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State comparison · Updated 2026

Colorado vs. Montana elk hunting.

The two biggest elk states by herd, with different ways in. Colorado sells over-the-counter tags and holds twice the elk; Montana gates nonresidents through a combo draw but rewards them with a long general season and the Block Management access program. Head to head on tags, access, and cost.

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Head to head

Colorado and Montana, side by side.

DimensionColoradoMontana
Elk herd~280,000 — largest on Earth~140,000
Nonresident tagsOTC available (archery, 2nd/3rd rifle) + limited entryNonresident combo license by draw; then general for many units
Tag structurePer-unit OTC or drawGeneral license hunts many units once drawn
Private access programLandowner vouchers; ranch leasesBlock Management — free public access to enrolled private land
Time to huntCan hunt this year via OTCMust draw the combo license first; odds vary by year
Public land~23M acres~30M acres incl. vast USFS + BLM
Season lengthLong archery + 4 rifle seasonsLong general season in many years (archery + rifle)
Nonresident cost$760.96 elk license (2025)Combo license higher up front but covers multiple species

The honest verdict

Colorado for the easy yes; Montana for the general season + Block Management.

Colorado is the lower-friction choice: twice the elk, OTC tags for a nonresident who wants to hunt this year, and no draw to clear. For a first western elk hunt or for anyone who doesn’t want to gamble on a draw, it’s the straightforward pick.

Montana’s advantages are real and specific: once you draw the combo license, the general season lets you hunt many units on one tag, and the Block Management program opens millions of acres of private land to free public hunting — something Colorado doesn’t replicate. The cost is the draw step and the uncertainty that comes with it.

Hunt Montana if you value the general-season flexibility and Block Management access and can clear the draw. Hunt Colorado if you want the biggest herd and a tag you can buy outright — the country Elk Glade guides on GMU 59.

Frequently asked

Colorado vs Montana questions.

Is Colorado or Montana better for elk hunting?

Colorado is more accessible — it has the largest elk herd on Earth (~280,000, double Montana's ~140,000) and still sells over-the-counter nonresident tags for several seasons, so you can hunt this year without a draw. Montana requires nonresidents to draw a combo license first, but offers a long general season across many units once you have it, plus the excellent Block Management program for free access to enrolled private land. Both are top-tier; Colorado is lower-friction to get into.

What is Montana's Block Management program?

Block Management is a Montana program where the state pays private landowners to allow free public hunting access to their land. It opens millions of acres of otherwise-private ground to hunters at no charge beyond the license. It's one of Montana's biggest advantages — a hunter willing to research and knock on (figurative) doors can access excellent private-land elk country for free. Colorado has no exact equivalent, relying instead on landowner vouchers and outfitter leases.

Can you hunt elk over the counter in Montana?

Not exactly the way Colorado does. Montana requires nonresidents to draw a Big Game Combination license; once drawn, that license hunts elk across many general units without a separate unit draw. Colorado, by contrast, sells true over-the-counter nonresident elk tags for archery and 2nd/3rd rifle seasons with no draw at all — which is generally the easier path for a nonresident who wants to hunt this year.

Which has more elk, Colorado or Montana?

Colorado has roughly twice as many elk — about 280,000 versus Montana's approximately 140,000. Colorado holds the largest elk population of any state and the largest on Earth. Montana's herd is still one of the largest in the country and supports excellent hunting, but Colorado's sheer numbers translate into more tags and more OTC opportunity.

Is Montana good for DIY elk hunting?

Yes — Montana is excellent for DIY, with about 30 million acres of public land plus the Block Management private-access program. The catch for nonresidents is drawing the combo license first. Colorado is also outstanding for DIY and skips the draw step with OTC tags. Both reward hunters willing to scout and hike; Colorado just has a lower barrier to entry for a nonresident's first season.

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Eight elk states compared.

Comparison

Colorado vs Wyoming

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Hunt

Colorado outfitter

Guided GMU 59 elk at Elk Glade.