Sounds like you need to develop some friends that elk hunt. You are not much farther from Colorado/Wyoming/Montana than I am here in Texas, but it is a Long drive by yourself. You can get lots of good info online, but there is nothing like having someone to share the experience with. Find a shooting range in your area and try to hook up with some guys that elk hunt. Or meet them at church, work, you get the idea. Or introduce a niece or nephew to hunting. Always better to have 2 strong backs to haul an elk out. My whole family hunts so that makes it easier.


Colorado has the easiest tags to obtain, but has the most hunters and it can be hard for a newbie to figure out where to go to find elk away from the crowds. Can be done, but easier if you hook up with someone who has been there before. Montana is essentially an OTC state, so you can get a tag every year, and it has way less hunters, but you have to find an area that is not thick with wolves.


Another idea would be a trespass hunt in Colorado. They can be had for $1500-2500 and you don't have to compete with lots of hunters but it is essentially a DIY hunt. Here is one that has a good rep: http://www.rockymountainhunting.com/index.html Never hunted with them but hear good things