Where to start?

[DaveZ]

OK here's the deal. I am trying to decide what state to start with to go on my first elk hunt. I hear and read great things about each state and draw backs of each state and now I don't know where to focus my efforts. Also struggling with guided or not and bow or gun. The only thing I am sure of (I think?) is that I would like to be in a mountain setting.

From what I think I know here is my general breakdown:

Arizona: Trophy potential, hard to impossible to draw, not mountain setting
New Mexico: See Arizona
Utah: See Arizona, some mountain setting
Colorado: Easy to get tag, good herd size, mountain setting, trophy potential
Wyoming: Somewhat easy to get tag, mountain setting, somewhat familiar with areas, "wilderness area"
Idaho: Somewhat easy to get tag (crap shoot), mountain setting, somewhat familiar with certain areas (Lost River Range)
Montana: Not sure on tag access, mountain setting.


If I am wrong on these assumptions please set me straight. Any and all input appreciated.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

There are a lot more factors. Just a FEW for example:

Arizona has some very mountainous units and some easier to draw tags.
New Mexico: You can buy landowner tags on the best units in the state, bypassing the draw
Colorado has some easy areas to get a tag and some that take 25 years, some units are mountainous, some are flat and more desert like.
Utah: There are OTC tags and some that will take a lifetime to draw.
Wyoming: There are some tags you can get every year and there are tags guys with max points will apply 20 years to draw.

If I was starting out and was comfortable with archery, I would look for a September archery hunts for a quality experience. Study statistics for where success tends to be higher on easier to obtain tags. Build on your experience year after year.

Some of the best elk hunters I know are highly successful archery hunters on Colorado OTC tags and Wyoming general season tags (still a draw tag for non-residents). I personally tend to wait out premium tags.

 

[sneakypete]

Montana tag access is almost 100% success on deer/elk combo general tag. You could also pay the extra I think $50 for a point and try a draw a limited entry area, I've been success the last two years going that route. Montana will cost you $1000 and some change going that route. Good luck

 

[DaveZ]

Thanks for the responses! I 'm currently leaning toward 1 of the 4 Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, or Montana. Not sure if guided or DIY is the way to go.

WARNING!! POSSIBLE DUMB QUESTION!
Is there such a think as a Semi Guided Hunt? Where a guide shows you the area and gets you going on the right path and then lets you go.

 

[Dos Perros]

You can hire folks to pack you in on horseback and drop you off. I would think they'll point you in the right direction, or at least keep you from heading in the wrong direction.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

You can hire folks to pack you in on horseback and drop you off. I would think they'll point you in the right direction, or at least keep you from heading in the wrong direction.

Yep....Most of the out fitters call it a "Drop Camp". The good ones get booked up fast and sometimes a year or more in advance.

 

[Thomas11]

Go DIY! You'll enjoy learning everything on your own. And when u doo kill an elk it will mean so much more than with an outfitter

 

[DaveZ]

I'm leaning toward a DIY archery season.

I know it depends on the terrain and weather, but generally what elevations are the elk in September in WY, ID, CO, and MT?

5000' and up
6000' and up

 

[Head in the Clouds]

Here in Colorado, you're not even in the mountains at 5000'. Think more like 8-10000'.

 

[Matthoek21]

Yea last year where I was at they were between 11,000 and 12,300.

 

[DaveZ]

Great!! Thanks!! Now I feel like I have a starting point, instead of searching Google Earth for Elk. They are hard to find on there.

 

[Pajay 1962]

Use Bing Maps - better resolution so you can see them on there!