I am considering a self guided, do it yourself late season cow elk hunt next late Dec/Jan to include several of my kids. I'm completely new to elk hunting, never done it. Anyone have good info or tips on the best state to get licenses and find private lands to hunt?

We're looking for a meat hunt, having to shoot at least 6 whitetails a year in MI for our freezer is taking away from our buck hunting experiences.

Sorry this post is so open ended, but as I said I know nothing about hunting western states and elk hunting.Thanks for any info out there.

You'll get good advice here. We have several members with allot of elk experience. I know colorado has over the counter tags in units that you can be successful in. I would think, especially for a cow hunt, that you should be able to find a tag and get onto some elk. You will be fighting the (unpredictable) weather in late season though.
-Jake

What he said, it could be iffy w/ the weather. Buddy of mine just got back from a WY cow elk hunt, although he went w/ an outfitter. Both he & his FIL harvested cows on the 1st & 2nd days of their hunt, said they saw a lot of them. It was much cheaper than my bull elk hunts that I've been on too

Wyoming where I hunt every year would be about as easy a state to draw what they call a Type 6 reduced price cow tag and many of the units where they are have lots of public land. Total cost for a tag and the required Conservation Stamp would be around $350 and they are a random draw where everyone has the same chance at a tag. The application period is next month though for elk tags, so you'll need to do your homework right away on the G&F website that has a hunt planner and all kinds of information. If you come up with a plan feel free to shoot me a PM as to what my feelings are on your pick if you decide to go the Wyoming route. Good luck!

Is a guide needed in areas designated a wilderness area? I notice in unit 73 in the jedidiah smith wilderness area non residents have to have a guide. And several other wilderness areas as well...
-Jake

Wyoming requires NRs to be guided in any designated Federal Wilderness area if they want to hunt big game or lions. You can go in for any other purpose such as hiking, bird watching, fishing, small game hunting, etc., without a guide. It's strictly a subsidy that the outfitters got passed a long time ago and chances are that it will not be rescinded any time soon due to their lobbying and the fact that residents like having places to go where the only way they will see a NR is with a guide. There is one way you can get around it since the law does allow a resident to take up to two nonpaying friends a year into wilderness areas. There is a piece of G&F paperwork that has to be signed, the resident has to be with the NRs at all times, and no remuneration is allowed whatsoever. I've never gone into a wilderness area, but have several friends out there that I could easily go with if we ever decided to hunt one.

Montana tags for elk b tags deadline is June 1. They are $275.00. Shoulder seasons are being implemented on a vary wide spread basis, some of these seasons allow a cow to be taken up to Feb. 15. Obviously weather is the biggest factor this time of year, with sub zero temps and heavy snow likely in many areas. Thus a person needs to come prepared. Good news is, game care shouldn't be a problem! I think if I were coming from out of state, a two week summer trip would be in the works to make contact with a rancher/landowner who would allow hunting for a cow elk. Remember, just showing up in December and wanting to hunt elk after many ranchers have had to deal with folks seeking permission since the summer for hunting rights, they can be a bit impatient when you just show up at their door one day. There are ranches here in Montana that do allow hunting with trespass fees, check it out if it interest you. Make reservations for a place to stay, very unlikely to be nice enough to camp either in a tent or camper.

Weather can be hyper-bad in the late season in Montana or Wyoming. Where ever you go, just be safe and make sure you have the proper gear for it. Be safe.

That's for sure and the last day or two are good examples, as the actual temperature in Cody and Sheridan was -25!!! That is weather that's not fit for man nor beast!

And I bet it's windy too. That's definitely tough weather.
-Jake