Nine months out, and due to this thread my fingers were hiking over my elk hunting mountains on the map last night. Can't wait, can hear the bugles now.

I missed Colorado this past September due to a ruptured disc in my low back. Had to send my tag in for a refund (BUMMER!).

If the Lord is willing... I will be back in 2012.

Anxious already!

Going in to the AZ drawing this year with 13 points. If I do not draw a top unit I will probably try to find a decent Landowner tag in NM. Open for other options. Harvested 4 P&Y with wheel bow. Looking for my first with Trad Gear. Good luck to all.

I'm putting together a bivy camp to hunt an OTC unit that I got a weekend look at here in CO...

The only bad thing about opening day of Elk season, Is it's another yr before the next opening Day

I am blessed to have elk in my plans every year in Alberta.  Although the season for archery only is well before the rutt I still plan to head out to a few spots for a couple of short weekend bivies.

I have been thinking about putting in for draws in CO and WY just for the heck of it.  The "boss" will have a fit though.  

I'm a DIY kind of guy and that will likely only be how I hunt.  They have a few late season hunts up here but they are usually brutally cold and the elk are weary after the rifles have been blazing for two months.

does NM or AZ, WY or MT have OTC tags?

Colorado obviously does
Oregon does, right?
Idaho FCFS still but many non-draw areas?

I've not been elk hunting in 5 years nor out west hunting really .... I'm not up to date on the changes

Yep, Oregon has general season bow tag for elk as well as a draw system. Never put in for a draw, too much good land I can go to every year, no questions. Though wenaha would be a nice draw.

Solo DIY in Colorado again - might cash out the PPs to get in a decent area with 4 years of grad school on the horizon.

Im planning a week long hunt with my best friend in the Anaconda-Pintler range in Western MT. Elk or no elk..Its gonna be a memorable one.

No OTC in MT for non residents.  Its about 50/50 odds I hear for the general draw.  With that you can hunt most units.  

Sometimes I'm suprised more DIY guys don't hunt Montana.  But then I remember we hunt amongst griz, the wolves ate half our elk, and we have more land with a smaller herd.  So I guess it makes sense.    

However, where its good.... its really good.

50-50 are good drawing odds anymore I'd think.

I wish Oregon wasn't 1500 miles away ... I think that would be a very nice place to visit/hunt

It's either Nv or Utah for me. If I don't draw a bull tag I'll pick up an otc spike/cow for Utah.

Crossing my fingers im on the good side of that 50/50 draw in Montana so I can join Zootown! Got vacation covered for 2 weeks.. now to practice and get in better shape.

A friend and I are planning a DIY elk hunt by flaming gorge Utah next September. Haven't gotten many details figured out yet, I just got the ok from my wife haha. We are going to b using our compounds, just started shooting traditional an am not confident enough with it yet, maybe 2013 will b the year!

I'm hoping I draw this year?

I've put in every year and in areas I know (hi odds for draw) but it gets harder to draw every year. The terrain plays a big part in my choices anymore(my wheels aren't what they used to be)....  New Mexico, Wyoming or Montana????  We'll see???

Don't have formal plans as of this date but will for sure be hunting somewhere...will probably return to Unit 7 in North Central CO where I have hunted DIY the last few years with some very good friends.  Would like to hunt Elk in another state one of these years.

No OTC tags in Wyoming.  Some leftover cow tags can be obtained after the drawings.  Many units can be hunted with the statewide general tag.  Tag takes one preference point to draw. Special general elk tag can be drawn without points but still is a drawing.  Applications due by the end of January.  Drawing results around end of February.

Hoping to draw a bull tag , if I don't I will be hunting some where come September . Hoping for for a great bear hunt in august and then there deer and turkery and so on.....

This will be the year I finally go elk hunting , I am trying to get as much info as possible as to where