Best location/state to hunk elk for meat

slimjim

I'd like to start hunting elk. Initially, just interested in having the meat so a cow or young bull is fine. I'd be an out of state hunter. Where would you recommend trying to get an elk tag and have good odds for suscces? What are your reasons?

Thanks for any feedback.

Suzanne

Just so you have the information, an out of state hunting license in Oregon will run $140.50 an out of state elk tag in Oregon goes for $500.50 (expensive meat) but if you're into it there is on-line license sales at THIS ADDRESS you can get to the regulations also at THIS ADDRESS General seasons start in mid October.

Last season, from the Cascades west to the ocean, 63,174 hunters tagged 6,496 elk for a 10 percent success rate. South Coast hunters were the most effective with a 16 percent success rate, while Cascade area hunters averaged 6 percent success.

On the South Coast, the Sixes Unit turned in the best numbers with 32 percent success. It's not an easy hunt, though. Hunters spent an average of 6.75 days in the field. One of the most popular units is the Tioga, which saw 4,487 hunters last year. They spent an average of 6.27 days in the field for a success rate of 15 percent.

North Coast units with the best success rates were Saddle Mountain (18 percent), Scappoose (13 percent) and Trask (13 percent).
According to Chris Yee, assistant district wildlife biologist, Cascade elk populations "don't fluctuate that much from year to year."
"Hunter success is more driven by the seasonal conditions. Cooler, overcast days are best," Yee said. "They know when they're being hunted, and they go onto the very steep slopes and into heavy cover. The general Cascade hunt is a hard hunt."
Yee said the guys who are willing to go into the steep, nasty stuff would get into the elk every year.
The biologist pointed out that successful scouting is different than merely finding elk.
A lot of guys make the mistake of looking where the elk are going to be during the non-hunting times of the year, said Yee.
It's important to get to know the area you're hunting. You have to look at areas where the elk are going to be hiding, and not necessarily in the feeding areas.
"They'll wait it out," he said. "In a weeklong season, it is nothing for them to spend all day bedded down and then go nocturnal and get up and go to feed at night,"

Eastern Oregon
Biologists estimate the Rocky Mountain elk population at about 56,000. As breeding season approaches and pressure mounts during the fall hunts, the bigger groups disperse. By mid-November, the herds begin to re-assemble.

Happy Hunting!!
Suz

Azar · Member Joined: Jan 04, 2010 Posts: 275 Location: Utah

Well, Colorado has the largest elk population of any state by far. It's probably the most common place for people to book an out of state elk hunt. Montana and Wyoming would also be good choices, especially with Wyoming's success rate!

Colorado: 280,000+ elk w/ 23% success rate.
Montana: 150,000+ elk w/ 22% success rate
Wyoming: 120,000+ elk w/ 43% success rate
Oregon: 120,000+ elk w/ 13% success rate
Idaho: 100,000+ elk w/ 20% success rate

The best place for numbers (tag costs, elk populations, etc) is the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

www.rmef.org/Hunting/F...recast.htm

English Mike

Colorado upped the out of state cow tag from $250 to $340 this year.
Instead of gaining them $90 it cost them $250 because I'm going after whitetail in OK instead - 2 tags for the same $250 & I don't have to drag my fat butt around at 9,000' either. Very Happy

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

Find farmers that get and sell depredation cow tags. No draws, usually easy hunting and successful hunts (farmers WANT the elk killed, they will help you).

-DallanC

slimjim · Last edited by slimjim on Fri Sep 24, 2010 5:42 pm; edited 1 time in total

Wow, lots of good data here!

English Mike wrote:

Colorado upped the out of state cow tag from $250 to $340 this year.

That is a significant amount of money but it doesn't sound as expensive as other states and much less than a bull tag. Best wishes with your hunt in OK!!

slimjim

DallanC wrote:

Find farmers that get and sell depredation cow tags.

Interesting tip. found one. That is not bad if you consider its meals, lodging, and a guide.

COW ELK HUNTS
Utah Depredation Cow Elk Hunts on Private Land. Landowner tag + license, Meals included & Accommodations, Guide Included
PRICE: $1,200.00

stores.shoplasalmounta...gories.bok

slimjim

Azar wrote:

Well, Colorado has the largest elk population of any state by far. It's probably the most common place for people to book an out of state elk hunt. Montana and Wyoming would also be good choices, especially with Wyoming's success rate!

Thanks Azar, lots of good top level data here. Colorado is close enough to drive. NM isin't even in your list but might be another option.

slimjim

Suz, lots of detailed data! I need to be able to search like you. I may have to look into Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation like Azar suggested!

WAM, I got a membership application from them in the mail today. They must have gotten my name from something I did at Cabela's

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

slimjim wrote:

Interesting tip. found one. That is not bad if you consider its meals, lodging, and a guide.

COW ELK HUNTS
Utah Depredation Cow Elk Hunts on Private Land. Landowner tag + license, Meals included & Accommodations, Guide Included
PRICE: $1,200.00

Sounds steep to me IMO. You can find lots of cow tags for $400'ish. Season goes till Jan 31st so the closer we get to that the cheaper the prices become.

As for the deal above with room and board, could be worth it. Lemme look around.

-DallanC

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

Ka-ching... check this out, you will have to copy and paste the link, you need the two last words cow and elk:

"http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=12525293&cat=&lpid=&search=cow elk"

Cheap enough I'm stongly concidering buying one for my wife. Note with the voucher you still have take it and buy a license from the F&G.

-DallanC

slimjim

Thanks DallanC! I'm checking.

Azar · Member Joined: Jan 04, 2010 Posts: 275 Location: Utah

slimjim wrote:

Azar wrote:

Well, Colorado has the largest elk population of any state by far. It's probably the most common place for people to book an out of state elk hunt. Montana and Wyoming would also be good choices, especially with Wyoming's success rate!

Thanks Azar, lots of good top level data here. Colorado is close enough to drive. NM isin't even in your list but might be another option.

Yeah, I should have looked more carefully at your location. That link I provided is pretty comprehensive and lists New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and every other U.S. state and Canadian province that hold elk. I just listed the top 5. Next on the list would have been New Mexico and then Utah.

Hope it helps.

slimjim

Azar wrote:

Next on the list would have been New Mexico and then Utah.

I'm doing some scouting in NM in November (maybe hunting if I find a tag) but the location is a 17 hour drive. A bit long.

All the posts have been helpful. Lots of info on the link you posted. Thanks again.

Don't everybody stop! Keep it coming! I'm a sponge right now.

Ominivision1

Have hunted Elk 2 times and scored both times in Wyoming.