Western Hunting Application Fees: NR Cost Guide

Most hunters who are new to the western draw game don’t realize that applying in five or six states costs real money — even when you draw nothing. Before a single tag arrives, a committed nonresident applicant can spend $400 to $600 in fees across a single calendar year, with no guarantee of hunting anything. That’s the reality of the western draw system, and it’s worth understanding before you commit.

This guide breaks down every fee layer — application fees, nonresident license costs, point purchase fees, and what tag fees look like if you actually draw — across nine major western states. Use it to build a realistic multi-year budget for your draw portfolio.

Why Upfront Costs Add Up Fast

The western draw system requires nonresidents to pay to play. Most states charge a nonresident hunting license before you can even apply, or at minimum an application fee per species. Some charge both. When you’re applying for elk in Colorado, deer in Wyoming, elk in Arizona, a deer point in Nevada, and a Utah elk point in the same January–April window, those fees stack quickly.

Here’s the rough math for a typical five-state portfolio:

That’s $549–$664 before you draw a single tag. Add New Mexico, Oregon, or Montana and you’re pushing $700–$900 per year in fees, every year, while points accumulate.

State-by-State Fee Breakdown

Colorado

Colorado is one of the most popular NR destinations because it offers both draw tags and over-the-counter (OTC) options.

• Application fee: $10 per species (deer, elk, pronghorn, etc.)
• Nonresident license: ~$68 (required to apply for most draw tags)
• Preference point purchase: $35/year if you don’t draw
• Tag fees if drawn: Elk $715 (limited entry rifle), Deer $415

The preference point system here is competitive. Popular elk units require 5–8 points for NR hunters. Budget $78–$113 per year while accumulating points, then $783+ when you finally draw an elk tag.

Wyoming

Wyoming is unique because some species require an NR license to apply, while others (like pronghorn) only require the application fee.

• Application fee: $15 per species
• Nonresident license: $57–$104 depending on type (often required)
• Tag fees if drawn: Elk $735, Deer $380, Pronghorn $280

Wyoming’s preference point system charges $50–$75 for a point purchase if you don’t draw, depending on species. For elk, the annual cost of staying in the system runs $65–$90 for most applicants.

Arizona

Arizona runs a bonus point system, which means points help but don’t guarantee a draw the way preference points do. It’s a lottery with weighted odds — more points means more entries.

• Application fee: $13 per species
• Nonresident license: $160 (required to apply)
• Bonus point purchase: $26/year per species
• Tag fees if drawn: Elk $600–$900 depending on unit and season type

The annual cost of staying in the Arizona elk system: $199 in year one (license + app fee + point), then $39 in subsequent years if you skip the application and just purchase the bonus point. Most serious applicants pay the full $199 each year to stay in the draw.

Montana

Montana operates differently from most western states. The general deer and elk licenses are available over the counter, but limited entry tags for specific units go through a draw system.

• Nonresident combination license: ~$121 (covers deer + elk general tags)
• Combination B licenses (limited entry): $385–$485 for premium units
• Application fee: $10–$15 for limited entry draws

For most NR hunters, Montana means buying the $121 combination license for general season hunting — no draw required. The upfront cost is predictable and reasonable compared to draw-only states. If you want a specific limited-entry unit, add a $10–$15 application fee on top.

Nevada

Nevada’s draw odds for elk are among the lowest in the West for nonresidents, making it primarily a long-game point banking system for most applicants.

• Application fee: $10 per species
• Nonresident license: $142 (required)
• Bonus point purchase: ~$10/year per species
• Tag fees if drawn: Elk $1,250+, Deer $340, Pronghorn $280

The annual cost of staying in the Nevada elk system is roughly $162 in the application year. The bonus point system makes it difficult to predict draw timelines, but hunters with 15+ points start seeing real odds improvements.

Utah

Utah runs a preference point system for most big game species. The NR license requirement and point costs make it a mid-tier annual commitment.

• Application fee: $5–$10 per species
• Nonresident license: ~$75 (required)
• Point purchase: $10–$25/year depending on species
• Tag fees if drawn: Elk $550, Deer $295, Pronghorn $295

Utah elk is highly competitive. Many NR hunters are building 10–15 year point banks. Annual cost to stay current: $85–$100 for most applicants.

New Mexico

New Mexico uses a pure random draw — no preference points. Every applicant has the same odds each year, which makes it an interesting addition to any draw portfolio since there’s no long-term point investment required.

• Application fee: $25 per species (draw application)
• Nonresident license: $65 (required)
• Tag fees if drawn: Elk $510, Deer $260

The no-points system cuts both ways. There’s no multi-year commitment required, but there’s also no reward for longevity. The $90 annual cost (license + app fee) is reasonable for the odds it buys. NR elk draw odds typically run 1–5% depending on the unit.

Oregon

Oregon is an underrated draw destination for NR hunters. The license cost is high but tag fees are moderate, and competition is lower than Colorado or Wyoming.

• Application fee: $8 per species (draw fee)
• Nonresident license: $162 (required to apply)
• Preference points: Oregon uses a weighted preference point system; point purchase fees vary by species
• Tag fees if drawn: Elk $325, Deer $210

Annual cost to stay in the Oregon elk system: $170–$185 for most applicants. The lower tag price at the end of the point accumulation makes Oregon attractive for patient hunters.

Idaho

Idaho is unique in offering true over-the-counter elk tags for general season in many units — no draw required for most NR hunters.

• Nonresident license: ~$185 (covers general deer and elk)
• Draw fees: $7.50–$15 for controlled hunts in specific units
• Tag fees if drawn: Controlled hunt elk $372, general OTC elk $430 (included in combination license)

For hunters who want guaranteed access to elk hunting every year, Idaho’s general season is the entry point. The draw system for specific units adds moderate fees on top of the base license.

The Annual Budget for a Committed 5-State Applicant

Running a realistic five-state portfolio — Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah — costs approximately:

That’s $659 per year, every year, with no hunting to show for it in most years. Over a 10-year point accumulation in a state like Nevada or Colorado, you’ve spent $6,590 before drawing your tag — plus the tag itself when you finally draw.

What Happens When You Draw

Application fees and license costs are noise compared to the tag fees themselves. Drawing a quality limited-entry elk tag in the West typically costs:

• Colorado limited-entry elk: $715
• Wyoming elk: $735
• Arizona elk (premium unit): $800–$900
• Utah elk: $550
• New Mexico elk: $510

A NR hunter who finally draws a Colorado elk tag after 6 years of point accumulation has spent ~$678 in accumulated fees (6 years × $113) plus $715 for the tag itself — $1,393 before gear, travel, or food. That’s the real cost of a draw tag when you account for the years of fees leading up to it.

Refund Policies Matter

Most states refund application fees if you don’t draw. Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah all refund the application fee portion (not the license) within 30–60 days of draw results. This means the true annual “loss” is the nonresident license cost and the point purchase fee — typically $35–$75 per state per year.

Oregon and New Mexico generally do not refund application fees, making the annual cost of applying a harder expense to swallow in no-draw years.

Strategy: Best Value Per Application Dollar for NR Beginners

For hunters new to the western draw system, not every state deserves equal investment:

Start with: Montana (OTC general, immediate hunting access), Idaho (OTC general elk, no draw wait), New Mexico (no-points system, equal odds from day one)

Build points in: Colorado and Utah (well-documented odds, attainable premium units in 5–8 years)

Long-game only: Arizona (premium elk units require 10–20 years of points), Nevada (low NR odds, best for hunters already deep in the system)

Building a Multi-Year Application Budget

The hunters who navigate the western draw system most effectively treat it like a long-term investment. Here’s how to build your annual application budget:

Step 1: List every state you plan to apply in. Include only states where you have a realistic path to drawing within your desired timeline (5–15 years).

Step 2: Calculate annual fees for each. Use the fee tables above. Add application fee + license cost + point purchase where applicable.

Step 3: Estimate your draw timeline. Research current NR draw odds for your target units. This tells you how many years of fees you’ll pay before drawing.

Step 4: Total projected cost. Multiply annual fees by expected years to draw, then add tag cost. That’s your realistic all-in cost for the application path.

Step 5: Prioritize by value. Some states offer better odds per dollar spent. Cutting low-probability states from your portfolio reduces annual fees without significantly reducing your hunting opportunities.

One note on tax deductibility: hunting license and application fees are generally not tax-deductible as personal expenses. Unless you’re a licensed outfitter or hunting guide with documented business income from hunting, these are personal recreation costs. Consult a tax professional if you have a specific business-related hunting scenario, but for the typical self-guided hunter, assume zero deductibility.

The Bottom Line

Applying across the western draw system is an annual financial commitment that most hunters underestimate when they start. The hunters who build sustainable application portfolios are the ones who budget the fees explicitly, understand what they’re buying (points, position, odds), and stay consistent year after year.

The draw tag that changes your hunting career is at the end of that multi-year runway — but getting there means paying the entry fee every year without drawing anything. Plan for that reality and it won’t catch you off guard.