So are you viewing this as a "once in a lifetime" activity? Why not think of it as something you do every year, or every other year, or occasionally? If you think of it like this, then you can just apply for a reasonably available permit somewhere and go elk hunting. Maybe you won't get the super duper trophy head, but you will be learning about elk hunting and building skills that will stand you in good stead when you go on the high dollar trophy hunt?

If it really is a "once in a lifetime" activity, what are the probabilities something will go wrong on that one sole opportunity? A car accident lays you up, a big forest fire screws up your hunting area that you are drawn for, some event at home that prevents you from following through, etc? Even on the best hunts with the best outfitters success is far from 100%. Better to have some redundancy built into your plans . . . that is, hunting elk more than once in your life.

The super duper deluxe trophy elk hunt has a high price tag. This prices it into the "once in a lifetime" hunt category for those of modest means. If you change the scope of the hunt the price might go down and make it more repeatable, something other than "once in a lifetime." Give it some thought.