Best archery cow elk for nonresidents

[doccherry]

I'm planning on coming over to the mainland in September to bowhunt for cow elk. I'm looking at CO, WY, or AZ. Which of these 3 states offers the best chance to bag a cow during an early archery hunt? Both WY and CO offer over the counter tags for about $250 and AZ has several hunts that are 50% draw odds or better but the price goes up to about $400. What would you guys [and gals] with experience recommend? This would be my first bowhunt for elk. Perhaps there is another state I haven't even considered. Thanks in advance. Mahalo.

 

[wmidbrook]

You've already missed Wyo's initial draw for this year--there are typically lots of leftover full priced cow tags ($481). Without digging up my info, I think you can hunt those all of Sept during archery season unless there's a type 9 (archery specific) tag for that unit--you'd need to call wyo to find out. The less expensive reduced price cow tags are almost always sold out during the draw and hardly any of the seasons are open in Sept.

CO has an OTC archery cow tag good for the non-limited entry archery units--there aren't very many cow-only archery tags in limited entry areas. There are a handful of undersubscribed rifle and muzzleloader cow tags that run in Sept in CO.

I have no clue about AZ. NM has many archery cow hunts in Sept. that are high odds of drawing.

I think most wildlife agencies will inform you about decent cow hunts since they're trying to reduce herd size.

 

[Coues]

The problem with OTC tags is that you will have alot of company. I MEAN ALOT!

If it were me, I'd try for a unit 7W Archery cow tag in AZ or a unit 52 cow tag in NM.

 

[scottosan]

Hi Doccherry
The year before last anyone with 1 point here in CA could have gotten drawn for the cow/archery hunt at Fort Hunter Leggett. Don't know what the odds were this year but it might be worth putting in for.
See you in Nov

 

[azbiggame]

I'll 2nd the AZ archery cow elk hunt.Deadline is June 13th,online.Put a BULL hunt as 1st choice and a cow hunt as 2nd choice,don't bother with 3-5 choices !!! Since You must "BUY" a licence to apply,go with the BEST odds for the cow hunts,try 7 east,7M early and 7m.As stated earlier,7W and 6A North are better units but with a 50% chance to draw ??? Good Luck