Sure, we'd all wish for a trophy bull elk hunt in a prime western state location during the peak of the rut. But if you want to get realistic, it's easier said than done. To most hunters, the idea of a Western hunt elicits feelings of excitement, enthusiasm, and a bit of intimidation. For those not residing in the West, it's a significant undertaking, but not an impossible one. Whether a lack of time, money, or information is holding you back, elk hunts out West are not as far out of reach as they may seem.

We all have different financial situations and our elk hunting budgets reflect that household reality. For some, elk hunting is their highest priority. For others, a Western hunt seems like a far off dream. The more you are able to budget, the more elk hunting will be at your disposal. There are plenty of tags, public land, and elk to go around. By setting aside a little each month, you can hit the road for elk this fall. Stop daydreaming, and start planning your hunt.

Bow or Rifle Hunt?

Elk hunting can be a thrilling and frustrating pastime. When it comes to hunting elk, the work and patience required are worth the payoff. There are a few primary weapons you can use for elk hunting: the compound bow, the classic, hunter rifle, or the muzzleloader.

All in all, archery and muzzleloader elk hunts tend to be more affordable than rifle hunts, and are in areas that are covered up in elk. Bowhunting requires a far higher level of personal skill and training than rifle hunting, but the season is quite a bit longer than its rifle-hunting counterpart, mainly because it’s a more sustainable form of hunting.

License Draws

Big game licensing systems affect what tags end up in your pocket and influence the price of western hunts by state. Largely, big game tags are allocated to hunters according to the rules of supply and demand and take into account the number of animals that can be removed from a population without harming the resource. Each state has different regulations, terminology and hunting seasons, as well as different wildlife management procedures. Here are a few of the typical big game license draws.

Over The Counter: One of the best ways to hunt the west is with over-the-counter tags. Over-the-counter tags are readily available and allow for elk hunting yearly which can help you become a better western hunter. Bowhunting typically presents the most over-the-counter (purchase tags without needing to enter a draw system) opportunities available and generally takes place earlier in the season. There are over-the-counter opportunities for muzzleloader and rifle hunts, but these are tougher to find and can have more hunting pressure.

Lotteries: In a lottery system, every hunter who applies for a tag has the exact same odds of drawing. Alaska, Idaho and New Mexico all use a pure lottery system for issuing big game tags.

Bonus Points: The bonus system rewards repeat hunters. In this system, a hunter who is unsuccessful in drawing a tag for a particular species one year receives a bonus point for that animal. The next year, that hunter’s name goes into the drawing an additional time for each bonus point they’ve accumulated. Arizona, Montana, Nevada and Maine are some examples of state’s that use bonus point systems.

Preference Points: Preference points are rewarded to unsuccessful applicants. However, once a first-choice tag is drawn, the hunter’s points return to zero.

Resident & Non Resident Tags: In most Western states, residents are generally given top priority. Montana, for example, caps the number of non-resident big game tags at 10 percent. In some states, certain tags might only be available to resident hunters, or they might only be available to hunters who hunt with a guide.

DIY vs. Guided Hunting

Of course, top-of-the-line guided elk hunts are not cheap, so money is a major factor to consider. You can choose DIY, a top-of-the-line guided elk hunt, or something in between.

Guided hunts are great for first-time elk hunters who want an incredible taste of what elk hunting has to offer. However, a guided hunt is a luxury many cannot afford, and does not guarantee a kill. For a fully guided elk hunt, you will have to play the ticket lottery, save up your points, and count your pennies. If you can swing it financially, a guided trip is well worth the price tag, since you are led by guides who have made elk hunting their passion. A fully guided hunt in states like Montana, Colorado, or Wyoming, may run around $4,000-$10,000, plus $400-$900 for an elk tag

While not as glamorous as a guided hunt, DIY elk hunts are one of the best ways to learn to hunt. DIY hunts require significant research and a detailed plan. In this way, DIY hunts are best for the beginning hunter who doesn’t mind a learning curve and wants to become a master elk hunter. The process of planning and executing a DIY hunt is much cheaper than a guided hunt, and more rewarding. Many hunters across the country can pull together a DIY hunt for around $1,000.

Another option is a drop camp hunt where an outfitter will pack you into the backcountry on horses and pack the meat out if you are successful. Drop camps can range from $1,500-$3,000.

Below are our top states with over-the-counter tags for nonresident hunters on a budget:

Colorado

Colorado is a hunter’s dream since it is almost a guarantee for the archery and muzzleloader hunter. Colorado has the highest elk density population in the United States with a herd of over 280,000. Along with a high elk population, Colorado has a massive amount of hunters each year driven by the state’s high amount of over-the-counter units.

The incredible amount of wilderness available to hunters in Colorado is what makes the state so great for Western hunts. For whitetail and midwestern hunters, Colorado is logistically the closest place to get with a strong elk population.

Colorado sells “statewide” archery over-the-counter tags, which are valid in most of the state’s game management units. There are also over-the-counter bull-only tags available that are also valid in most of the state during Colorado’s second or third rifle season. There’s plenty of good public land elk country as well.

Whether you like to hunt with a bow or rifle Colorado has opportunity. One thing to note about Colorado is its difficult terrain. From high elevation to dense vegetation, it is important for Western hunters to be in shape and pace themselves. Most elk live around 8,000 to 13,000 foot elevations.

OTC units are unique in Colorado because if the unit you’re hunting is unsuccessful, you could head across the ridge and hunt an equal or lower unit. They have 147 units available to hunt with a bow and 92 units to hunt with a rifle. Colorado is incredibly budget-friendly. The total price for a non-resident to hunt is around $670 for a bull elk, and $503 for a cow or calf, including tag and license. Plan your hunt here.

Montana

To Western hunters, Montana is considered an “every year” hunt. Montana holds and elk population of 160,000.

Typically, Montana has thousands of leftover general elk tags following the drawing. These tags are available on a first-come, first-serve basis every year after the draw concludes. It’s important to note that these tags are usually in high demand, so you’ll have to act fast next year if you’re interested. Although Montana may require a bit more budgeting than Colorado, the longer seasons allow for more scheduling flexibility.

Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness is one of the only places in the world where you can rifle hunt rutting elk, mule deer, black bears, and wolves all at the same time. Plan your hunt here.

Idaho

From the panhandle to the Southern border, Idaho is extremely diverse. The state boasts a herd population of 120,000 elk, and the hunting pressure isn't quite what it is in other, more popular states. With sage flats, high alpine, rocky basins, and dark timber, Idaho has terrain for all. Most importantly, Idaho is a hunter-friendly state and one of the few that offers archery and rifle over-the-counter elk tags.

Idaho allows nonresidents to purchase an elk tag that is valid for a specific “elk general zone.” This means that you can hunt any of the units in the general zone, with archery season taking place during most of September and rifle season happening in mid to late October for most units. Also, in Idaho you can “tag trade” from a hierarchy of tags. For example, if a hunter has an elk tag and comes across a mountain lion or black bear, they could pursue the animal if they have not found their target elk. If the tag is deemed less desirable than the tag held, the animal may be pursued.

They have 87 units available to hunt over the counter and you will have your choice of archery, muzzleloader, or rifle. Idaho has a capped quota on elk tags and does sell out quickly. For over-the-counter tags Idaho gives two primary options. There are A tags and B tags. The A tag gives hunters the entire archery season in September plus 4-5 days of rifle season in October. The B tag gives hunters the first two weeks of the archery season in September and the vast majority of October for rifle hunting. The cost to hunt OTC elk in Idaho as a non-resident is approximately $836. Plan your hunt here.

Oregon

Oregon’s elk are one of the most sought-after species for hunters and the second most popular game animal after deer. Rocky Mountain elk are found in eastern Oregon and Roosevelt elk are found in western Oregon, with most concentrated in the Coast, Cascade and Blue Mountain ranges.

Dense, thick, and rainforest-like country mark the Oregon terrain for hunters. The west side of Oregon offers lower and intermediate elevation in comparison to the majority of elk hunting locations. A unique feature of Oregon is its lumber company land. This land is generally treated as public land for over-the-counter tags. An non-resident OTC tag in Oregon is approximately $760. Plan your hunt here.

In the end, elk hunting has a big learning curve. Whether guided or DIY, beginner hunters have a lot to absorb and learn. Becoming a skillful, accomplished elk hunter is a long process and takes time.

There is really no reason for any aspiring elk hunter to stay home from the elk woods each year. For not much more than $100 per month, a public land elk hunt can be had in many western states. As your budget increases, so does your opportunity.

Elk Hunting Basics on a Budget