Best western states for elk hunting compared

If you're picking one western state for your first guided elk hunt, the conversation lives in five places: Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and New Mexico. Each has a real argument for being the right one — they just optimize for different things.

Colorado has the largest elk herd in the country (~280,000 animals) and the most generous OTC bull elk tag system. If you don't want to wait years for a draw, this is the easy answer. The trade-off: hunting pressure is real, especially in OTC units. Quality outfitters fix this with private leases or back-country drop camps that escape the road hunters.

Pricing: $5,500–$9,000 for a typical 5-day fully guided hunt. Nonresident bull elk tag is around $760.

Wyoming gives nonresidents access to genuinely big bulls if you're willing to commit to the preference-point system or pay for a special tag. The state's general elk tag is the most affordable nonresident option in the West (~$707). Expect a $700 fee plus 2-4 preference points for a quality unit.

Pricing: $5,000–$10,000 for fully guided. Outfitters with landowner tags can get you in this year — at a premium.

Idaho's nonresident general tags ($651) sell out within minutes of going on sale in early December — it's the December draw race. If you can grab one, you get access to massive backcountry units with lower pressure than Colorado. The terrain is steep, the elk are wild, and the success rates are honest.

Pricing: $5,500–$9,500 fully guided. Drop camps run $2,000–$3,200 for the same duration if you can hunt yourself.

Montana is the connoisseur's elk state. Public land everywhere, real mountain hunting, and bulls that have seen pressure. The combination license is draw-only for nonresidents and runs about $884. Outfitters here do excellent work but the hunts are physically demanding.

New Mexico produces the biggest bulls in the country pound for pound, but it's 100% draw for nonresidents. The shortcut is going through an outfitter who has guaranteed landowner tags or who pulls the outfitter pool. Expect $7,000–$15,000 for premium units.

First-timer who wants to hunt this year, doesn't care if it's a 280-class bull: Colorado OTC. Patient hunter chasing a 320-class trophy: New Mexico through an outfitter. Backcountry hunter who can wait for the December tag race: Idaho. Wyoming and Montana sit in between for the patient hunter willing to play the points game.