I spent 3 years in Northern Ca when I was stationed on the USS Pyro AE-24. I spent a lot of time around Grizzly Island and Cache Creek Wildlife Area. I saw a lot of Tule Elk and there were some really impressive bulls. I tried to draw a permit every year I was there but I never drew it.
Tule Elk is one of the hardest permits to draw. You can buy landowner tags but I don't think you'll get much change back from $20,000 if you do.