Elk hunting can be quite a task if you’re starting from square one. Though elk can be found in many different states and in many different types of terrain, there are a few states that offer easier access and more animals to pursue. 

The easiest state to hunt elk in is Colorado.  This is due to factors such as plentiful public land to hunt on, over-the-counter elk tags for both residents and non-residents, and the high elk populations that occupy this great state.

Regardless of where you’re headed. It is best to have a game plan before you get out in the woods of how much work you’re willing to put in, such as packing in & out, and how remote you want to get if you plan on setting up a camp.

Ample preparation and research of the location you’ll be hunting will help you tremendously even before you get boots on the ground. It doesn’t do you much good, even with an elk tag, if you’re hunting a spot that has been pressured heavily by other hunters.

The good news is, there are plenty of locations, in many different states, that you can find accessible elk that aren’t too far off the beaten path. To find those certain areas requires work though.

Speaking mostly to the traveling, public land hunter, as most hunters with access to private hunting land already know where they will be hunting, these states give you the most affordable prices and highest chances of securing a tag to be able to harvest either a bull or a cow elk.

I’ll include a link below that can show you how to use topography maps to research a specific location without being there in person.

How to Read Topo Maps to Find Elk | MeatEater Hunting (themeateater.com)

1.     Colorado

For good reason, this state is widely considered to be the best/easiest place to elk hunt. With the number of elk (nearly 280,000), and access to some of the cheapest over-the-counter options for tags in both archery and rifle season and being the closest place for most people to hunt elk, it would seem on paper that this would be the place to start.

There is a lot of land to be utilized in this state for resident and non-resident hunters. If you’re new to elk hunting, and don’t want to spend a bunch of money and still want to have a reasonable chance to harvest an elk, then this is the place for you. With that being said, I do want you too also be realistic. With more elk, also comes more hunters.

Much of the elk population lives at very high elevations where the terrain can come from flat to steep in the blink of an eye. As with most places, it is imperative to be in good shape to have a successful hunt.

Also, with over-the-counter tags being somewhat limitless, it can be harder to find that “trophy bull”, especially on public lands. Hands down, though, if you’re on a budget, want to put meat on the table and overall, just want to enjoy the experience of the hunt. This is the best place to start.

2.     Idaho  

This state seems to not be as high on many people’s list, which makes it a better place to try and pursue an elk. Even though they don’t hold the same elk numbers that other states do, they still have good elk density.

In Idaho, you’ll find there are less hunters to compete with. Like Colorado, this state offers a lot of different terrain, and being in good shape will dramatically improve your chances, but one thing that is special about this state is that they have what’s called a “tag trade”.

Essentially, when you’re hunting, if you have an elk tag, but haven’t seen an elk but have seen a couple black bears. You can kill that bear and use the elk tag for that harvest. Although, to do this you have to kill a less desirable animal, at least it’s less likely for you to leave empty-handed.

Their over-the-counter tags do sell out but another thing that Idaho does differently is that they have an A tag or a B tag for elk. The A tag provides you the option to hunt all of archery season, with only 4-5 days of hunting in Rifle season if needed.

The B tag gives you the option to hunt the first two weeks of archery season but then be able to hunt the majority of rifle season. Many would say rifle hunting is easier, but there’s nothing like hunting mid-archery season, during the peak of the rut.

3.     Oregon

I like to include this state because this state gives you the option to pursue two different breeds of elk. The home of the Roosevelt elk & Rocky Mountain elk, Oregon offers drastic differences in terrain to hunt the ghosts of the forest.

One special thing about this state is that there is a lot of lumber company land that is basically treated as public land for hunting. If you’re a beginner and aren’t in the best of shape, the west side of this state offers lower-elevation hunting which can be easier on the body.

With the diversity this state offers, and the price of the over-the-counter tags, I recommend this state to someone who is new to the game.

You may be wondering, what about states such as Montana and Wyoming?  These states both house abundant elk populations, offer many over-the-counter options, and have good hunter success rates.

As with most places, there is a lot of land to explore, but there are large herds of elk that find solitude on private ranches once that pressure hits. By no means does that mean you can’t successfully harvest a trophy bull or cow elk on public land, but as a DIY, first time elk hunter, there may be better options unless you have some knowledge of an existing area already.

I will say, Montana can be the best state to harvest that monster bull on public land. Some may get lucky and find themselves in the right place at the right time, but if you get out and scout or do your research, you could potentially be one of the lucky ones.

I’ll add a link here that will briefly describe some of the best places to hunt in most popular states to pursue elk.

10 Best Public Lands for Elk (And How to Hunt Them) | Field & Stream (fieldandstream.com)

Best Places to Kill an Elk in the U.S. (wideopenspaces.com)

Alternative States: Utah, Arizona

In the states that I have already mentioned, it is completely possible to kill the bull of a lifetime, but if you can secure a tag in either Utah or Arizona, these would be the states in which you would most likely find yourself face to face with a mature trophy bull.

Although Utah only records the third most record bulls, it is number one if you break it down by square miles. Utah is the place to hunt if you want to have the chance to kill a record bull. Like Utah, Arizona has some monsters roaming around.

Although it may take some time to draw a tag, this state offers some of the biggest and best elk hunting in the country and possibly even the world. There are big bulls, in areas that are easy to access, and the bugling is said to be insane.

Arizona is known for being extremely hard to draw, but that doesn’t mean you’ll never get the chance to hunt it. There are many other options besides the most wanted early archery and early rifle tags.

To be honest, if you have secured a tag, the easiest place to hunt elk is going to be the area that you are most familiar with. Whether it’s living closer to that area or having done hunts in previous years in that location, the more experience you have with a particular terrain will provide you with the knowledge you need to work smarter and not harder.

The truth is, elk hunting isn’t easy, but there are some things to keep in mind that can make it a bit less stressful. Become aware of the elk hangout spots, such as hidden deep timber meadows and grassy slopes, and non-crowded areas with less hunters.

Trust me, you’re not going to find that big trophy bull hanging out next to the road. Also, educate yourself on elk movement and understand that elk move the most in the mornings and evenings.

Never underestimate utilizing hunting apps to locate potential hunting areas and access different tracks of land. As hunters get smarter, so do the elk. Always be positive but the more time you spend in the woods you’ll come to understand hunting is called hunting for a reason. If it was easy, it’d just be called killing.

If you enjoyed this article check these other great articles from Pinetrees and Solitude: 

• What Should I Bring Elk Hunting? Idaho Checklist
• Are Guided Elk Hunts Worth The Cost? Find Out Here
• The Best Time To Hunt Elk: Master Elk Habits
  

(This article was originally published on Pintreesandsolitude.com. If it is now published on any other site, it was done without permission from the copyright owner.)