I have been doing out of state deer trips for several years now and always have a blast. I have decided that I want to take a trip chasing Elk with my bow. Looking into the 2017 season and for my first trip I am wanting to use an outfitter. Interested in any area I can get an OTC tag.

Do you guys have any recommendations on where to start? What are the best OTC tag areas? Do you know of any outfitter you would recommend? I am not looking to go after a 400" bull just a good experience with fair chances at a bull with my bow. Any help would be greatly appreciated I would really like to get the ball rolling asap.

I recommend you check out the THF group elk hunt thread. The participants could be of help to you.

PM sent

Can let you know after Nov. 7, this year. Wife & I will be in Montana the week before and will be on our way home.

OTC tags are CO or Idaho for most part

I have used Zane Streater on a hunt outside of Las Vegas NM. He has landowner tags and he will do archery. I hunted with him several years ago and saw plenty of elk. Shot a decent bull. The guide I used was very good. Zane provides meals and a place to stay in Las Vegas.

Did you hunt archery or rifle?

I hunted rifle, but Zane is a big archery hunter and can accommodate you. He has access to several ranches. Not a high fence but there are resident herds there that stay in the area. He has a website and you can see some of the bulls killed.

g

Colorado

I would start by making the decision to apply for tags in a couple states. You could get drawn. And that is a whole lot better than an otc outfitted hunt if you have basic gear and common sense. If your not drawn then go the otc/outfitted hunt. The money you spend on the outfitter could be spent on top quality gear if you don't have it yet. Plus your gonna spend some on the gear if you go outfitted. I'm saying this cause you have suggested an otc unit with a fair chance at a bull. You need to plan on a fully guided outfitted hunt on private land then. But then that hunt doesn't really prepare you for what your going to be staring at in future hunts.....so start now lol. Unless this is a one time hunt and you plan on never doing it again, elk are very doable on your own. I would say you have about 5%-6% chance of success on your own in otc units and 10%-15% with a guided hunt otc unit. This being your first time elk hunting of course.

I would start in New Mexico..it's hard to pull a tag there but easier to kill a big elk even DIY

You can go the reservation route also and pay for a tag. I've never tried to kill a bull but a cow hunt on a res is fairly cheap. New Mexico has great elk hunting on easy terrain and it gets cold but not so bad.

I used Hills Guide service in CO, OTC tags for bear and Elk. Good accommodations and plenty of Elk, mostly average 5x5 but great #s. Hunted mid-Sept during the bugle and had a blast, tagged out by 0800 on day 2.

Montana is not an OTC state but the outfitter & the State office I contacted said that for the last 5 years or so anyone that applied for tags got them. This year was the first year for us to apply and we did get tags. Will be in Montana come late Oct for a rifle hunt.