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Non-Resident Cost Premiums 2026

Which states create the biggest gap between resident and non-resident hunting-license pricing, and where the premium is comparatively modest.

Last updated: April 22, 2026
States Covered 50 Resident vs non-resident pricing gap
Median Premium 4.9x Non-resident multiple over resident price
Highest Premium State 39.0x Arkansas
Lowest Premium State 1.0x North Dakota
By Kevin Luo Published April 22, 2026

Premium Leaders

The entries below show where the non-resident base-license multiple is highest relative to the local resident price.

Lowest Premium States

These are the states where the step up from resident pricing to non-resident pricing is comparatively modest in the current dataset.

Planning Takeaways

  • The median non-resident premium in the current dataset is 4.9x the comparable resident price.
  • States with a low resident price can still be expensive for traveling hunters if the non-resident multiple is steep.
  • This report is most useful as a first-pass filter before you layer in tags, endorsements, public-land permits, and season-specific access costs.

Methodology

This report uses the site’s current comparable state-license selector to pull one primary resident and one primary non-resident base-license price per state. It does not attempt to normalize every species tag, conservation stamp, or bundle exception into a single all-in trip cost.

Use this page to narrow your shortlist, then move into the relevant state hub, deer page, or calculator before making a purchase decision.

Related Links

Turn the report into a planning shortlist

Use the state hubs and calculators to go from benchmark ranges to a real license plan.