close to the front range and not too many people or atv's. That is a tall order my friend. The thing you do have on your side is your willing to hike. If you are a mile from a road, the amount of people you will see is dramatically reduced no matter where you are. Biggest issue is finding areas that don't have roads littering them.
Just because a area is over the counter, doesn't mean it's not as good of a elk area. I wouldn't limit yourself that way.
Stats drawing a elk tag are on the DOW website here, they are easy to read. If you need any help, shoot me a PM
http://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Hun...kDrawRecap.pdf
Within a few hours of Denver you have a handful of wilderness areas that is are no motors. Lost Creek, Rawah, Indian Peaks, Never Summer - and some smaller ones I've never backpacked in. It's more of getting out a map and picking a spot. They all have elk