Who are the best elk hunting outfitters in Montana?
By Quick answer91 outfitters run guided elk hunts in Montana, and Linehan Outfitting Company, out of Troy, ranks first — a 5.0 average built on 95 reviews, not a handful of five-star ratings from a slow month.
Top 6 of 91 elk outfitters in Montana
- Transportation
- Guide
- Lodging
- Meals
- Lodging
- Game recovery & pack-out
- Guide
- Meals
- Lodging
- Guide
- Meals
- Transportation
- Game recovery & pack-out
- Guide
- Lodging
- Meals
How we rank: Outfitters are ranked by a credibility-weighted rating that blends each outfitter's verified Google star rating with how many reviews back it up — so a strong average from many hunters outranks the same average from only a few — then by the breadth of elk packages they offer (live inventory, last updated August 2026). Prices, ratings and review counts come straight from each outfitter's current listings — always confirm details before you book.
Why Linehan tops the list
Several outfitters near the top of this ranking also carry a perfect 5.0 — but with a fraction of the reviews behind it. A 5.0 from 40 reviews and a 5.0 from 95 aren't the same claim, and this ranking weighs the difference instead of treating every perfect score as equal. That's why Linehan leads a field that includes bigger, longer-reviewed operations sitting a notch below on raw star count.
The cheapest number on an outfitter's site isn't always the hunt price
Some outfitters price per hunter, some per day, some flat per party, and a few quote a two-person rate as if it were a solo price. The figure beside each name below is checked against the outfitter's own real hunt rate, not a deposit, an add-on, or a doubled guide-ratio price mistaken for one.
The top-ranked outfitter isn't the cheapest one
This list sorts by rating and review depth, not by price. A hunter asking which Montana elk outfitter costs the least is asking a different question than this page answers. For a shorter, already-vetted list of specific hunts under $6,000, see Five guided elk hunts in Montana under $6,000.
What hunters say about elk outfitters in Montana
75 elk outfitters in Montana carry 1,809 Google reviews averaging 4.79 — including 101 at three stars or below.
Sourced from Google · most recent review .
| 5 stars | 1,664 | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 stars | 44 | |
| 3 stars | 26 | |
| 2 stars | 21 | |
| 1 star | 54 |
Absolutely the best. I’ve been hunting at Trophies West for 7 years and it a highlight of my season…
What a guided elk hunt costs in Montana
A guided elk hunt in Montana typically costs $6,700, with half of packages between $5,100 and $8,116.
From 151 priced packages of 239 across 62 outfitters, checked August 2026.
14 packages run higher, up to $19,500 — typically multi-day trips with lodging.
Full price breakdown
Guided elk package prices in Montana, August 2026 — 151 priced packages
| Point | Price |
|---|---|
| Lowest | $1,445 |
| 25th percentile | $5,100 |
| Median | $6,700 |
| 75th percentile | $8,116 |
| Highest | $19,500 |
How guided elk hunts in Montana are hunted
- rifle 93 packages from $2,000
- archery 68 packages from $1,445
- muzzleloader 5 packages from $5,200
Pricing reflects live GuidedHunts outfitter listings, last updated August 2026. Always confirm current pricing and availability directly with the outfitter before booking.
What's included in a guided elk hunt in Montana
Across 228 guided elk packages in Montana that list what they include, these come up most often:
- Lodging90%
- Meals84%
- Guide81%
- Transportation43%
- Meat processing28%
- Game recovery & pack-out17%
- License & tags7%
- Taxidermy3%
- Game cooler / storage2%
- Rifle/Archery range2%
- Beverages1%
Inclusions vary by outfitter and package — always confirm what's covered before you book.