DIY in CO will be tough

they will sell more tags than there are elks

Just pick a unit and go
Bulls will be along the tree line
Cows will be in the meadows

Do not hunt them during the day while they're bedded down
or you'll drive them to the next area 10 miles away

I hunted in Chama NM with a guide (he guides in NM and CO)
he said success rate on public land in CO is in the single digit

Do it once/twice for the experience

Do it again with an outfitter to see how they do it

You will see a pattern of how they locate elks
(they spend all their available time glassing for migration pattern )

My next elk trip will probably be Wyoming


btw, elk hunting is real hunting

what we do here in Texas is harvesting,

sitting in a blind shooting at a feeder is NOT HUNTING
don't kid yourself
don't brag about it
just call it what it is : harvesting

definitely don't brag about Texas hunting to elk hunters
they will belittle and chastise you, and rightfully so

Never had an issue in 30 years of hunting out west but from my experience most those bragging about animals and looking down are the elk hunters that buy landowner tags on exclusive 100k ranches,

Who knew the definition of hunting was the degree of handicapping