The BEST States to Hunt ELK in 2024!

[@squatch2461]

Your background and how you do your analyses are why I value them. Willin' to bet I'm not the only one. Thanks Please consider doing a non-resident family meat hunt video. Something like you're taking the family hunting, and shooting cows/does is fine. What state(s) and species would you recommend? Thanks

[@_emh]

While other CPAs are grinding on tax returns during this time of year, Randy is taking time from his busy day to give us valuable insights into planning our hunts. We don't deserve you, Randy, but we truly appreciate you. Thanks!

[@alexchristensen4555]

You are wrong about Utah. Elk #s are low. Utah has over sold permits so bad, that we can't find a bull to harvest. I would look somewhere else.

[@SteveStraub-m7c]

Randy, I would appreciate it if you create the cow elk video that you mentioned. Im interested in the meat and hunting in the stunning landscapes. Would Go Hunt be helpful in finding a value strategy for antlerless elk?

[@johndosta5261]

I second this!

[@JasonWilliams84]

Third this

[@philiplemar3821]

I would love it if you did a cow and spike elk value breakdown video! Great video regardless and great info! 15:55

[@kevinstout7353]

Please do a cow elk video! I’m hoping to cow elk hunt this year to get my feet wet I’m hunting elk out west!

[@danielc4941]

Randy dropping value analysis during CPA busy season!

[@iddddaduncan]

New Jersey is the best state for Elk

[@josephf7720]

Which exit?

[@FirePirate099]

This is true. But the real sleeper state right now is Vermont

[@edbohi2389]

Hahaha, on what planet? Jk, happy hunting!

[@ec9697]

Anywhere these guys aren’t hyping up.Every place they hype up gets ruined

[@chadh7005]

I think Florida has better elk...... 😂

[@mountainhunter3340]

Randy, thanks for doing this video. I am late getting back into hunting due to a military career where most of my time was spent overseas. Only recently have I raised my head up to see what is involved in some of the neighboring states as a non resident. My first analysist was due to lack of points any where, I might too dang old to hunt when I accumulate enough points to get drawn. This video gave me another perspective, especially since just the hunt and putting meat on the table mostly satisfy's my needs. Good to know about some of these opportunities, I am both a bow and rifle hunter, plus a new retiree with some time on my side. I appreciate the effort you put into this.

[@miller7251]

I understand this completely brother. This is the situation I am In currently. Managed to go last year but unsure if I will get to this coming season.

[@cashstallings3891]

Randy, thank you so much for the video. On your Utah Archery I would say your short term option is the unlimited OTC statewide either sex tag. Just remember to follow the regulations for the unit you want to hunt.

[@ZachC-130]

There is a giant asterisk next to Colorado's elk population. A whole heap of them never touch huntable public land. Looking at you Estes/RMNP.

[@mrawesomnable]

Great video, only thing I would have liked to learn as a complete newbie with 0 knowledge is upfront cost vs final cost.

[@Lexidezi225]

Randy is the best to learn this stuff from. Keep it up newberg

[@mrsockeye]

Thanks for doing this, Randy. I look forward to this information every year.

[@tylergoswick4536]

Just put in for AZ residential elk, hopeful for this year!

[@D3l3ri0us]

Great stuff, thanks guys!!

[@copisetic1104]

My brothers farm in Idaho has more elk than ground squirrels. They use drones to keep the elk out of the fields.

[@Deanna-k4i]

Thank you for this appreciate the time researching then sharing for free ! 😊

[@Patriot-dt3wk]

Is AZ game and fish still paying you to promote them? I know it used to be a thing cause my buddies that work for the dept told me so. Just don’t know if it’s still a thing. Azgfd is in love with that $13 app fee and of course the $5 safety net. That’s where they make their money. Tags are limited, applicants are not!

[@terpsurfer7221]

I don't think so. I think they were really paying him to promote OTC Deer. He did so well that they now limit non-resident OTC tags. Randy Newberg is not the main reason AZ is ruined, but he's a major contributing factor. Fuck Randy...

[@jaxteti]

Usually a fan but Colorado is already hammered to the point major changes coming. Quick! Everyone go to Montana. There are 350 bulls behind every tree.

[@anonymousballer4867]

If only that were true. East Montana is great but west montana has been decimated of elk from the wolf populations. I hunted probably 20 days this fall and saw 2 bull elk

[@kyleblandon2250]

These types of videos are why OTC options are disappearing. Colorado has become a zoo, especially with archery hunters who all have go hunt and OnX stickers on everything they own… used to pull up to a trailhead you had to put in the effort to find and might have one or two other trucks yet you’d never run into another hunter, now there are at least 10 trucks from all over the country with bros ‘going deep’ to the ‘sanctuary areas’ and running ridge tops blowing a bugle every 2 minutes after watching how to e-scout and listening to the latest podcasts from either Randy or Corey. I’ve called in more hunters the last 5 years than I ever did in the previous 30 combined…

[@dukeford]

Colorado was a zoo 30 years ago.

[@kyleblandon2250]

@@dukefordperhaps relative to other places, but it was pretty damn good hunting 30 years ago, nothing compared to the zoo that it is today. Just a KZbinrs playground is all it has become

[@tonypapay]

I look forward to this video every year.

[@chadh7005]

I live in colorado. Yet still apply for better units then the OTC tags. Id look at other states just out of my budget for just the tag.

[@chadh7005]

I live in the elk hunting capital.....

[@Bakerg2006]

Points be creepin

[@brandonbrown-outdoorlife9977]

Hello Fresh Tracks team, first off, great video and good luck to all those attempting to draw some tags this year! I was curious if you could make another video going more in depth on how to volunteer for local FWP surveys and species counts. I remember you had done something like this in the spring with Grouse and was wondering if you could flesh out how you went about doing that and different places and people to reach out to as a volunteer. I greatly appreciate your attitude towards hunting! Keep up the fun trips and good stories.

[@joshkilpatrick8297]

Thanks for making it harder to draw in Wyoming Randy! Like finding any good hunting spot, i think people can do there own homework without your input and that goes for all your hunting content.

[@philipmedlin8902]

Man , I don't know how you do it. Having youth helps. You sure have the grit and determination. It does a heart good to see people like you exist. Congratulations on a beautiful Elk. I hope some day to spend some time on a mountain hunting Elk with you. You worked that poor mule to death and gave the horses a break 😂

[@qcfishing7051]

I would like to see the same for cow elk, bear, any others you'd be willing to do.

[@kevinp9867]

Thank you for doin videos like these. Helps out a lot for my planning.

[@user55890]

Happy New Year everyone!

[@brandonmcgregor1308]

Keep em coming. Like these videos

[@wyattgardner3552]

As a young guy with minimal vacation time and money, I just want to hunt. Put a tag in my pocket and wilderness infront of me. Videos on how to hunt out west vs field experience. OTC cow elk archery tag or a muley tag. I can scout for the other species while in the field.

[@jetstreek17]

Great video Randy.. one thing the cost column does not include all of the costs you are out every year you are applying.. like licenses and processing fees.. etc.

[@chadh7005]

My long term plan is always moose now due to it taking over 4 years to draw in the faster units.

[@jackdundon2261]

The best value is to go trophy bull squirrel hunting with Randy and Jack!!!! I guarantee it!

[@BadKarma.-]

I really hope you do 1 of these for sheep and goats!

[@tallcip65]

Let’s say that hypothetically you lived in a state like Idaho where you knew you were going to get at least an OTC tag every year but you wanted to apply for one really good rifle elk hunt and one really good archery elk hunt every year with the hopes of taking a monster bull. Which states would be your number 1 picks? Not the best value but the best overall hunt for rifle and archery.

[@realreviews2003]

Randy, this is SO HELPFUL! thank for doing this video. I've lived in MT for almost 5 years now and I still struggle trying to figure out where to go, how to get the right tag, and on and on. Its really pretty frustrating. Thank you again.

[@Howard-l4j]

I’m a AZ resident with 18 bonus points for elk and I still can’t get drawn for a trophy hunt.

[@tetonmasta]

In the same boat. I have 15 points with several buddies in the low 20's and cant get a residential tag for AZ. These videos need to stop. AZGF finally put a 10% cap for non-res. It needs to be 5% or lower though.

[@zachklein4397]

I'd really like to see a video like this for black bear hunting

[@ViegutJR]

More hunters! I found myself struggling with how not crowded it was in Montana this year. We could use way more people hunting out here! Please send us thousands more hunters! If not tens of thousands! We need more crowded fields! This message is brought to you by Go Hunt, Leupold, RMEF, Sikta, Nosler and whatever other sponsors pay hunting media personalities to drum up more hunters to the field! #sure,I'llbethebadguy

[@MichaelWilliams-to3cj]

Damm is it really that bad? I was planning on a out of state hunt. I will rule montana out. Maybe Idaho or liberal Colorado. Tha n ks for the complaint it helped me narrow down my search.

[@yoholmes273]

Grab a tissue sissy 🤧

[@oscardiaz8716]

​@MichaelWilliams-to3cj colorado is going to be the same thing. Everybody and their moms is down here during hunting season

[@poidog22]

Thanks for your comment Jordan, I work on Randy’s team and I want to personally convey a message to you from our team, go kick rocks. 😊

[@ViegutJR]

@@poidog22 Thank you for supporting my position by being emphatically the lesser person @Fresh_Tracks

[@Frostytravels]

Thanks for sharing man. Know your busy.....

[@PNW-LOGGING-HOMESTEAD]

Found this bery useful. You should look into the best states for disabled veterans when i comes to nonresident hunters.

[@benclimbing]

Happy to see that Colorado is one of the worst states to hunt elk. I always knew it, but now everyone else can know it too.

[@_honestly_7015]

Is it worth it to build points in Oregon?

[@matthewmungiole5699]

Thanks for validating my decision to move to Wyoming.

[@sdslim6929]

So your telling me at 73 with advanced arthritis I should sell my equipment and be happy with the 4 elk I have already shot?

[@Wyattl.]

Eastern Oregon is insanely good for elk Bru 😭🙏🏿

[@kidneystones3406]

What about archery tags

[@chrislewis9345]

Are there any states that are over the counter muzzleloader tags?in muzzleloader season not 1st or second rifle?

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Not that I'm aware of.

[@chrislewis9345]

@@Fresh_Tracks well crap! It's getting more difficult and more expensive every year!!

[@Vne_este_mvskoke0tter89]

I have never been hunting in my life really want to get into it but this is all very overwhelming I don’t know where to start…any suggestions ?

[@bardownsnipe]

There is no value for elk hunting, unless you’re a stud of an elk hunter. We’re talking about spending at least a thousand dollars to probably hunt a unit with single digit success rates. It’s increasingly hard to justify that amount of time and money for meh hunting where you may not even see nor hear an animal. Way too expensive unless you’re a resident hunter.

[@jero1918]

Thanx

[@jamescollins494]

great video

[@diesleboy84]

Please make a cow elk video for hunt plans.

[@southernhood5145]

thanks man

[@JuiceTx01]

I appreciated this from a cost stand point very infromative

[@josephrichter8410]

So let me get this straight. If I apply for a regular tag for $700 in Wyoming and I don't draw a tag does that mean I don't get that money back?

[@chadh7005]

I live in colorado and agree it dont deserve to be top of any list. Its the only state that sells more tags then it has animals. Which kill your possibly of seeing snything good.

[@CircleBrewery]

Your right … I see more hunters than animals 😢

[@chadh7005]

@CircleBrewery This year hasn't been bad. It's really nice to see the hunter numbers down.

[@BigT209]

Got 12 points for California. Probably won't get drawn till I get 30 points .

[@kevinrogersjr8997]

Can u break down PA elk

[@TheWVgoodguy22]

The this states sucks comments crack me up 😆. Even though I would love to hunt elk in multiple states I live in a 864 square foot house 🏡 and if successful I zero room for antlers. But I might do a reduced price cow elk tag 🏷️ in Wyoming if I do any elk hunt in the next couple years. Thanks for sharing as always Randy. 😎🏹⛰️🏕️

[@ltoutdoorsman]

Randy I know it's not your thing but can you start making videos about California I live in CA and it would be very helpful if you could give me some advice Thanks man

[@SCOTTsnyder-e6v]

Try Multi Plan

[@kennethgraber7363]

Thanks for doing video i agree on montana archery the points system has whore me out .but lucky enough to hunt elk deer in all those states

[@danthiesen4778]

The problem that I see with a lot of hunters is that they are horn hunters, yea it would be nice to get big 7x7 bulls but you can't eat the horns and if you can I wouldn't think they would taste very good. In my opinion people need to focus more on getting meat and not horns. Cows taste way better then the horns that you get for shooting bulls

[@jasonlopez4855]

I love New Mexico for big elks southern or northern New Mexico mule Deer 🦌 and pronghorn, Bear, orx, mountain lion, Ibex, big horn sheep 🐏 so much hunting in New Mexico. But wild bore not so much 🤔 is ezy if you have your own ranch or property with will life on it ezy to get a tags for hunting season or just ask someone to buy one on there property or ranch much cheaper for the Hunter. There the bow 🏹 and muzzleloader goes up to be allot more tags.

[@ipoopinwalmart5968]

I don’t know where you are getting your pp numbers from but I talked to someone that works in the Wyoming fish and game and they said that to draw elk in Wyoming you are looking at 26 pp. to me that just doesn’t seem worth it.

[@Fresh_Tracks]

The elk point system hasn’t been around for 27 years, so not sure where they’re getting their information. Maximum number of points going into 2024 is 18 points. Nobody has more than that.

[@andyeighttre]

Oregon Cascades for maximum misery index 🤟

[@LEOR89145]

Why not make prospective hunters do their own research? If someone wants to hunt western states maybe they should put in the effort to read the regs and make a plan. Just seems like the shortcuts and over-promotion of Western states is a problem and the reason it's getting harder to get tags...

[@thisguy7084]

I agree, im hoping youtube bans hunting content

[@RogerBodrero-n7m]

Montana is the best value especially the trailhead Randy parks his truck at

[@bruv1039]

Popular hunting states need to increase their non-resident fees.

[@Chrissers2010]

When are the hunting industry leaders (like Randy Newberg, Huntin Fool, Epic Outdoors, Go Hunt, etc.) going to start putting pressure or even organizing class action lawsuits against states when they devalue points, through rule changes, after they have collected many millions of dollars in point fees for years or even decades? By offering the sale of "points" there is somewhat of a promissory aspect to this. People can do the math and make a somewhat educated estimate of the value in buying points and entering a point program. States have repeatedly devalued point systems by changing the draw process (i.e. fewer percentage of tags for point holders) or even substantially reduced the overall nonresident allocation.

[@deltabud1]

CA has 3 species of elk

[@jasonbroom7147]

Great video. I just lost any and all interest in going bull elk hunting in the western US.

[@jonathanwahlin257]

Montana sucks! Definitely stay away this September!

[@noahbeckner5843]

Wyo as well dont come here

[@jackbuendgen389]

Not WY. Grizz and wolves ate all the elk.

[@DocJillBeans]

I love your conservation work Randy but you gotta realize that these videos where you are pretty much holding a guys hand to get him out hunting just lead to overcrowding and a possible LOSS of hunters due to frustration. The journey of figuring out how to hunt is part of the fun! 10 years ago i just parked my beat up toyota Carolla at the trailhead and i figured it out and i woundnt change anything about my journey for the world.

[@Eric-bh7jy]

Arizona is the worst state for elk hunting. Don’t even bother applying. Just stick to the OTC Colorado tags

[@leoheine5427]

More interested in mule deer

[@chadh7005]

Colorado would be good but they flood so many hunters at once that you see so many hunters it gets super annoying. And the elk hunting has gotten bad in the last 10-15 years.

[@CircleBrewery]

Even deer are scarce on public lands … private is a different story

[@elmerfudd7674]

Don't waste yer money in Commirado. High die off last winter. Polass just let a bunch of wolves go. CPW's priority is for private land owners and outfitters. They don't give two craps about public hunters. Pay for a hunt or stay away.

[@tetonmasta]

You have got to stop with these videos! I'm an AZ resident with 15 points and still cant get drawn cause of the zoo these videos have turned hunting into in my state. These video's are actually hurting and killing the hunting community. There has to be a benefit to living in a state and videos like these are helping in taking that benefit away. I am so glad AZ put a new 10% non-res limit on their tags this year. Seems like he is neglecting to mention it. I'm hoping that the draw starts favoring residents more like it should.

[@guns4funfreedomkeeper999]

I live in Washington and I don’t bother hunting elk here.

[@robertsmith908]

This crap is getting so expensive and crowded etc… it’s becoming a turn off. I might be done with the exception of drawing glory tags.

[@poidog22]

Sad but the era of subsistence hunting is dying. Driven by rich white guy trophy hunting.

[@gate14zer]

Must be a CPA!

[@africanjew1596]

Don’t tell anyone where to hunt… wtf

[@dukeford]

These days, the best state to hunt elk is anywhere you can manage to draw a permit.

[@jackyhallmark3094]

Communist Colorado would not be on my want to hunt list

[@johnboy6635]

CO and NM…two of the top three crime states in US. Looney Libtards ruining those states.

[@jaunramirez3435]

Don’t come to az… we got no elk… please lol. I can barely draw a tag and I’m an az native. Good luck 👍

[@Randy_Savage_ohyeah]

Done playing all the BS games coughing up tons of $$$. Only hunting as resident in CO or MT where I can hunt as native and just buy general OTC.

[@mxracer317]

How are you a resident of both CO & MT?

[@Randy_Savage_ohyeah]

@@mxracer317 I was born and raised in MT but retired out of the military in CO where I currently reside. Since I still have family in MT I can hunt as a MT native.

[@jgray9781]

Good lord man…

[@braulioelizalde439]

stay out of Colorado

[@johnboy6635]

Why?

[@Grizzly-hp7qt]

These videos are ruining hunting.

[@craigholland2274]

I'm not a negative person at all , but I think I agree. I used to be able to get a good antelope tag every 4 years, now even an average unit is 4 if you're lucky.

[@craigholland2274]

All the social media push has increased pressure a lot.

[@manofthewildlands7865]

This is all public information anyway. The loss of public land and access is really what’s ruining hunting and it has nothing to do with these videos

[@Grizzly-hp7qt]

@@manofthewildlands7865 lol yeah we’ve lost a lot of public land the last ten years. No way it’s from gohunt or these and other bros causing an influx of folks. That can’t be it.

[@manofthewildlands7865]

@@Grizzly-hp7qt I’m not saying they don’t have an affect. They do. But your kidding yourself if you think that all the new subdivisions going up out west and blocking off access and big outfits leasing land aren’t pushing people into new areas. Do a simple google search and look up how much government land has been sold in the last decade. Where are the people using that land going to go?

[@nathanfrisby3133]

Hope Kentucky isn’t on your list of good places. Quite the joke

[@icebergmaier]

Shhhhhhhh 🤫 Wyoming doesn't exist

[@gwbuffalo_3072]

But what if the residents of.. a certain state.. don’t want the out of state traffic!!! Wtf, RANDY! 😂

[@MSON2021]

After years of not drawing my wife finally drew an arizona cow elk tag this past year and the amount of first time hunters in the field with no knowledge or ethics is unbelievable. Consistently had hunts ruined. This guy and all the other KZbinrs like him are causing these issues all over the country. This guy has been in the point game for a long time and is about at the end of his western hunting career so he’s either willfully crashing the ship to cash out or is so ignorant to the issues he’s creating under the guise of “promoting hunting”. My bet is on the first one..

[@gbaughman3348]

Idaho sucks, the elk are all scared of the wolves and people riding off road vehicles

[@Lexidezi225]

It’s definitely a hard hunt. All I’ve ever had left the last 3 years is the panhandle and it’s not easy I still haven’t gotten one I may switch it up next year and go Wyoming or Colorado. I’ll hike in somewhere where the loggers have cut off access which is cool just to find guys mobbing around the cuts in there atv or utv it’s fucking ridiculous. I’ve found a few holes but it’s still hard to get a shot on one before it disappears in the timber

[@gbaughman3348]

@servicedogojokeguys2967 I try and hunt areas with closed trails, but it seems there is little to no enforcement of people riding where they aren't supposed to.

[@Squatchrocket]

​@@Lexidezi225 buddy....i moved from the panhandle to Colorado and im gonna first say, youre 100% correct, the panhandle elk hunting is rough. I hunted 4/4A mainly and in 2 seasons didnt get an elk. Now...Colorado. I have to say, its 50x worse here. You can hike in as deep a you want....youre just playing with the horseback hunters from Texas and the 500 guides at that point. In 3 seasons here ive nearly been shot twice, met a few hundred nice out of staters and witnessed some of the wildest shit you can imagine unfold in the mtns. From 20 people hunting the same 2 bulls to guides leading pack strings of hunters placing one on every single point to glass. Its to the point of insanity in the 60s/70s units anymore. We also just got wolves and we both know what they can do. Anywho, good luck and if you do make it to Colorado for 2nd/3rd rifle i would highly recommend a draw only unit to save yourself some headaches sir.

[@noahbeckner5843]

Stay away from wyo

[@Fresh_Tracks]

I’ll be there in a week.