bugs,

I think whether you get an elk or not, you will have a great experience. Being in the rockies during elk season is great. Focus more on having fun and enjoying the trip than bagging an elk. If a cow will do, I think you have a good chance with a rifle. Get up high in the morning. Hunt the benches and draws. Listen for bugles and go to it if you hear one. The wind will blow your hunt more than anything else. It will swirl in the mountains, so check it frequently. Cow call often. You can get one.

game4lunch is right. In Colorado, there are over the counter tags. The draw units are draw for a reason. They are better. I would suggest going to the DOW websight and you can see all the units and how many preference points the people used for last year to get into the unit. There are many that you can get in with 0 points. For example, I hunt in unit 4. I drew last year and did not have any preference points. You do have a second hunt code option which you can choose as over the counter (a non draw unit). If you do not get your first hunt code, you will be sent an over the counter tag. For rifle, you have to choose either a bull or a cow tag. You should also look into the Ranching for Wildlife program. This is where private ranches allow regular joe's to hunt on their ground in exchange they get benes from the DOW. I think you would have a good chance of getting on one of those for a cow. If you do, then it is a done deal. You will bag a cow. The website has all of this info too. Man, sorry I am so long winded. I know how difficult it is to hunt these critters, so I am trying to give you a short cut. Hope it helps. Let me know if there anything else you need.