C.I. and I hunt DIY together in Colorado. We are not at a disadvantage considering where we hunt. We have gone to the same area for 5 years now and know it pretty well. There hasn't been a year in which we haven't seen elk or deer. They are still free ranging wild animals so a tag isn't always filled but the chase of part of the fun.

Regarding size, we have taken 4 cows which seem to yield around 160lbs of meat each. The largest bull I have taken was 240lbs of meat. It all depends on how well you take care of the meat and how well you bone out the animal. We have been butchering them ourselves, so there is no cost for butchering other than paper, tape, and freezer bags. The local butcher near where we hunt charges .70 cents per pound hanging quarter to process.