Jrob,

Just a note of caution, sometimes drop camps are the best way to go, the outfitters put you in area's they hunt and have plenty of game which makes it easier to stumble into them more so than just going blindly into the forest. The downfall is some outfitters use drop campers as added money and put them into overflow areas. If the outfitter pretty much tells you that you may see him coming through with guided hunters at a given time or he's in the next canyon over your probally in the right spots.

There's a ton of successful DIY's out of the box the first time and usually the more research they do the better the odds. But unless you get lucky and see a bunch of elk the first time it could be years before you find an area that is what your looking for.

Colorado has alot of good area's over the counter tags for elk. Mule deer is draw only. The chances of hunting both the same time the first year you draw for deer is slim unless you go to an area like 444 in colorado but that's mainly a deer area and a few good elk spots.

I would say drop camps are great idea for first timers for elk. I would contact the Forest Service and the Division of Wildlife in those areas and see who they recommend. That most times is the best way to find the most reputable outfitters in the regions.

Good luck to you and have a blast huntin.