Your Favorite elk hunting state

[wmidbrook]

I created the poll so you can tell us where you like to hunt elk and why you like to hunt there...or, where you'd like to hunt and why you'd like to hunt elk there.

Of the states I've hunted I like Wyoming given the combination of elk abundance and quality. I like NM the best for trophy elk hunting opportunity and beautiful country--I think NM has struck a good balance between quality and opportunity with some enchanting landscapes. UT is just plain awesome in terms of what it has to offer for trophy bulls and stunning geography--quality cow hunts too.

I've hunted elk in Washington, Oregon, NM, UT, and Wyo for elk and have hunted CA & ID for other species.

I've seen the most game by far in Wyoming...On one trip I saw over 100 bulls and about 1000 elk, the country is beautiful, and the game is plentiful but it's difficult to draw tags in the good units. There are big bulls in almost every unit of Wyoming. You can typically hunt both archery and rifle on the same tag and archery season allows you to hunt the entire rut...elk can still be rutting a bit during the first week of rifle season too.

I love NM elk country...it's a completely different experience hunting elk in Mesa country than in the Wyoming high desert, northern Rocky Mountains country. NM has a lot of good units and I've seen a lot more elk on a daily basis there than Washinton and Oregon hunts I did in the 90s and early 2000s. It can be a horn hunter's paradise...there are tremendous trophy units in NM with large populations of mature bulls. I saw over 20 mature bulls on a one week Gila hunt I did in NM.

Since I live in Utah, I've seen lots of elk--lots of trophy elk...they cost huge $$$ or lots of draw points....Utah has some excellent diversity in terrain from the Uintas to the Great Basin ranges. The state doesn't have as many elk as CO, Wyo, & Montana but limited entry hunts are about as good as it gets along with Arizona and Nevada in terms of bull size. The general hunts are not as good as on the balance as general tag hunts in neighboring states such as CO, ID, & Wyo.

Wish list:
--Opportunity hunt in CO
--Would love to find a good Montana hunt
--Almost any NV tag
--Backcountry hunt in Wyo, ID or Montana
--VC or VV in NM or a super ranch hunt

 

[fishnhunt]

Oregon because that is where I live...Plus they have a fair number of rifle tags and archery is OTC...And they pull some nice bulls out of the woods everyyear
Idaho because it is close by and there are OTC bull and buck tags that overlap.....

 

[Huntnup]

I have hunted ELK in MT, CO, NV and AZ. MT ( Around Big Sky) was great and not very crowded where we were.
CO (61) and NV ( Late season hunt) were wall to wall people!! and most people gave you some sort of mean look when they say you. In NV and CO I also came across many roads that were blocked by trucks!! So as to say this is our area.. no need to go any farther. Any this was public land.

I had a great time in AZ but then again it seems anything I do in AZ is fun!!

Good luck to all in the Draws

 

[Oregon Archer]

OR of course. Doesn't produce the biggest bulls but there is plenty of opportunity each year and tags are readily available.

 

[Speckmisser]

I've only hunted CO, so that's an easy pick. I'd love to do the Bob Marshall on horseback one day, but that's a big-ticket item and not one I'm likely to spring for anytime soon.

I'm also a meat hunter, which is one of the reasons I like CO. There are plenty of OTC tags, both archery and rifle, and if the draw odds aren't bad if you're not trying to get into a trophy area. The additional cow tag option is also nice, but I've never taken advantage of it... but it's perfect for a meat hunter.

 

[tmoniz]

I like Wyo. There are some places there that hold good numbers of Elk and some zones with some very good bulls.
Never hunted them in Co.
Did a few times in Eastern Oregon.
Saw a lot of Elk in Oregon.

 

[ELKBUSTER]

I've hunted Western Oregon, Southern Colorado and Idaho.
Idaho for me is best, lots of animals and I love the Junior Mentoring program. EB

 

[richardoutwest]

Arizona and New Mexico for me. I got use to the 340 -400 inch on bone. I guess I am ruined!

 

[Shay Mann]

Oregon

1)home state
2)Over the Counter Tags
3)Elk in just about every 36 counties of the state
4)Tons of public land
5)I don't have to drive so far.
6)The only state I've ever hunted elk in. (Need to Expand I know.)

 

[DAWG]

I have hunted elk in WY, AZ, CO, ID, NM, UT and MT. It is all good. I have had better luck wit elk than anythimg else, but I am happy with small bulls on OTC tags. I have to give the nod to CO for the opportunity to just go and buy a tag the night before the season starts. Hunting elk is better than not. My 9 x 7 385 from AZ really looks good on the wall, but not sure the hunt was any more fun than the OTC raghorn I got in CO last year.

 

[ducslayer]

Colorado! Lotts of elk!

 

[Widux]

Didn't see elk on post--AK not my fav or them-- would have to say CO

 

[fishnhunt]

Although it is not on the list one of my top places that I would like to hunt is CA....I know tags are impossible especially for a non res....And there is limited oppertunity....But....I want to kill all 3 north american subspecies and CA is the only place to get a tule elk. I will be applying until I die....But thats why I have a lifetime license.....Only costs 7 buck a year....

 

[foulshot]

CO, it's close......

If I was looking for a trophy, I'd have to say Az or Ut.

It would be nice to tag out all subspecies.

I think Cali should open up the hunts to out of state draws.

 

[fishnhunt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (foulshot @ Feb 11 2008, 03:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

CO, it's close......

If I was looking for a trophy, I'd have to say Az or Ut.

It would be nice to tag out all subspecies.

I think Cali should open up the hunts to out of state draws.[/b]

They are but only 1 nonres elk per year and you have to buy the license first and they have a verrrry steep points system

 

[cstringer09]

everybody talks about these elk but lets see some pics. for true evidence!

 

[foulshot]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (fishnhunt @ Feb 12 2008, 03:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (foulshot @ Feb 11 2008, 03:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

CO, it's close......

If I was looking for a trophy, I'd have to say Az or Ut.

It would be nice to tag out all subspecies.

I think Cali should open up the hunts to out of state draws.[/b]

They are but only 1 nonres elk per year and you have to buy the license first and they have a verrrry steep points system
[/b][/quote]
F&H, that's what I mean. Could you imagine the outrage if CO said "ok, we are limiting nonres tags to 100, and you need atleast 6 points"
This is the one time I think Cali does NOT think about revenue....

 

[fishnhunt]

I totally agree...I think it is BS especially since sooooooo many cali hunters hunt out of state. With their limited tag numbers I could see them having some limit but 1 seems a little short. I will be applying for this hunt untill I am old and grey. But atleast before I lost residency I bought a lifetime license so it only costs me $7/yr to apply. They let more out of state hunters shoot sheep than elk. Cali needs to stop charging sooooo much for tags even for its residents....its BS. I am very glad I no longer reside there

 

[foulshot]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (fishnhunt @ Feb 13 2008, 09:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I am very glad I no longer reside there[/b]

Ditto!

 

[db 183]

I have only Elk hunted once. That was in Jackson Hole, Wyoming with Horse Creek Outfitters in the Gros Ventre Wilderness. Best hunting experience of my life.

We were on horse back and lived in wall tents for a week.

I am a meat hunter and a trophy would have merely been an opportunity. I got my bull out of a herd of 50 to 70 elk. I had a 400 yard shot at the herd bull and missed clean.

We intercepted the herd down stream from where we fired our first shots. I got a chance at a nice bull. The guide ranged him at about 265 yards. I hit him right in the neck above his right shoulder. He went down and stayed down.

It was an awesome experience. If I could afford to do it this way every year I would.

I may be going with friends to CO next year so that may become my new favorite. We shall see.

Then again, I keep putting in for those Grizzly Island Tule Elk. If I could get drawn for that, it might be my favorite. Think about it...Flat marsh land, no high mountains, 30 minutes from home...hmmmmm

Here is my Wyoming Bull. It is not the biggest but surely was not the smallest in the herd. I brought home 331 pounds of boned out meat from the butcher: