ORIGINAL: Wiggy
Haven't heard anyone mention South Dakota yet, I'll share my experience with that area since that's where I've done all my elk hunting, in the Black Hills region.
You apply online just like Wyoming, you pay the price of the tag and check online to see if you got drawn. If you didn't, you get a refund in the mail.
I always hunted the experimental forest area, around HWY 385, kind of between Silver City and Rochford. There's a ton of elk in that area, just watch out for mountain lions.
You must have lived in SD in the past?? Because the elk population is minimal, the tags are for South Dakotaresidents only.
Check the 1st paragraph:
http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/BigGame/Elk.htm
Even if you are a resident, good luck getting drawn. I've got 10+ years of preference points and have never been drawn....
For minimal cost and such, you can't beat Colorado. Many of the other states offer some type of preference point option, but it can get expensive fast when you are having to purchase $100+ hunting licenses just to apply! I shot a decent 6x6 on public land last year in CO and have seen plenty of elk while out mule deer hunting too... Many of the units are notgoing to be considered 'trophy' units, but they stillhold somerespectable elk.