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Post by firstwd on May 18, 2016 20:09:31 GMT -5
Does anybody know off hand what states, if any, offer over the counter elk tags?
A buddy and I have neither one experienced an elk hunt but also can neither one afford one of the big trophy animal draw hunts. We were thinking a guided archery hunt in an over the counter state on what some might consider inferior animals. :-) hey, I'm a broke country boy, what do you expect?
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Post by ukwil on May 19, 2016 5:46:40 GMT -5
Colorado for sure. A number of states offer leftover tags, usually on a first come first serve basis also. I'm planning a once in a lifetime trip to Utah here in 2 to 3 years. I've been building points since 2000/2001. We are also planning a pronghorn/mule deer hunt in Wyoming in 2017 also.
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Elk
May 19, 2016 7:52:20 GMT -5
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swetz likes this
Post by lawrencecountyhunter on May 19, 2016 7:52:20 GMT -5
Montana has tags on sale right now. An elk tag is around $900, a deer/elk combo tag is just north of $1k.
Wyoming will have leftover cow elk tags in a month or 2, $400 - $600 depending on which unit. You need a point or 2 to draw a bull tag.
Idaho has OTC deer and elk tags, a little under $500 for an elk tag.
As mentioned above, CO has OTC archery and rifle tags, around $600.
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on May 20, 2016 18:55:59 GMT -5
If you go DIY, the tag will be the bulk of the cost. If you camp and bring food, the only other real cost is fuel. I think going guided is overrated. Odds are you'll be hunting the same public land you can on your own, and there is still a good chance of going home empty-handed. www.rmef.org/TheHunt/Before/PlanforGrand.aspx
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Post by throbak on May 20, 2016 19:13:54 GMT -5
If I were going Hands down I would spend a little more money and get a guide. A few years ago I spent close to 30 days in the Mountains near Yampa - Steamboat Springs Area on A DIY , I had a ball but ELK AINT DEER spent a week getting aclimated no problem I Bought a bird book and a plant book Had fun bird watching and Botanizing.. But by the time we figured Elk Out Found Out, and where they were ,It was time to go home , At the very least go on a lease ,where land owner can point you in the right direction !!These things are one the move constantly ,,,The scouting and knowledge of elk and their whereabouts is invaluable If I did it again It would be with a guide or on a lease with A knowledgeable land owner no question about it
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on May 20, 2016 19:54:09 GMT -5
If money is no object, sure, guided is fine. I think a wilderness horseback hunt out of a wall tent would be an awesome experience.
That's how I look at these things, is from an experience standpoint. And I can do at least 5 DIY hunts for the price of the cheapest guided elk hunt. And success rates for most guided archery elk hunts are still very low.
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Post by bullseye69 on May 20, 2016 21:43:23 GMT -5
I have done 2 Wyoming antelope DIY and 2 Montana deer DIY. Done good every time. It isn't really that hard if you spend some time checking stuff out online and if you can go with someone who has done a DIY trip before it helps out allot. Yes elk are a little more difficult than the others but if your out for a cow tag which is easier to get and more areas to hunt for a cow elk than a bull elk. Some areas you can't shoot a bull elk. So you just need to do research and figure out where and when and for what you want. If your wanting a trophy bull, then you would really need a guide. I know where there are nice trophy elk in Wyoming but seeing as I'm a non-resident I need a guide to go into the wilderness areas to hunt them.
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Post by Woody Williams on May 21, 2016 6:56:23 GMT -5
If they would invent some flat land elk I'd go hunt them again.
I've only bowhunted them and always on a DIY hunt. Big thing is just finding them and then not bumping them into the next county. It does not take a whole lot of human presence to bump them. The herd could move 5 miles and in a hurry. Then you have to find them all over again...
It is a hunt that every hunter should try at least once....
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Post by dbd870 on May 21, 2016 8:00:28 GMT -5
That and that is a lot of animal to deal with once it's done!
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Elk
May 21, 2016 8:57:08 GMT -5
Post by drs on May 21, 2016 8:57:08 GMT -5
That and that is a lot of animal to deal with once it's done! Back in 1991, on a Western Colorado Hunt; I had to pass on a nice 6 X 6 Bull Elk, because he was down a very steep canyon. Just too much animal for me and two other hunting friends to handle, even if we cut him into manageable pieces. I waited to see if he would come up out of the canyon, but he had other plans and remained there. Interesting encounter though!
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Post by bullseye69 on May 21, 2016 17:14:31 GMT -5
If they would invent some flat land elk I'd go hunt them again. I've only bowhunted them and always on a DIY hunt. Big thing is just finding them and then not bumping them into the next county. It does not take a whole lot of human presence to bump them. The herd could move 5 miles and in a hurry. Then you have to find them all over again... It is a hunt that every hunter should try at least once.... . First time I went antelope hunting around Gillett WY , which isn't very hilly , we seen elk all over. Could have had some real easy bow or gun shots but no tag.
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Elk
May 23, 2016 5:28:38 GMT -5
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Post by ukwil on May 23, 2016 5:28:38 GMT -5
If you go DIY, the tag will be the bulk of the cost. If you camp and bring food, the only other real cost is fuel. I think going guided is overrated. Odds are you'll be hunting the same public land you can on your own, and there is still a good chance of going home empty-handed. www.rmef.org/TheHunt/Before/PlanforGrand.aspxThanks for the link. Have you done any mule deer or antelope hunts in WY? I'm wanting to start planning now for next fall. Trying to figure out their regulations is daunting and I ha e no clue where to start.
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Elk
May 23, 2016 11:47:17 GMT -5
Post by lawrencecountyhunter on May 23, 2016 11:47:17 GMT -5
If you go DIY, the tag will be the bulk of the cost. If you camp and bring food, the only other real cost is fuel. I think going guided is overrated. Odds are you'll be hunting the same public land you can on your own, and there is still a good chance of going home empty-handed. www.rmef.org/TheHunt/Before/PlanforGrand.aspxThanks for the link. Have you done any mule deer or antelope hunts in WY? I'm wanting to start planning now for next fall. Trying to figure out their regulations is daunting and I ha e no clue where to start. Sent you a PM.
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Post by steiny on May 24, 2016 7:51:22 GMT -5
I've done four elk hunts and killed 6x6 bulls three out of the four hunts, all guided. On the unsuccessful hunt in high country Colorado, a big storm came in and blew us off the mountain about two days into the hunt. I've also done do it yourself public ground elk hunts on two occasions and although it was fun, it was unsuccessful both times.
Do it yourself is fun, you will save a bunch of money, have a nice camping trip, see some pretty country and have a chance at kill an elk, but ..... If your time is limited and you want a good shot at killing a respectable elk, you need to pay a guide who is familiar with the elk and the country, to get you on some good private ground undisturbed by other hunters. Your odds of success will go up immensely.
Most guys that are successful do it yourself elk hunting live in the region or have been going back to the same location and learned the terrain and animals via trial and error by hunting year after year.
Hunted Utah last fall with two buddies in late September with rifle. Elk were still bugling and responsive to calling and it was a blast. We all killed elk, two 6x6 and one 5x5 within three days. When I killed mine, the guide had five bulls all called in to within about 60 yards, before I picked out the bigger one and shot him. Really exciting stuff, might try it with a bow next time.
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Elk
May 25, 2016 0:35:59 GMT -5
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Post by ukwil on May 25, 2016 0:35:59 GMT -5
Steiny, if you don't mind me asking who'd you use in Utah. I'm setting on 16 limited entry points for elk and am in the planning stages of going out in the next couple years.
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Post by SFC (R) B on Oct 28, 2016 4:29:51 GMT -5
I am in Colorado Springs and hunt DIY for elk and deer. I hunt in the Flattops and will say that the average success rate during rifle season is somewhere around 20%. In four seasons of hunting I have 2 elk, a deer and an antelope. There is a huge amount of public land here and you can get out and about in lots of different types of elk country. As far as guided hunts, you can think of $4000 and up. Also, if anybody is looking for a "flat land" outfitter I can point you toward one as well. Feel free to ask me any CO questions you have and I will give it my best shot.
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