Skip to main content
Planning Updated Jan 29, 2026

Cheapest Elk Licenses

Compare elk hunting license costs across 22 states with elk hunting opportunities.

Cheapest Elk Hunting Licenses

Compare non-resident elk tag costs across 22 states. Find OTC opportunities and draw-only premium hunts.

22 elk states 4 OTC states Updated Jan 2026 Includes draw states

Cheapest

$325

Missouri

Average

$866

16 states

Most Expensive

$2000

North Dakota

OTC Available

4

states with guaranteed tags

OTC Elk States

States with over-the-counter elk tags for non-residents

1
Idaho ID OTC Available
Elk Tag ~120,000 elk

$592.75

Resident: $35.50
2
Colorado CO OTC Available
Elk Tag ~287,000 elk

$711

Resident: $61
3
Utah UT OTC Available
Elk Permit ~81,000 elk

$800

Resident: $50
4
Montana MT OTC Available
Resident Elk ~141,000 elk

N/A

Resident: $20

Got your license ready to show?

Store credentials offline in Hunter Passport

Track All Your Licenses

All Elk Hunting States - Ranked by Price

16 states with elk hunting opportunities

1
Missouri MO Draw Required
Elk Permit ~200 elk - Draw required

$325

Resident: $50
2
Kentucky KY Draw Required
Elk Permit ~1,200 elk - Draw required

$500

Resident: $30
3
Washington WA
Elk Tag ~60,000 elk - General elk

$528.10

Resident: $59.95
4
Minnesota MN Draw Required
Elk License ~200 elk - Draw required

$550

Resident: $285
5
Idaho ID OTC
Elk Tag ~120,000 elk - General elk

$592.75

Resident: $35.50
6
South Dakota SD Draw Required
Elk ~8,000 elk - Draw required

$606

Resident: $256
7
Oregon OR
Elk Tag ~106,000 elk - General elk

$615.50

Resident: $52
8
Wyoming WY
Resident Elk ~110,000 elk - Elk license

$637

Resident: $60
9
Arizona AZ Draw Required
Elk Tag ~35,000 elk - Draw required

$665

Resident: $120
10
Colorado CO OTC
Elk Tag ~287,000 elk - OTC archery available

$711

Resident: $61
11
New Mexico NM Draw Required
Elk Tag ~90,000 elk - Draw required

$783

Resident: $50
12
Utah UT OTC
Elk Permit ~81,000 elk - Spike only OTC

$800

Resident: $50
13
Nevada NV Draw Required
Elk Tag ~20,000 elk - Draw required

$1200

Resident: $120
14
Michigan MI Draw Required
Elk License ~1,200 elk - Draw required

$1540

Resident: $100
15
California CA Draw Required
Elk Tag ~5,500 elk - Draw required

$1796.14

Resident: $508.20
16
North Dakota ND Draw Required
Elk ~1,500 elk - Draw required

$2000

Resident: $100

Draw-Only Elk States

Premium hunts requiring lottery application

AZ Arizona
$665
Draw Required ~35,000 elk
AR Arkansas
Draw Required ~500 elk
CA California
$1796.14
Draw Required ~5,500 elk
KS Kansas
Draw Required ~500 elk
KY Kentucky
$500
Draw Required ~1,200 elk
MI Michigan
$1540
Draw Required ~1,200 elk
MN Minnesota
$550
Draw Required ~200 elk
MO Missouri
$325
Draw Required ~200 elk
NV Nevada
$1200
Draw Required ~20,000 elk
NM New Mexico
$783
Draw Required ~90,000 elk
ND North Dakota
$2000
Draw Required ~1,500 elk
OK Oklahoma
Draw Required ~3,000 elk
OR Oregon
$615.50
Draw Required ~106,000 elk
PA Pennsylvania
Draw Required ~1,400 elk
SD South Dakota
$606
Draw Required ~8,000 elk
VA Virginia
Draw Required ~300 elk
WA Washington
$528.10
Draw Required ~60,000 elk
WY Wyoming
$637
Draw Required ~110,000 elk

Elk License Cost FAQ

Common questions about elk hunting license costs

Which states offer OTC (over-the-counter) elk tags for non-residents?

Colorado, Idaho, and Montana are the primary states offering OTC elk tags for non-residents. Colorado offers the most opportunity with OTC archery elk in many units. Idaho and Montana have general season tags available, though some premium units require draws. Oregon and Washington have limited OTC opportunities.

Why are non-resident elk tags so expensive?

Elk hunting is a premium experience with limited tags available. States use higher non-resident prices to manage hunting pressure, fund wildlife conservation, and ensure residents have priority access. Additionally, elk hunting drives significant tourism revenue, which states factor into pricing.

What is the total cost of an elk hunting trip for non-residents?

Beyond the elk tag, non-residents need a base hunting license ($100-250), conservation stamps ($10-25), and often a habitat stamp. Total license costs typically range from $600-1,500. Add travel, lodging, processing, and potential guide fees for the complete picture.

Should I apply for draws or hunt OTC states?

It depends on your goals. OTC states like Colorado offer guaranteed tags but heavy hunting pressure. Draw states like Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona have lower success drawing but offer higher quality hunts with less pressure and larger bulls. Many hunters do both - hunting OTC while building points.

What is the preference point system for elk tags?

Western states use preference or bonus points to manage non-resident demand. Preference points guarantee the highest point holder draws first (Wyoming, Colorado). Bonus points increase your odds but do not guarantee a tag (Montana, Idaho). Point fees range from $25-150 per year.

Which state offers the best value for non-resident elk hunters?

Idaho and Montana offer the best balance of affordable tags (~$600-700), good success rates, and available public land. Colorado has cheaper OTC archery tags but heavy pressure. Utah spike-only tags at $800 offer guaranteed opportunity on younger bulls.

Cheapest Deer Licenses

States ranked by non-resident deer tag cost

Compare Multiple States

Side-by-side license cost comparison tool

Done planning? Don't forget your license.

Hunter Passport stores all your licenses, tags, and permits offline — so when a game warden asks, you're ready in 3 seconds flat.

Track All Your LicensesCompare States
Offline-first

Your license shouldn't be harder to access than these regulations.

Hunter Passport stores every state's hunting license on your phone. Works without signal — three seconds from tap to warden.

See the hunter license wallet