Elk hunting options by state

[Andrewlonghi]

Be giving thus alot of thought and trying to plan are elk hunt for 2024 Even though it's a long ways off. As me and my brothers sit point wise,2 points for Wyoming and 1 for Colorado. I don't think we have enough points for a general tag in Wyoming (archery or gun) and 1 point in colorado might not be enough next year with the point creep. Other then OTC in Colorado(if it's still around next year) what other state might we have a chance of getting a elk tag in?

 

[X13]

You've at least got a slight chance of drawing in most elk states. It depends on draw odds and how much money you're willing to put out in application and license fees.

 

[BoulderBulls]

Be giving thus alot of thought and trying to plan are elk hunt for 2024 Even though it's a long ways off. As me and my brothers sit point wise,2 points for Wyoming and 1 for Colorado. I don't think we have enough points for a general tag in Wyoming (archery or gun) and 1 point in colorado might not be enough next year with the point creep. Other then OTC in Colorado(if it's still around next year) what other state might we have a chance of getting a elk tag in?

New Mexico is pure random draw. NR odds are all in the single digits but if you can spare the non refundable costs I think it's worth a shot.

 

[Pucky Freak]

ID - online first come first serve. Buy one the day it opens. You may waste an entire day online navigating a janky system.

NM - Random

AZ - Very small chance to draw w/o points

UT - General elk and spike hunts. You’ll have to research details.

CO - There are units you can draw with 1 PP

WY - There are units you can draw with 0-2 PP.

MT - A percentage of general tags are set aside to draw with zero PP.

NV - Very tiny odds with no points.

WA - General tag, but really CO OTC is a better option.

OR - You can get an archery coastal tag if you’re up for a major challenge.

AK - Random draw, but logistics are difficult and expensive.

Without knowing if it’s archery or rifle, or if you want to gamble on a quality hunt vs guarantee opportunity, and how much time you have to hunt, it’s hard to know what to recommend. Here is one possible plan that balances quality and opportunity:

Dec - try to get the ID tag you want. If you get a high queue # or the site freezes or boots you out you have to decide if you want a less-desirable tag or pass.

Jan - If you didn’t get an ID tag, put in for WY tag random pool.

Mar - Put in for NM random pool. They’re non-refundable so you have to decide if you’re OK drawing a WY tag as well, which is also non-refundable.

Apr - Put in for MT general IF you’re bowhunting. You find out shortly if you drew. NM draw results out.

May - WY results out. If you drew WY and/or NM you can return the MT tag if you wish.

If all else fails, CO OTC.

Also, there are return lists for many states. Often it doesn’t cost you anything to get on it, but requires you to be flexible and possibly plan a trip in a short time period.

Lastly, all above is bulll/either sex options. There are cow hunt options that are easier to get than bull options in ID, UT, MT, CO, & WY

 

[Pucky Freak]

Also, if you have a large budget, you can just buy an outfitted hunt in NM, TX, CO, or WY.

 

[BoulderBulls]

ID - online first come first serve. Buy one the day it opens. You may waste an entire day online navigating a janky system.

NM - Random

AZ - Very small chance to draw w/o points

UT - General elk and spike hunts. You’ll have to research details.

CO - There are units you can draw with 1 PP

WY - There are units you can draw with 0-2 PP.

MT - A percentage of general tags are set aside to draw with zero PP.

NV - Very tiny odds with no points.

WA - General tag, but really CO OTC is a better option.

OR - You can get an archery coastal tag if you’re up for a major challenge.

AK - Random draw, but logistics are difficult and expensive.

Without knowing if it’s archery or rifle, or if you want to gamble on a quality hunt vs guarantee opportunity, and how much time you have to hunt, it’s hard to know what to recommend. Here is one possible plan that balances quality and opportunity:

Dec - try to get the ID tag you want. If you get a high queue # or the site freezes or boots you out you have to decide if you want a less-desirable tag or pass.

Jan - If you didn’t get an ID tag, put in for WY tag random pool.

Mar - Put in for NM random pool. They’re non-refundable so you have to decide if you’re OK drawing a WY tag as well, which is also non-refundable.

Apr - Put in for MT general IF you’re bowhunting. You find out shortly if you drew. NM draw results out.

May - WY results out. If you drew WY and/or NM you can return the MT tag if you wish.

If all else fails, CO OTC.

Also, there are return lists for many states. Often it doesn’t cost you anything to get on it, but requires you to be flexible and possibly plan a trip in a short time period.

Lastly, all above is bulll/either sex options. There are cow hunt options that are easier to get than bull options in ID, UT, MT, CO, & WY

Wow you're the man

 

[Treeshark]

Wow you're the man

I was going to say the same thing. Nicely done Pucky

 

[Andrewlonghi]

ID - online first come first serve. Buy one the day it opens. You may waste an entire day online navigating a janky system.

NM - Random

AZ - Very small chance to draw w/o points

UT - General elk and spike hunts. You’ll have to research details.

CO - There are units you can draw with 1 PP

WY - There are units you can draw with 0-2 PP.

MT - A percentage of general tags are set aside to draw with zero PP.

NV - Very tiny odds with no points.

WA - General tag, but really CO OTC is a better option.

OR - You can get an archery coastal tag if you’re up for a major challenge.

AK - Random draw, but logistics are difficult and expensive.

Without knowing if it’s archery or rifle, or if you want to gamble on a quality hunt vs guarantee opportunity, and how much time you have to hunt, it’s hard to know what to recommend. Here is one possible plan that balances quality and opportunity:

Dec - try to get the ID tag you want. If you get a high queue # or the site freezes or boots you out you have to decide if you want a less-desirable tag or pass.

Jan - If you didn’t get an ID tag, put in for WY tag random pool.

Mar - Put in for NM random pool. They’re non-refundable so you have to decide if you’re OK drawing a WY tag as well, which is also non-refundable.

Apr - Put in for MT general IF you’re bowhunting. You find out shortly if you drew. NM draw results out.

May - WY results out. If you drew WY and/or NM you can return the MT tag if you wish.

If all else fails, CO OTC.

Also, there are return lists for many states. Often it doesn’t cost you anything to get on it, but requires you to be flexible and possibly plan a trip in a short time period.

Lastly, all above is bulll/either sex options. There are cow hunt options that are easier to get than bull options in ID, UT, MT, CO, & WY

+1 on being the man,thank u for the info very helpful

 

[Andrewlonghi]

Also, if you have a large budget, you can just buy an outfitted hunt in NM, TX, CO, or WY.

Poor Florida guy here,definitely no outfitter hunts

 

[BuzzH]

Also, if you have a large budget, you can just buy an outfitted hunt in NM, TX, CO, or WY.

Only way to buy an outfitted hunt in Wyoming is to buy a commission or governor's tag.

 

[WIbiggame]

Only way to buy an outfitted hunt in Wyoming is to buy a commission or governor's tag.

I know I'm wrong bc you said it buzz but my wife is out of town so haven't been told I was wrong this weekend yet so figure what the heck will have you tell me.

There's actually a couple units he could buy an outfitter tag in WY with 2pts. Found a couple with a quick search that have alot of wilderness that you can get with 2pts.

 

[wytex]

You still have to apply for those hunts, no just buying an elk tag in Wyoming for NRs. If Wyoming goes to NR general regions then your odds will be way different next year than this one, imo.
Going to throw a wrench into some folks plans I bet when regions get implemented.

No outfitter tags in Wyoming, all draw for NRs.

 

[WIbiggame]

No outfitter tags in Wyoming, all draw for NRs.

I realize that but there's units that have 100% odds at 1pt. 80-99% wilderness areas so pretty darn close to outfitter tags.

 

[wytex]

Yes but general regions will change those odds I bet, especially in Western Wyo.

 

[BuzzH]

I know I'm wrong bc you said it buzz but my wife is out of town so haven't been told I was wrong this weekend yet so figure what the heck will have you tell me.

There's actually a couple units he could buy an outfitter tag in WY with 2pts. Found a couple with a quick search that have alot of wilderness that you can get with 2pts.

Outfitters don't sell tags.

 

[WIbiggame]

Outfitters don't sell tags.

Just leverage them have a great week buzz

 

[BuzzH]

Just leverage them have a great week buzz

Let me know when you can buy a tag from an outfitter in Wyoming.

 

[RunNGunSC]

Pretty good multi-state strategy above. Figure out your application budget and get in as many draws with random chances as possible, watch for those that overlap if you can’t afford two non refundable tags. CO is probably the only state you can find to guarantee a bull tag with a few points.

 

[3855WIN]

Look at cow tags in various states.

 

[Potsie]

Do what everybody else has suggested, but scrub Idaho off the list. There’s no elk here anymore - the woofes ate them all.