Please allow me to offer some practical advice that has worked for me (and continues to work). Several years ago I made the decision to elk hunt in CO. I did the "Net" thing and failed to get anything I felt good with, so I called the CO DOW. They sent me a free booklet containing every area, elk numbers, kill stats, etc. I looked at the kill stats VS # of hunters, and the success ratios. Then I chose 2 areas (or GMUs) to hunt. Then I called the biologist for each area and talked at length with them. They were both very helpful and wanted to answer every question I had. I then selected a GMU, and got topo maps for that area. After I recd the maps, I called the biologist back and we talked specifics. I told the biologist when I arrived in CO I was going to take he and his wife out for dinner as a way of saying thanks. I went several days early to scout, etc. When I arrived, I was invited to the biologists HOME, where we looked at the maps, and he showed me EXACTLY where to hunt. Killed an elk opening day with a bow. He wouldn't accept me taking him out to dinner, so I gave him a fine knife the next year when I returned. Look at the CO DOW site. They have almost everything you need to plan a good DIY hunt. I am going back again in 04, and for as long as I can hike the mtns. Just do your homework, and you will have a great time.
Good Hunting,
Hal