Elk hunting is becoming more and more popular, especially for hunters who are looking for a more challenging experience that requires additional skill and endurance. If you’re one to enjoy elk hunting or want to start, here are five states that you’ll want to make sure you plan a hunting vacation to:
- Arizona
Arizona is one of the best states to find huge elk, which is why it is considered the paradise for trophy hunters. The downside is that it can take you 10 years before you can even get a tag for the elk there. This is because the state works off the lottery system.
- Colorado
On average, elk hunters are going to find roughly 200,000 elk running around the pastures and mountains. As many as 50,000 of those are allowed to be harvested each year. Plus, if you don’t live in Colorado and want to hunt there, you can do so without having to worry about a permit limit.
- Montana
Near Yellowstone National park in Montana sits the Lee Metcalf Wilderness, home to some of the best elk hunting in the country. The higher up you go in the backcountry, the higher number of elk that you’ll see. However, you will also be more likely to experience wolves and grizzly bears, which are also high in population in the area.
- New Mexico
Like Arizona, New Mexico also works on a tag lottery system. Again, it can take a decade or so to accumulate an adequate number of points in order to get tags. Plus, you are legally required to an elk hunting guide if you are not a resident of the state. This means that you are looking at additional costs for your hunt.
- Oregon
Last but not least, there is Oregon. In Oregon, you can hunt for elk pretty much anywhere – up high, in the east or in the central portion of the state. You will find bigger elk with thicker antlers in the coastal mountains, but the vegetation is dense in this area, which means you’ll need to be extra cautious when hunting.
And of course, if you have questions about the gear you need, or simply need some new hunting equipment, call us or feel free to browse around - we have over 20,000 products online.
