National guide · Updated 2026 · Honest comparison
Eight elk states ranked the honest way — herd size, tag access, nonresident odds, terrain, and cost. Written by a Colorado outfitter, so we'll tell you straight where Colorado wins and where another state fits you better.
Where we stand
Elk Glade guides hunts in one state — Colorado, on GMU 59. So yes, we have a horse in this race. But a comparison page that pretends every other state is bad would be useless to you and embarrassing to us. The rankings below are honest: Colorado leads on herd size and access, and we say so, but Utah and Arizona grow bigger bulls, Wyoming and New Mexico have their own real advantages, and we say that too.
If after reading this Colorado is your pick, we’d love to guide you. If it’s Wyoming or Montana, this page still did its job.
The states
Best for: The default starting point — biggest herd, the most tag options, OTC opportunity for nonresidents, and a deep outfitter industry. Hard to beat for a first western elk hunt.
Best for: Hunters who want a general license that hunts many units, plus the unique Block Management access to private land. The nonresident combo draw is the gate.
Best for: Hunters who can play the point game and want high-quality, lower-density units. Note the law requiring nonresidents to hire a guide in designated wilderness.
Best for: Hunters who want OTC-style access without a draw, can buy the moment tags release, and are ready for deep, rugged wilderness country.
Best for: Trophy hunters with patience to bank points for a high-quality limited-entry tag. Not a quick-access state, but a giant-bull state.
Best for: Hunters who like that there's no point creep — every year is a fresh random draw — and those willing to use the strong landowner-voucher market.
Best for: Trophy hunters playing a long game. Arizona produces giant bulls but the best tags can take a decade-plus of points to draw.
Best for: Hunters who specifically want Roosevelt elk in the coastal rainforest, or general Rocky Mountain access east of the Cascades.
Herd figures are state-agency estimates and vary year to year. Tag rules change annually — always confirm current regulations with the state wildlife agency before planning.
How to choose
If Colorado is your pick
Elk Glade guides bull elk on GMU 59 limited entry, on the south slope of Pikes Peak — inside Colorado’s 280,000-head herd. Archery, muzzleloader, and four rifle seasons. One-on-one and two-on-one ratios on 2,100 family-owned acres and over 25,000 leased acres.
Frequently asked
Colorado is the most common answer for most hunters — it has the largest elk herd in the world (~280,000), the widest range of tag options including over-the-counter opportunity for nonresidents, 23 million acres of public land, and the deepest outfitter industry. For trophy-class bulls specifically, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada produce giants but require years of accumulated draw points. The 'best' state depends on whether you optimize for opportunity, trophy quality, or low-friction access.
Colorado offers the easiest access for nonresidents because it still sells over-the-counter elk tags for archery and 2nd/3rd rifle seasons in many units — no draw required. Idaho sells capped nonresident tags first-come (no draw), though they sell out quickly. States like Arizona, Nevada, and premium Utah units are the hardest, requiring many years of accumulated points.
Colorado has the most elk of any state — and the largest elk population anywhere on Earth — at roughly 280,000 animals. Montana (~140,000), Oregon (~130,000), Idaho (~120,000), and Wyoming (~110,000) follow. Colorado's combination of herd size and tag accessibility is why it's the most-hunted elk state in the country.
For sheer trophy quality, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada produce the highest concentration of record-book bulls because their limited-entry systems protect age structure — but tags can take 5–15+ years of points to draw. Colorado, Montana, and New Mexico also produce giant bulls in their better units. Trophy potential and tag accessibility are usually inversely related.
Yes — Colorado is the most common choice for a first western elk hunt. The herd is the largest in the world, nonresidents can buy over-the-counter tags for several seasons without a draw, public land is abundant, and the outfitter industry is deep and competitive. A guided hunt on a limited-entry unit like GMU 59 further shortens the learning curve. It's the lowest-friction entry into western elk hunting.
On sources + honesty
Herd estimates from state wildlife agencies (CPW, MFWP, WGFD, IDFG, UDWR, NMDGF, AZGFD, ODFW). Tag rules summarized from current agency regulations and subject to annual change. Elk Glade outfits only in Colorado; rankings of other states are offered as honest planning help, not as services we provide.
