Having lived in Montana, Colorado and currently in Arizona as well as having hunted in New Mexico.I would really look hard at Northern New Mexico since they have some really excellent elk and it's just a stones throw from Colorado. You can always put in for Arizona and the other excellent elk hunting states and they are not that far of a drive if you were to get drawn for a tag. Santa Fe, Taos and several other small town are eager to get good teachers. Another plus is the NRA Whittington Center is located in that area as well and you can get drawn for tags there as well.