I need Help finding state land to hunt on!!!!

My friends and I are planning on making an out of state bow hunt for big game without the expensive ranches and guides. We want to be able to purchase an out state license for Elk or Mule deer, pack the camping gear/bows, and head out.

I'm from Louisiana, and want to find the nearest state land to hunt big game. I'm not sure what states allow non-resident hunters to purchase licenses without going through a drawing.

All information will be greatly appreciated!

Colorado has the largest elk herd in the lower 48 and has plenty of state and federal lands open for hunting. Bow tags for elk are over the counter and are either sex. The season is a long one falling right in the rut. Rifle hunters can apply for a draw or buy bull tags over the counter for their second and third seasons. The rifle hunts have 4 seasons starting in early oct and going to late nov. Second and third seasons are from mid oct to early nov. Get a delorme colorado atlas and it shows all the fed, state and BLM land most of which are open for hunting. Some wilderness areas require either horses or walk in with no motorized vehicles allowed. The hunting is great there and you will have a good time as long as you are in shape. The altitude is tough on people not accustomed to it. Mule deer is by draw only as is the case in most of the other western states.

Colorado probably has the best combination of elk permit accessibility and public land. There are several seasons, as someone has already indicated. If you look into rifle seasons, be aware that the elk are located at different places during different rifle seasons: during early rifle seasons the elk are likely to be located near timberline on public lands and during late rifle seasons the elk are likely driven down off the mountains by heavy snows are located down low on private lands. It typically costs a lot of money to pay a landowner for the priviledge to hunt elk on his land. Bear this in mind when selecting your rifle season. If you are interested in applying in Colorado, I suggest you buy the latest "Big Game CD" from the Colorado Division of Wildlife which contains a wealth of information on drawing odds in different units, hunter success rates in different units, etc.

(deleted much text that isn't pertinent to this thread -- I mistakenly answered another thread on this one)