Best trophy elk units in the west

[txhtr333]

I am 22 and want to start putting into the draw every year for some of the true dream bull elk hunt units in several states. Starting this year, I am going to start hunting otc units in CO, so for my draw units, I want to put in for those true gem trophy bull elk units. I would like if some regional guys could recommend me the best units to put in for every year in the following states:
1)Utah
2)Arizona
3)Montana
4)Idaho
5)Wyoming

I know no one person can probably cover all of these bases but if someone could share some knowledge on a few units on one or two states that would help a ton

 

[Hilltop]

For Wyoming I would just start buying preference points every year. The best trophy area now may not be the best area in 10 or 15 years when you can draw the tag. Buying preference points allows you to evaluate each year if an area is worth cashing in your points.

If your looking for along shot to put in for now, area 100 is a very desirable hunt.

 

[Dark Mavis]

I would reconsider adding Montana to your list, it's a pretty expensive state to apply in for non-residents. Especially if your looking for just "trophy" units. If you haven't read the details of their application process, check it out. If you don't mind dropping a grand every year for tag fees just to build bonus points, have at it. The Missouri breaks have some nice Bulls from what I hear.

Same thing for Idaho. High application fees, low nonresident tag quotas (in the better areas), and not really that great of a place to kill a booner.

If you weren't planning on hunting Colorado every year, I would say pick one of these two states for your opportunity hunts. Especially Montana, general tags have been a guaranteed draw the past few years.

 

[mntnguide]

It only costs about $15/specie to apply in Idaho. ..unless going for sheep, goat, moose where you must pay up front...otherwise you only pay once you draw. . . But ya, depending on what your definition of "trophy" is, idaho isn't known for many book heads each year, but has great elk hunting for those that just want to hunt

 

[Dark Mavis]

Mntnguide don't forget to add the $154.75 nonrefundable Idaho hunting license for us lucky nonresidents! The cost to apply really isn't that bad in Idaho, I just wish they had some kind of point system. I could justify spending that much to apply up there then. I apply for different species in seven western states, but Idaho isn't one of them. Just doing my part to make sure you locals have a better chance at drawing a tag.

txhtr333: if you can afford it, apply every where you can. It will pay off for you in the long run, I wish that when I was your age I would have had the cash and the knowledge to start building points like you are doing. Good luck!

 

[WY ME]

It only costs about $15/specie to apply in Idaho. ..unless going for sheep, goat, moose where you must pay up front...otherwise you only pay once you draw. . . But ya, depending on what your definition of "trophy" is, idaho isn't known for many book heads each year, but has great elk hunting for those that just want to hunt

Maybe it's changed but in the past you had to buy a nonresident hunting license before you could apply for a limited quota tag. Also, they only gave out up to 10% of the tags to nonresidents meaning it could be 0% which was a common occurrence in the past. For these reasons I never bothered to apply for limited quota tags in Idaho. I have hunted Idaho a few times with OTC tags for whitetails I northern Idaho.

 

[Fink]

The cost to apply really isn't that bad in Idaho, I just wish they had some kind of point system. I could justify spending that much to apply up there then.

It's a good thing they don't have a point system, txhtr actually has a chance to draw the best tags in the state, just starting out. He's only 20+ points behind in Arizona, Colorado and Utah.

 

[mntnguide]

Oh heck, i forgot about the non-res hunting license....i bought my lifetime license before i moved to Wyoming years ago. .my bad! Luckily i get put into the resident draw odds still as a non-res thanks to doing that

 

[thegarbrah]

Hey TXHTR333, I would seriously look into Colorado as an option. Non resident preference points cost $40 if you're serious about building up the points for a chance at a unit like 201 (probably going to take you around 12 years), but there are tons of elk out here. There are over the counter tags for most units which cost around $600 for non residents bull tags, and any elk hunter worth their salt knows that there are trophy bulls in every unit. I live in unit 45 which has a 13% chance of taking an animal out of 1800 hunters a season (6% chance at a bull) and those are good odds considering most of the unit is National Forest. There are trophy class animals in this unit, and there is a monster 6x7 that lives near a golf course I play at.

Point I'm making here is you're better off learning how to find and hunt trophy animals in any unit or buying access to a property in a unit with high numbers and low hunting pressure. Trophy's are never guaranteed, and they get that big because those animals know how to survive and stay away from humans. Just my 2 cents

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

txhtr333 it's pretty cool you want to invest towards some great tags, but let me give you a bit of perspective. When I was about your age (25+ years ago) I decided to do the same thing, and Colorado was still fairly "young" in it's point system and many of the states hadn't even begun their point systems. I was only trailing 7 points the top elk units in Colorado, and was excited to think in my lifetime I would hunt great bulls 3 or 4 times in that state. I FINALLY drew last year, and ended up going for not the top unit, but the third best unit with 22 points. I was still a few years from catching the top units.

In Utah, I missed one year for elk. I am at 22 points and I should catch the top unit in the next 5 years.

In Arizona I am at 17 points and could draw some great archery tags, but the rut firearm tags are still out of reach.

I could go on and on. The new phase of younger guys wanting to go trophy hunting seems to be "hardcore" hunting. By that I mean physically training hard, finding a bit easier to draw units, and doing a ton of research on the unit, possibly even scouting trips, during season, before drawing. Also consider not shooting for the prime rut dates, but be willing to hunt post rut bulls on great units.

Another option is to save and buy a great landowner tag.

Just a few thoughts.

 

[WapitiBob]

I would look at the number of tags issued for the hunts of interest, then divide that number into the thousands of applicants ahead of you to get the number of years to draw. That should temper your enthusiasm and after the shock wears off, start looking at alternative hunts that you can draw before you die.

 

[ivorytip]

also, focus on easier to draw units that border those trophy units, these units are overlooked so often and produce bug animals.

 

[laxwyo]

I think you can grab a commissioners license for about 10k if you go to some of the smaller hunting banquets. Probably be money ahead in the long run

 

[SansSouci]

Right now, the best fair chase trophy units are in Utah with San Juan/Elk Ridge leading the pack. Utah has many limited entry units where trophy bulls are more than likely. The downside is the number of bonus points required to hope for a tag. These units are literally once-in-a-lifetime hunts. Were you to be lucky to draw a tag for a limited entry area, I'd suggest hiring a local guide. You might not get another chance to hunt a trophy area.

AZ, NV, and WY have huge bulls. New Mexico deserves a look.

From my experience, limited entry units provide best opportunities. However, I think a hunter who's willing to hunt very hard could kill a trophy in WY.

In Canada, I'd probably look at Alberta.

 

[SansSouci]

If you're thinking of Roosevelt elk, I'd look at Washington.

 

[coloradoshedhead]

Hey TXHTR333, I would seriously look into Colorado as an option. Non resident preference points cost $40 if you're serious about building up the points for a chance at a unit like 201 (probably going to take you around 12 years), but there are tons of elk out here. There are over the counter tags for most units which cost around $600 for non residents bull tags, and any elk hunter worth their salt knows that there are trophy bulls in every unit. I live in unit 45 which has a 13% chance of taking an animal out of 1800 hunters a season (6% chance at a bull) and those are good odds considering most of the unit is National Forest. There are trophy class animals in this unit, and there is a monster 6x7 that lives near a golf course I play at.

Point I'm making here is you're better off learning how to find and hunt trophy animals in any unit or buying access to a property in a unit with high numbers and low hunting pressure. Trophy's are never guaranteed, and they get that big because those animals know how to survive and stay away from humans. Just my 2 cents

12 years to draw a 201 nr elk tag? Better double check your source. Unless you are talking about a hybrid tag which a guy can qualify for in 5 years, but to be assured a tag this year you're talking 23 points This Year.

The best chance you have at trophy potential is probably what has been suggested multiple times here research units go hunt them and learn them. Boot leather is your best chance for having great hunts.

 

[highplainsdrifter]

12 years to draw a 201 nr elk tag? Better double check your source. Unless you are talking about a hybrid tag which a guy can qualify for in 5 years, but to be assured a tag this year you're talking 23 points This Year.

The best chance you have at trophy potential is probably what has been suggested multiple times here research units go hunt them and learn them. Boot leather is your best chance for having great hunts.

This year, my wife had 25 preference points and did not get drawn for a Colorado Unit 201 elk tag.

 

[coloradoshedhead]

Ya, for rifle, but there was a nr who drew an archery tag with 23.

 

[Slugz]

Team,
Just my 2 sense here on the big bull dilemma, take it for what its worth. My family and I bounce around between 2-3 units depending on who draws and when. Our primary hunting GMU is an area everyone " beats up and says not to go there all the time due to pressure" we try and hunt it every year archery (limited draw 1-3 points) muzzleloader (1-3 points) and first rifle (can draw it every year or get the leftover). Some years we draw with zeropoints. We see at least one solid 360 and over bull every year. Always in a spot that you have to make a commitment to get to. Hoof or foot only. Our 2nd area we hunt I can get a 1st season rifle every year on the leftover list and see 3-4 360 class animals and bigger glassing every trip. Once again though, depends on how much of a commitment you want to make. The animals are out there, just not in the trophy units. I'm not bashing the people who need to truck, atv, ranch or Gov tag hunt. Thats why we are in America and everyone should have a free choice to do or hunt how they want. The points system is not gonna get balanced for a while and the majority of the people reading here don't drop $25k to hunt every year so why save the points up? Get out and hunt, cover ground and buy the best glass you can afford. Just another prospective to promote thought. 47 days till the archery opener in Colorado, go get em boyz!!

 

[Thomas11]

In my opinion, you can draw some great tags with 2-5 points and a little luck. The trophy units in each state are no secret and the draw odds reflect just that. My strategy would be to apply for the middle of the road units and sometimes hunt OTC if you don't draw. I've been applying for 4 yrs for diff states and have hunted in NM for elk and will hunt AZ this yr for elk. There is really an exponential difference in the draw odds of the best units vs average, like 15-20 yrs vs 2-7 yrs for average units. If you apply for enough states every yr, chances are you will draw one of these "average units" and still have a great hunt. I'm not sure the real difference in the quality of animals either. You could wait 10 extra yrs just to have a opportunity at a bull that scores 370 vs 320 for a average unit. But I would say if u want the best of the best: UT- San Juan unit, NM- 16d, AZ-9 or 23, Wy- just buy the points for now. I would consider Co, MT, and ID as oppourtunity hunts and not buy points ther. Just not worth the time and money. Better off hunting OTC there. As has already been said for instance it takes 20-25 points for a unit 2 or 201 in CO and a 350 bull would be considered a good bull for that hunt. Not worth that much time. U can have a reasonable chance at a 350 bull in many other places with a lot less time invested. There's just too few trophy units in CO and everyone is chasing them. Simply matter of supply and demand.