Big Game Ledger planning guide
Western Big Game Application Costs & Strategy
This western big game application costs guide explains the money behind the draws: licenses, application fees, point systems, tag deposits, refunds and the peak cash a multi-state plan may require.
Important: The figures below are planning references, not a substitute for current regulations. Fees, deadlines, quotas and refund policies can change. Every application should be confirmed on the official state agency website before payment. State information was last reviewed August 27, 2026.
The three numbers every applicant should track
1. Nonrefundable cost
Licenses, application charges, point fees, stamps and processing fees that generally remain spent even when you do not draw.
2. Peak cash required
The highest amount that may be charged while applications are pending. States that collect the full tag price up front can make this much larger than the final cost.
3. Refund timing
The expected amount and timing of refunds after an unsuccessful draw. A refund does not eliminate the need to have sufficient credit or cash on the application date.
Western state application-cost comparison
This comparison emphasizes the payment model rather than trying to reduce every state to one misleading total. Species, age, residency, hunt type and optional products can materially change the amount.
| State | 2026 planning snapshot | Point system | Cash-flow pattern | Official starting point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | A valid Arizona hunting license is required to enter a draw. Consult the current species draw booklet for application and permit-tag charges. | Bonus points; loyalty and hunter-education points may also apply. | License and application costs are paid first; applicants must keep a valid payment method available for permit-tag charges if successful. | AZGFD big-game draw |
| California | For 2026–27, elk, pronghorn and bighorn sheep drawing applications are $8.38 each. A nonresident first-deer tag drawing application is $377.35. A hunting license is also required. | Modified preference-point drawing. | Deer carries a comparatively large entry cost; trophy-species drawing applications are smaller, with the tag price due if awarded. | CDFW license items and fees |
| Colorado | A qualifying license is required. The 2026 nonresident application processing fee is $11.49 per species, and the annual habitat stamp is $12.76. Moose, sheep and goat points can carry a $100 nonresident fee. | Preference points; weighted points for moose, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and mountain goat. | Lower peak cash at application: processing costs are charged first and the license fee is charged after a successful draw. | CPW primary draw |
| Idaho | A hunting license is required. Standard nonresident controlled-hunt applications are $18; moose, sheep and goat applications are $45.75. Idaho’s separate 2026 nonresident general deer/elk draw had no application fee, but the license remained nonrefundable. | Random draw; Idaho does not use preference or bonus points for controlled hunts. | Moose, sheep and goat require the full tag amount up front and refund the tag amount to unsuccessful applicants; standard controlled hunts generally charge the tag only if drawn. | IDFG nonresident fees |
| Montana | 2026 nonresident combinations were $760 deer, $1,112 elk and $1,312 big game, plus separate prerequisites. A preference point was $100; bonus points purchased with an application were $20. | Preference points for combination licenses; bonus points for permits. | Combination applications require substantial cash. Unsuccessful applicants receive the applicable refund; voluntary returns after award follow partial-refund deadlines. | Montana FWP nonresident fees |
| Nevada | For 2026, the base application charge was $15 for elk and $10 for other big game or a point-only application, plus a $3 game application fee and $1 processing fee. License and tag costs are additional. | Squared bonus-point system. | Primarily license and application costs at entry; tag cost follows a successful draw. Check the current catalog for every species. | NDOW apply and buy |
| New Mexico | A nonrefundable game-hunting license and applicable validation are required. The full species license price and application fee are charged when the application is submitted. | No preference or bonus points; random draw with resident, nonresident and outfitter pools. | High peak cash The species license fee is refunded after an unsuccessful draw, but the application fee and prerequisite license are not. | NMDGF applications and draw |
| Oregon | The 2026 nonresident hunting license is $193. A controlled-hunt application is $10 per hunt series, including the license-agent fee. The license and application are nonrefundable. | Preference points for deer, elk, pronghorn and spring bear; point-saver applications are available. | License plus applications first; tag purchase follows a successful draw. | ODFW controlled-hunt points |
| Utah | The 2026 nonresident basic hunting license is $144 and the nonresident draw application fee is $21 per application. A current hunting or combination license is required. | Bonus points for limited-entry and once-in-a-lifetime hunts; preference points for general-season deer and certain other categories. | License and application charges first; permit cost follows a successful draw. | Utah DWR fees |
| Washington | The 2026 nonresident special-hunt permit application is $152.30. Deer and elk applicants must first purchase the required hunting license and transport tag; trophy-species tags are purchased after selection. | Weighted-point drawing by category. | Higher nonresident application cost. Deer and elk require the license/tag package before applying; moose, sheep and goat tag costs follow selection. | WDFW big-game licenses |
| Wyoming | Wyoming immediately charges the full license amount, application fee and any elected donations. Nonresident preference points are purchased separately or, for moose and sheep, may be deducted from an unsuccessful applicant’s refund. | Preference points for nonresident elk, deer and pronghorn; resident and nonresident moose and full-price bighorn sheep. | High peak cash Unsuccessful applicants receive the license-fee refund after the draw, less applicable retained charges. | WGFD application process |
Fee examples above are current official 2026 or 2026–27 figures available on the review date. They are not projections of 2027 fees.
Application cash-flow calculator
Enter totals from your planned applications. Use current state checkout pages or official fee tables—never a prior-year blog post—for the inputs.
Peak cash required$0.00
Expected retained cost$0.00
10% buffer$0.00
Suggested cash target$0.00
Planning estimate only. Refunds can be delayed, declined or reduced under agency rules. Credit-card limits, interest and payment timing are not included.
A practical application strategy
- Choose the hunt before the point. Decide whether your goal is a hunt in the next one to three years, a long-term premium tag, or both.
- Separate opportunity states from portfolio states. Keep at least one realistic annual or short-wait option while building points elsewhere.
- Budget peak cash, not final cost. New Mexico and Wyoming can temporarily tie up far more money than their retained application cost.
- Model the cost of waiting. Annual licenses and point fees compound. A low-cost point today is not automatically a low-cost hunt after ten years.
- Protect the hunting calendar. Do not apply for overlapping hunts unless you are willing to decline or return one under the state’s rules.
- Use official draw data. Compare recent demand, quota and point tables; do not treat last year’s minimum as a guarantee.
- Set a payment reminder. A declined card or missed purchase deadline can cost a tag.
A good first portfolio: one state with realistic near-term opportunity, one state where you are building a measured point position, and one random-draw state where a new applicant still has a chance. Expand only after the annual nonrefundable cost and peak cash both fit your budget.
Continue your hunt research
Application calendar
Track when each state normally opens and closes its draw.
Species planning
Move from a budget to the right animal, state and hunt style.
Build the hunt plan
Work through research, access, logistics, gear and contingencies.
Species hubs
Elk · Mule deer · Pronghorn · Moose · Black bear
Official sources used
- Arizona Game and Fish Department: big-game draw, bonus points and payment guidance.
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife: 2026–27 license items, fees and big-game drawing information.
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife: 2026 primary draw, qualifying-license and preference-point guidance.
- Idaho Fish and Game: nonresident fee table and 2026 general deer/elk draw guidance.
- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: 2026 nonresident combination prices and refund schedule.
- Nevada Department of Wildlife: 2026 application calendar, charges and bonus-point process.
- New Mexico Department of Game and Fish: 2026–27 draw application, full-fee and refund instructions.
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife: 2026 controlled-hunt fees and preference-point rules.
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources: 2026 fee schedule, licensing and point guidance.
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: 2026 big-game licenses, applications and special-hunt process.
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department: application charges, refunds and preference points.
Editorial standard: Big Game Ledger does not guarantee draw odds, tag availability, fees, refunds or legal eligibility. Official agency rules and the applicant’s completed transaction control.