My son has just pointed out to me how many leftover cow/calf tags wy has
we have never been hunting in WY so we are planning.
Some areas the season runs from Aug 1 to Dec.\He is thinking unit 35 or 53 from what info. he has.
I know the time of year will have a lot to do with what area HIGH Or LOW
Any one have any advice?

You should check those hunt codes prior to buying. The only tags I see available for those two units are 035-6 and 053-7. Neither of which are valid on national forest land. 053-7 is a private land only tag. 035-6 is only valid on BLM, State, or private land (depending on the time of year). Use the Hunt Planner on Wyoming Game and Fish website to check where tags are valid.

Like Fitzwho said could be all private property, always good to check.

The leftovers after the leftover draw are usually really hard tags to fill.
You will not find private access for free even for cows.
The area we work the ranch in has hundreds left every year for a reason, no private access to be had unless you know someone.
We've had issues filling tags because the elk herd up and travel around to their safe spots in herds of hundreds by late Oct.
August elk hunting could be problematic for getting meat cooled quickly.

Those Type 6 and 7 are reduced priced tags so you could chance it but I would not in those areas without access.

what would you have to pay for access in a fair to good unit. i am not looking for a freebie. would just like to have good hunt, I am not dead set on harvest but son is.

I would contact the biologist and GW for the 35-6 tag and ask about access or finding them late on the public lands, the state lands below the forest.
Try cheyenne.stewart@wyo.gov for the biologist
ryan.kenneda@wyo.gov for the GW
I know Ryan he is a good guy, and may have some names for you.
This late to the game though access will be hard to find and may be expensive, several hundred dollars.
Also that is a long drive through our state in winter, be prepared for travel issues with winter storms closing the roads. You may be stuck for a few days without any means to travel home if roads are closed.

Area 6 cow tags will have no one that grants access, the ranch we work.

We have some good public land cow tags, reduced price that you can draw random but no guarantee on that. The forest tags are good ones in the Snowies.