I am of the opinion that time is a more expensive asset than currently. If I was retired and lived in the USA I would tend to agree.
That and paying $3000-8000 for a free range Texas 2-3 day deer hunt is kind of insane. The Texas exotics are worse though.
$5000-8000 for a fallow deer.
The only ones I think are solid options are Scimitar horned oryx and Nilgai, there are some reasonable deals on axis, some places.
Gas from Denver to Del Rio, $500
Travel Hotels $500
Hunt $3000-10000
6 day schedule drive 30% there first day, finish 2nd day hunt 2nd night. Hunt 3rd day all day, hunt 4th day all day, hunt 5th day morning drive 40% home, finish on 6th day.
Leave Friday after work home following Friday or Saturday. Extend it to hunt another outfitter by another day or two and come be home Sunday.
Realistically shoot 2 bucks, 2 does, 2 javelina and 2-5 wild hogs.
Versus:
Friday night fly to Frankfurt, Paris, Munich. Arrive Saturday morning transfer to hunting location Sofia, Bucharest, Helsinki, Edinburgh, whatever. in the field on Saturday night or Sunday morning.
Flight $1000-1800
Non-Hunt lodging $400
Hunt mid range chamois, mid range stag, roe buck, and a wild boar. Maybe jackals, wolf, marderhund, fox, pine marten. Probably take 3-4 animals
Chamois 3-6 year old $2000-3000
5-7 KG Stag 1800-4500
Sub 350 roe buck $600
Hunt cost $1000
You are only paying for what you shoot.
Hunt Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Fly home Friday. Arrive Saturday. Recover Sunday back to Work Monday.
Or the BS that is guided North American hunting.
Mid-west Whitetail on private land $4500-10,000
Elk on public land low success $6500-10,000
Elk on private land 40-50 percent success. $9000-15,000
Good Mule deer on private $9000-25,000
Public draw DIY for a western hunter is a no-brainer, you live there. Shrinking miles and effort to make it work.
Wyoming Special elk tag $2500
Wyoming Special deer tag $1250
Wyoming Special antelope tag $1250
Hotels for 2 days travel either way $700
Gas for a 2000 miles round trip $1000
Years of points and fees.
I have shot two 7 year old bucks in Slovenia for $2000 out the door for two bucks, neither were huge 140-160 CIC, but compared to what I am seeing in Texas, I won't be chasing any fallow deer in America.
The buck I shot in 2025 was 147 CIC, he was $1200, hunt was $300, hotel was $300. Driving, road taxes, and tunnel tolls were $300. And I shot a 147 CIC stag on the same trip for $1200.
Europe from this angle is cheap as chips.
Europe from America is virtually the same, add a $1500 flight.
Here's a realistic estimate of sunk costs (non-refundable application/point fees paid every year while building points) for a non-resident applying consistently for "decent" limited-entry tags in elk, deer, or antelope. These assume you apply (or buy a point) every year without drawing until the target year, and focus on the main costs for one primary species (e.g., elk). Costs rise if you apply for multiple species.
Figures use current 2025–2026 data (some Wyoming increases hit in 2027). Actual totals vary by exact fees, processing charges (~2%), and whether you buy a license only when needed. Sunk costs exclude the final tag price you pay upon drawing.
Wyoming, Colorado, Montana (~10 years)
~10 points accumulated (one per year of unsuccessful application).
- Wyoming (preference points, separate per species): Current point fees ~$31–$52 (rising to $75 in 2027). Application ~$15. No full license required just for points. Annual sunk: ~$45–$70. 10-year total: ~$500–$800(higher post-2027).
- Colorado (preference points): Requires qualifying license (~$100–$200+ non-resident small game/base) + point/app fee ~$30–$50–$100 per species. Annual sunk: ~$150–$250. 10-year total: ~$1,500–$2,500.
- Montana (preference for combos + bonus points): Preference point ~$100. Bonus ~$20–$25. Combo license/app fees add up if applying fully. Annual sunk: ~$120–$200. 10-year total: ~$1,200–$2,000.
Group total for 10 years (one state strategy):
$1,000–$2,500 in sunk costs, depending on the state and species. Cheaper in Wyoming.
Utah & Arizona (~15 years)
~15 points accumulated.
- Utah: Non-resident license ~$144–$147 (good 365 days). App/point fee ~$21 per species. Annual sunk: ~$165–$180 (or less by stretching one license across cycles). 15-year total: ~$2,200–$2,700.
- Arizona (bonus points): License ~$160. App fee ~$15 per species. Annual sunk: ~$175. 15-year total: ~$2,500–$2,700.
Per state for 15 years:
~$2,300–$2,700.
Nevada & New Mexico (~17 years)
~17 points accumulated.
- Nevada (bonus points, squared): License ~$155–$156 (non-refundable for points). App ~$10–$19 per species.Annual sunk: ~$165–$175. 17-year total: ~$2,800–$3,000.
- New Mexico (mostly random, limited non-resident pool): Full tag fee upfront (refunded if unsuccessful, except license/app). License ~$90–$100 + app ~$13. Higher upfront risk. Annual sunk: ~$100–$150 (net after refunds). 17-year total: ~$1,700–$2,500.
Per state for 17 years:
~$2,500–$3,000.
Overall Summary (Rough Ranges for One Species)
| Period | Years | Points | Est. Sunk Cost (per state) | Notes |
|---|
| WY/CO/MT | 10 | 10 | $1,000 – $2,500 | WY cheapest |
| UT/AZ | 15 | 15 | $2,300 – $2,700 | License heavy |
| NV/NM | 17 | 17 | $2,500 – $3,000 | NV license upfront |
Multi-state total (applying in all relevant states every year): Easily
$8,000–$15,000+ over the long haul, but you’d likely draw earlier in easier units/states and mix in OTC hunts.
These are sunk costs — money spent with no tag in hand. Persistence is expensive, but many hunters offset by hunting general/OTC areas or private land in between. Fees keep rising (see Wyoming’s recent jump).
