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State comparison · Updated 2026

Colorado vs. Oregon elk hunting.

Two different elk entirely. Colorado is the biggest Rocky Mountain herd on Earth in open glass-and-stalk country; Oregon is the place for a Roosevelt elk in the dripping coastal rainforest. Head to head on herd, tags, terrain, and weather.

Hunt Colorado at Elk GladeAll elk states ranked

Head to head

Colorado and Oregon, side by side.

DimensionColoradoOregon
Elk herd~280,000 — largest on Earth~130,000
SubspeciesRocky Mountain elkRoosevelt (coast) + Rocky Mountain (east of Cascades)
Nonresident tagsOTC available (archery, 2nd/3rd rifle) + limited entryGeneral-season tags for many units + controlled (draw) hunts
Tag frictionCan buy OTC and hunt this yearGeneral tags available; the best units are controlled draws
CountryOpen aspen + conifer benches, glass-and-stalkCoast: dense wet rainforest; east: drier open country
WeatherCold, dry, altitude (8,000–10,000+ ft)Coast: rain and fog; east: high desert
Public land~23M acresLarge federal + state forest, both sides of the Cascades
Best for hunters whoWant the biggest herd + OTC access + classic Rocky Mtn bullsSpecifically want Roosevelt elk in coastal rainforest

The honest verdict

Oregon for a Roosevelt; Colorado for everything else.

If a Roosevelt elk is specifically what you want — the biggest-bodied subspecies, hunted in the moss-hung coastal rainforest — Oregon is the place, and it’s a genuinely different and worthwhile hunt.

For nearly everything else — the largest herd on Earth, OTC access without a draw, classic open-country Rocky Mountain bulls, and a deep outfitter industry — Colorado is the stronger pick. It’s the country Elk Glade guides on GMU 59, an hour from Colorado Springs.

Frequently asked

Colorado vs Oregon questions.

Is Colorado or Oregon better for elk hunting?

It depends on the experience you want. Colorado has the largest elk herd in the world (~280,000), OTC nonresident tags for several seasons, and classic open-country Rocky Mountain elk hunting. Oregon (~130,000 elk) is the place to go specifically for Roosevelt elk — the largest-bodied subspecies — in the dense coastal rainforest west of the Cascades, plus Rocky Mountain elk in the drier country to the east. For the biggest herd and easiest access, Colorado; for a Roosevelt elk, Oregon.

What is the difference between Roosevelt and Rocky Mountain elk hunting?

Roosevelt elk live in the dense, wet temperate rainforest of the Oregon, Washington, and northern California coast — bigger-bodied animals, hunted in thick timber where shots are close and glassing is hard. Rocky Mountain elk live in the more open aspen-and-conifer country of the interior West, where glass-and-stalk over longer distances is the norm. Roosevelt hunting is a close-cover game; Rocky Mountain hunting is an open-country game.

Does Oregon have over-the-counter elk tags?

Oregon offers general-season elk tags that don't require a draw for many units, which function similarly to OTC — you can buy a general tag and hunt. The premium, lower-pressure units are controlled hunts allocated by draw. Colorado's OTC system is broadly comparable for accessibility, with Colorado holding more than double Oregon's elk.

Which state has more elk, Colorado or Oregon?

Colorado has far more — roughly 280,000 elk versus Oregon's approximately 130,000. Colorado holds the largest elk population of any state and the largest on Earth. Oregon's herd is still substantial and notable for including both Roosevelt and Rocky Mountain subspecies, but Colorado's numbers are more than double.

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All states ranked

Eight elk states compared.

Reference

Elk subspecies

Roosevelt vs Rocky Mountain + the rest.

Hunt

Colorado outfitter

Guided GMU 59 elk at Elk Glade.