nonresidents. Deer builds toward some exceptional units in the 5–10 year range.

Applications are submitted through ndow.org. Nevada’s draw deadline is typically in February.

New Mexico

New Mexico runs a hybrid draw system that combines preference and random elements, giving nonresidents real draw odds even without a deep point bank.

Approximate nonresident costs:

• Hunting license: ~$65 NR
• Elk limited-entry tag: ~$570–680 NR (varies by unit and season)
• Deer limited-entry tag: ~$220–265 NR
• Application fees: modest per-species

The hybrid draw means you’re not locked out of mid-tier units while accumulating points. Zero-point applicants have legitimate draw odds in accessible units. Premium units — the Gila, for example — require longer accumulation, but the path is achievable within a reasonable timeline.

Apply elk and deer from year one. Add pronghorn and sheep for the long game.

Applications are submitted through wildlife.state.nm.us. New Mexico’s draw deadline is typically in mid-March.

Oregon

Oregon is regularly overlooked in nonresident discussions, which may work in your favor.

Approximate nonresident costs:

• Combination license: ~$180 NR
• Elk tag: ~$400–500 NR (varies by unit and weapon)
• Deer tag: ~$230–270 NR
• Application fee: ~$8/species

Oregon’s bonus point system operates as a random lottery with bonus point multipliers — similar in structure to Montana’s B-license draw but with a point-building component. The combination of relatively affordable tag costs and moderate competition makes Oregon competitive with better-known states in the mid-tier elk and deer categories.

If you’re building a western portfolio and haven’t included Oregon, it’s worth a look at the current draw odds data.

Applications are submitted through myodfw.com. Oregon’s draw deadline is typically in mid-March.

Budgeting a First Western Elk Hunt

Before any of these fee structures matters, you need a realistic number for what a nonresident western elk hunt actually costs. The tag is just the starting line.

Approximate cost breakdown for a first DIY nonresident elk hunt:

• License + elk tag: $800–1,000 depending on state
• Travel (flight or drive + vehicle): $500–1,500
• Gear (assuming basic kit already owned): $200–600
• Food and camp supplies: $150–400
• Meat processing and shipping (if not driving): $300–700
• Total DIY minimum: approximately $2,000–4,000 all-in

For a fully guided hunt, add $4,000–12,000 for outfitter fees. Total guided cost ranges from roughly $6,000 to $15,000+ depending on state, species, weapon, and operation.

The fee structures above are the input costs to a larger calculation. Understanding them is the first step. Matching those costs to realistic draw timelines and hunting goals is what turns a list of state fees into an actual application strategy.

For unit-specific draw odds by state, see ProHunt’s Draw Odds Engine. For cross-state application management and timeline tracking, see the Multi-State Planner.