It's not about getting burned, it's about opportunity. In Colorado hunting public land quality management unit or OTC units nothing is controlled. Not the weather, the start of the rut, hunting pressure or actual shooting scenario's. You may hire the cheapest outfitter on public land and have a great hunt or you may hire a quality management outfitter and get "burned" or vice versa. Bowhunting elk on public lands one should always keep in mind this one main point. It's not about the rack on the back of the truck heading home it's about all the things that led up to that chance to take the shot.

I've had hunters show up and we all got burned that week. No elk, digging them out of the timber like ticks. And the very next week be covered up in elk where they were supposed to be in the first place. These animals are not whitetails they just don't use habitat that way.

Now saying all that. Elk on larger private land plots that are not harassed by everyone and the landowner actually knows what he's doing as far as pressure, will not leave property because the elk know whats on the other side of that fence. I'm not saying private land is where to hunt but if your worried about getting burned then being able to control your part of the hunt and how much pressure is put on the animal is where I'd first start looking. If it's about the hunt itself then DIY.

For me if I do not draw my muzzle loader tag then it will be OTC archery elk. I've shot enough elk that any bull elk with a bow is still a trophy. It is a damn tough hunt to consistently kill bull elk with a bow year after year. But what a fun game to play.