Top ranking Trophy Elk States

[Jimmy Jones]

I've never been elk hunting, but my dream hunt is an Archery trophy elk hunt. I'm assuming Arizona will be at the top of most lists, but what are the next best states in your opinion?

 

[Shay Mann]

I think recently the shift has moved to Utah for trophy bulls. More and more magazine covers are showing Utah bulls.

 

[wyemjohnson]

Montana is showing more trophy bulls on the covers too.

 

[DEERSLAM]

Utah, in my opinion.

 

[eddiehsf]

UTAH has produced more trophy bulls in the past 5 years than any other state.

Good luck this season!

 

[doghouse95]

The four corners area has some monsters. Whe we were in Nevada this year mule deer hunting we saw some huge bulls. No hunting in that zone for elk yet but the genetics are there for the future. As the game management gets better the bucks and bulls get bigger.

 

[Taos]

Nevada has some Monster bulls. We have been watching some for most of the fall and winter here. Too bad it is so tough to get a ticket here.

 

[wmidbrook]

No doubt Utah is producing a lot of book bulls.

The odds of drawing a tag in one of Utah's top 10 units where a shot at a 400" class bull is unlikely unless you've got 20 years or so worth of patience (on average) for rifle tags.

The max point pool last year was 13 points for basically all limited entry any weapon bull units. It will take 10 or more years to clear the max point pool out for most of the units....Those with less than 10 points have under a 1% chance of drawing in the good units. I think odds in NV might even be better than some of Utah's units.

Purchasing a landowner tag for a crack at a 400" bull in Utah will set you back over $20,000 now.

I think other states such as ID, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico offer hunters an opportunity at hunting where a 350" or better bull on public lands is possible with much shorter waits.

 

[Redneck75]

I figure any state that has a decent population of elk will have plenty of nice bulls running around. You have to decide what your expectations are. If you positively have to have a record-book bull, you can expect to pay for it in guides fees and in time spent (wasted?) waiting for that perfect tag to be drawn. Get a tag to an area with good elk numbers in most any state that gives you a realistic chance of getting drawn within a couple of years (usually easier to get drawn archery tags than rifle), do some homework in the form of scouting and/or talking to biologists, etc and put in the effort and you have as good a chance as anybody in bringing home something you'd be proud to hang over the fireplace. I know it's easier said than done or everybody would do it every year but somebody has to kill those elk and it could be you just as easy as the next guy. I've seen too many impressive elk mounts from Oregon bulls, which is a state that is not known for large bulls, to think that I have to go to that perfect area in another far-off state to have a chance at a nice bull. I sure would like to go on a guided Wyoming elk hunt though! Good luck to you!

 

[TwoShot]

My opinion, Utah, no questoin. But with no points going in you have a better chance of hitting the lottery or you better have a lot of patience, probaly take you a 100 years to get to the top of the pool.

 

[GreekDrake]

I would have to say New Mexico is great, though you sort of have to know what you are doing and were to go.

 

[Coues]

When you combine the probability of drawing a tag with the quality of elk available, New Mexico and Montana are probably tops. UT, AZ, NV will grace the covers of more magazines, but if you haven't been playing their game for last several years, your chance of drawing a tag is slim.

Don't discount Idaho, Wyoming or Colorado either. A 330" elk is still big, even if the mags won't admit it.

Maybe start saving for a landowner tag?

 

[tmoniz]

Wyoming is your best chance. Way overlooked.


http://www.wolverinecreek.com/

 

[kphunter]

If you have the cash (15K-20K), in Arizona the White Mountain Apache "Tribe has produced more Boone and Crockett record-book elk than any other individual land management area in the world."

KP

 

[Orygun]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

've seen too many impressive elk mounts from Oregon bulls, wh[/b]

No! The bulls are are spindly legged malnurished managed pitiful elk that can barely stand up let along grow antlers. I'd go anywhere else before even considering the pencil thin spiked bulls we got.

Anyplace that has elk that are allowed to grow for more than just a year or two will have an impressive rack.

You can buy a huge-racked bull on many of the ranched operations or reservations like San Carlos or Jicarilla.

I can think of at least one awesome place to elk hunt that has some of the most beautiful and rugged country on the continent and even has some nice bulls. Harvest rates are generally very low for bow hunts, but you can have entire drainages of wilderness to yourself after the opener.