Out of State Elk- Opinions Please

[cbond3318]

I know I could search but as the times change so do opinions so.... here is what I am planning.

Any 1 of the Western States
Branch Antler Bull
5 guys
OTC tag
Any weapon based on OTC and unit access
Possibly fully guided (not required)
Best success possibility
$ relative to success

What would HuntWa do?

[grundy53]

Tagging

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[Mr Mykiss]

"Best success possibility"
"$ relative to success"

What is "success"?

Number of bulls killed?
or
Size o bulls killed?

[cbond3318]

"Best success possibility"
"$ relative to success"

What is "success"?

Number of bulls killed?
or
Size o bulls killed?

Number of tags notched.

[ipkus]

Yep, need more info.

You are going to be hard pressed to go into any area that is new to your group, unguided, and shoot several bulls the first year without 1.) a ton of research and legwork (much more than asking for advice on a bb), and 2.) having a group of guys that are hard chargers that know how to kill elk.  Heck, it'll be challenging to do it in an OTC area with an outfitter without it being really expensive.

What is the 'perfect' way you'd like your hunt to go down, and maybe we can help work back from there?

[Bean Counter]

You can get a general tag in Wyoming for the expensive Special Tag price. At least you could a few years ago. Check the 2015 draw odds/success on their database and let us know.

Otherwise there's Colorado. Not known for big bulls but a big herd population.

I don't know much about Idaho or Montana but my impression is that a lot of you Washingtonians head that way.

[cbond3318]

Yep, need more info.

You are going to be hard pressed to go into any area that is new to your group, unguided, and shoot several bulls the first year without 1.) a ton of research and legwork (much more than asking for advice on a bb), and 2.) having a group of guys that are hard chargers that know how to kill elk.  Heck, it'll be challenging to do it in an OTC area with an outfitter without it being really expensive.

What is the 'perfect' way you'd like your hunt to go down, and maybe we can help work back from there?

Ok, lets work it this way. 1 guy wants to choose a state with an OTC bull elk tag, choose a weapon based on the OTC tag availability and unit access and hunt an area with the highest probability of opportunity. Does not have to be guided but is a possibility strictly a cause of inability to scout efficiently. You are a hard charging Elk getting SOB.

[cbond3318]

You can get a general tag in Wyoming for the expensive Special Tag price. At least you could a few years ago. Check the 2015 draw odds/success on their database and let us know.

Otherwise there's Colorado. Not known for big bulls but a big herd population.

I don't know much about Idaho or Montana but my impression is that a lot of you Washingtonians head that way.

But you have to have a guide as a NR correct?

[Bean Counter]

Only to enter the wilderness areas. Its a racket their guides got together and pushed through the legislature. Which is B.S. in my opinion. I might pay a landowner for access, but I'll never pay a dime to a guide in that state so long as that law stands. I pay for that national forest as much as Wyoming residents do. Personally I hope that law is challenged in court and tossed out. e. 

[Bob33]

You can get a general tag in Wyoming for the expensive Special Tag price. At least you could a few years ago. Check the 2015 draw odds/success on their database and let us know.

Otherwise there's Colorado. Not known for big bulls but a big herd population.

I don't know much about Idaho or Montana but my impression is that a lot of you Washingtonians head that way.

But you have to have a guide as a NR correct?

Or resident companion, in wilderness areas only, for big game only.

[nwwanderer]

Tall order, high fence in any of the legal states, cull stag in Scotland or New Zealand or play your political cards right for depredation tags in the Skagit?  Great hunts all over, good chance of all filling tags, not so much unless you budget $40,000 plus.

[hunterofelk]

South Western Montana is good.  If you don't mind spending the NR fees, should get the tags required.  Any of your group Montana born with relatives still in state?  Montana has a come home to hunt program. The fees in this program are very reasonable.  I know there was one outfit, should be many more, would do drop camps.  Broken Arrow from the Ennis area?  If you want to drive ATV's around, a lot of the so-called roads are really ATV trails.  This year was pretty good with the cold and snow.  Several districts are open to antler-less.  In the little towns there are motels with the sportsman in mind if you don't want to camp.  Hunting areas are within driving distance of course.

[ipkus]

Ok, so...decent non-resident OTC bull tag states;

Idaho
Oregon

Other states that are not technically OTC, but have hunts you basically can draw/buy every year;

Montana
Colorado
Wyoming (general elk tag is 40% odds with 1 pref. point, special ($$) is 45% odds with 0 pref. points)


Your options as a NR will typically be best using archery equipment, but every state listed above has at least some good general rifle hunts.

Some of the things that really matter to people that you need to decide to help narrow it down;

Distance - Hours in the truck will wear on you, adds to the expense, and makes it harder to scout any other time of year.
Time of year - Archery in September vs. late November rifle hunts are usually the same difference as Africa and the North Pole.
Quality - it varies, even within each state.  If your main goal is to simply be in good elk numbers so you have a realistic chance to kill at least a raghorn every year, my list probably looks like this; 1.) Colorado 2.) Wyoming 3.) Montana 4.) Idaho 5.) Oregon

[cbond3318]

Ok, so...decent non-resident OTC bull tag states;

Idaho
Oregon

Other states that are not technically OTC, but have hunts you basically can draw/buy every year;

Montana
Colorado
Wyoming (general elk tag is 40% odds with 1 pref. point, special ($$) is 45% odds with 0 pref. points)


Your options as a NR will typically be best using archery equipment, but every state listed above has at least some good general rifle hunts.

Some of the things that really matter to people that you need to decide to help narrow it down;

Distance - Hours in the truck will wear on you, adds to the expense, and makes it harder to scout any other time of year.
Time of year - Archery in September vs. late November rifle hunts are usually the same difference as Africa and the North Pole.
Quality - it varies, even within each state.  If your main goal is to simply be in good elk numbers so you have a realistic chance to kill at least a raghorn every year, my list probably looks like this; 1.) Colorado 2.) Wyoming 3.) Montana 4.) Idaho 5.) Oregon

Awesome input, thank you! At this point quantity is more important than quality. One of our group has limited hunting years left so I am looking at this as a 1 time hunt for the group with an expectation for future hunts to grow off of this one. My first thoughts we're Idaho and Wyoming but also want to take in account the other aspects of the hunt like coolness of location! While harvesting will be the primary focus the outlying aspects of the trip will be important as well.

[cbond3318]

South Western Montana is good.  If you don't mind spending the NR fees, should get the tags required.  Any of your group Montana born with relatives still in state?  Montana has a come home to hunt program. The fees in this program are very reasonable.  I know there was one outfit, should be many more, would do drop camps.  Broken Arrow from the Ennis area?  If you want to drive ATV's around, a lot of the so-called roads are really ATV trails.  This year was pretty good with the cold and snow.  Several districts are open to antler-less.  In the little towns there are motels with the sportsman in mind if you don't want to camp.  Hunting areas are within driving distance of course.

Thank you! No one born in Montana so NR fees are expected. The use of ATV's would fit one of the group, are there areas within this that can accommodate a roadless , pack in pack out style hunt?