Big Game

The best states for elk hunting in 2026 are Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and New Mexico. Colorado contains the largest elk herd and offers over-the-counter bull tags in several units.

Only Wyoming residents can buy over-the-counter (OTC) elk tags. Residents have the option to purchase unlimited general elk licenses OTC starting mid-July, provided they didn’t draw a limited-quota license. Non-residents must enter the lottery draw, as they cannot purchase OTC elk tags.

Over-the-counter (OTC) elk tags are available in Colorado, but eligibility and availability depend on factors such as residency status, weapon type, hunting unit, and season.

E-scouting mule deer in Colorado involves targeting high-altitude, south-facing slopes, basins, and alpine areas in summer/early fall, and shifting focus to lower-elevation sagebrush, oak brush, and pinyon-juniper benches during late-season migration.

To plan your guided elk hunt, start by choosing a reputable outfitter 1-2 years in advance, determining your ideal hunt style (e.g., backcountry horseback vs. private-land lodge), and organizing tags. To start, carefully vet outfitters via references, prepare physically for altitude hunting, and begin e-scouting with tools like HuntWise to survey the landscape.

Mule deer hunts are best planned 1 to 2 years in advance. The process includes selecting a reputable outfitter that aligns with your hunting needs, securing tags (typically through state draws), and defining your trophy goals.

When e-scouting elk in Wyoming, target high-elevation, north-facing slopes with heavy timber, water sources, and grassy meadows with a focus on the northwest region. Concentrate scouting on burn areas (15 years and younger) and remote roadless areas 1–2 miles from trails to avoid excessive hunting pressure. September scouting should especially focus on bedding near food and water.

Elk hunting requires a specific set of gear designed for weather changes, rugged mountain terrain, and the physical demands of packing out a large animal after a successful hunt. Essential items include appropriate clothing and boots, a reliable weapon system, a robust backpack, and crucial optics and survival equipment.

E scouting for elk in Colorado should focus on public land zones (like national forest service lands) featuring high-elevation aspen and thick, north-facing timber that elk rely on for bedding. Focus efforts especially on areas with limited road access to avoid hunting pressure.

To find mule deer in Wyoming, focus your e-scouting on transition areas where mountainous inclines meet agricultural areas, sagebrush foothills, and riparian bottoms. These zones are especially prevalent in the southern Absarokas (Units 117–120) and the Bighorn Mountains.

More often than not, the late season offers some of the best hunting opportunities of the year. Layering with the right gear (including covering your head and neck), having the right gear to keep you warm, and adjusting your hunting strategies makes this time of year more successful in the field.

Many hunters make a common error when high country mule deer hunting, often costing them a fridge full of venison: not spending enough time behind the scope.