What State Offers The Best Chance For a Monster Bull?

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william081972

Guest
LAST EDITED ON Apr-18-16 AT 09:11PM (MST)[p]There has and will always be talk on what state, here in the West, has the best trophy elk hunting opportunities. Is it Colorado? Maybe Utah? One thing is for sure, the state that holds the largest elk population is the beautiful state of Colorado. But does that automatically qualify them for the biggest bulls? Let's look at 6 Western states and find out how I rate them as providing the best opportunity for a trophy bull elk.

With an elk population of over 250,000 animals, Colorado is clearly king when it comes to sheer numbers. But, does Colorado offer the best chance for a trophy bull? No! Don?t get me wrong, there are some giants still roaming the Rocky Mountain State, but far less than some of its neighbors. Colorado is one of the best states to give the average hunter an opportunity to fill the freezer, but not my pick for the top Trophy Elk State. Colorado takes the #4 spot for having the best chance at a monster bull.

Looking North from Colorado you come to Wyoming. I love Wyoming, and I love how the wildlife is managed here. Elk populations are above objective at 90,000 animals. Most of its hunting units are above their objective and offer incredible hunting opportunities. Frustrating thing about Wyoming is that 50% of the state is private land. But, they are managing with this in mind and have created some great programs with the land owners. Best areas are around the Jackson Hole area and Big Horn Mountains. The Cody heard has been hit hard by wolves. Some calf survival rate in these areas are as low as 3 calves per 100 cows. So, Does Wyoming provide the largest bulls? No! But they do come in at my number 5.

Keep going North and you run into my home state of Montana. This state brings you both a huge population (160,000) and an improved opportunity for a trophy bull. Over the last 10 years, Montana has made huge strides to bring back mature bulls, and it is paying off, just look at how many entries Montana has had in the last 10 years. Montana offers one of the best opportunities of seeing elk and finding a huge bull. Montana is also hooked to the private land issue, with over 64% of the state considered private. But, great management with the land owners is opening new opportunities. Hunt the Bob Marshal/Missouri Breaks units for a chance for that trophy. Hunt the units around Enis and Dillon to see lots of elk and fill your freezer. Montana comes in at #3. Eight years ago they would have been fighting for the #5 spot.

Turning West we run into the state of Idaho. Idaho holds a strong elk population of 120,000 animals. Although the units in the Eastern side of the state is getting hit hard by wolves, the state continues to provide good mature bull elk. Idaho is blessed with 64% of it's state being public land, and much of the wintering range is also public. This provides a lot of management opportunities for the state of Idaho and they have done a great job of taking advantage of that. Although Idaho is not in my top three for a trophy, it provides a fantastic opportunity to have a great elk hunting experience. They get my nod for the #6 spot.

Heading South we run into the Beehive State. Utah has a strong elk population of about 65,000 animals. Compared to the first few states we have talked about, that may not sound like a lot of animals. But, if there is a spot in Utah that can hold elk there will be elk. 70% of the state of Utah is public land. This means that there is a lot of land you can hunt. Although Utah doesn't have the population that other states have, such as Colorado, Montana and Idaho, it takes my #1 spot for finding monster bulls! Utah has managed the state for trophy bulls for years and it is finally paying off. The new world record came out of Utah recently (Spider Bull), off of the Monroe unit. Utah has also been the top state, in the past 10 years, for B&C entries for elk. Units such as the Monroe, Plateau, Book Cliffs, and Cache, offer some of the greatest elk hunting opportunities in any elk hunting state. Every state has a trophy unit or two, but Utah has a lot more then just one or two, and I'm not talking about a 320-360 trophy bull, I'm talking consistent opportunities of 360-400 trophy class bulls. The thing about Utah is, it's not if you can find a 360 bull, it's if you can draw a tag to hunt that bull, that's the challenge.

Arizona has traditionally been a trophy elk state. Although the entries into B&C has dropped off in recent years, they still produce huge animals. The elk population is at a healthy 35,000 animals, with most all these animals found in the North/North-central part of the state. Units 9 and 10 are still the units we all dream of, but you also have a chance at a monster in units 1 and 27. As with Utah, good luck drawing a tag, but if you are one of the few that redefine luck, then get ready for the hunt of a life time! Arizona completes the top 6 elk states at #2.

The top six elk hunting states that offer the best opportunity for a true monster, listed below in order:

#1 ? Utah, #2 ? Arizona, #3 ? Montana, #4 ? Colorado, #5 ? Wyoming, #6 ? Idaho

Now, to wait for hunting season to begin?is it here yet?!

Thanks for reading !
---------------------------------------------
William S. Guerrera
Help you find the best compound bow for the money
Website: http://hunthacks.com/
 
Decent ranking. However, not sure how you can leave New Mexico (with 70,000 elk) off your list entirely. And I would probably put it in the #3 or #4 spot.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
We have too many hunters here in Colorado for the bulls to get mature enough to be a trophy.

I'm glad i'm not a trophy hunter. They all seem to be dissatisfied and unhappy most of the time. If they don't shoot a trophy it's a bad hunt. I think they miss out on what hunting is all about. It sure isn't bragging about what you shot.
 
I agree %100.Seems like New Mexico should have with out a doubt replaced Colorado. No offense to anyone from there . Arizona , Utah,Idaho, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana.




>Decent ranking. However, not sure how
>you can leave New Mexico
>(with 70,000 elk) off your
>list entirely. And I
>would probably put it in
>the #3 or #4 spot.
>
>
>txhunter58
>
>venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore
>I am)
 
For trophy elk
1. UT
2. AZ
3. NM
4. MT
5. WY
6. CO
7. ID

Is how I would rank them.

Opportunity to hunt and Quality would be ranked differently.
 
Sorry but the east will soon take over as the top trophy producing states simply because their entire herds are managed as trophy units. May not hold the numbers but the bulls are simply incredibull...
 
>Sorry but the east will soon
>take over as the top
>trophy producing states simply because
>their entire herds are managed
>as trophy units. May not
>hold the numbers but the
>bulls are simply incredibull...

Not hard when they hand out 5 tags.
 
Exclude the draw units other than very low point draws, say you could draw at least every 3 or 4 years. Then rank. Utah and Arizona drop way down? Wyoming and Montana way up? And lower the expectations, maybe 330+ or so. Now how do they rank?
 
I think Goldhunter makes a really good point.

That is great that Arizona has incredible trophies but what good is it if you will never draw a tag. Utah is pretty much in the same boat but you can buy a tag there if you have the smack to do it. You really have to ask "Where can I hunt for good quality animals and also get a tag within the next 20 years?"

If you are just starting to build points in Utah or Arizona as a non-resident you are kidding yourself unless you are 30 years old or younger if you want one of the top 10 units.
 
Sorry dude but leaving out New Mexico and Nevada who have in the last two years kicked out the some of the largest bulls in the west makes this a less then credible list.

Nevada has two Bulls over 440" alone. Matching utahs two, New Mexico has 1 that I know of. Arizona had 0 last year that I saw, however Arizona did have a 430"+ straight 6 typical that's unholy! Point being, Nevada and New Mexico are on par with Arizona and Utah when it comes to giant bulls

https://www.facebook.com/strawberrybayoutfitters
 
New mexico had a 445,412,and 408 that I know of last year.



>gSorry dude but leaving out New
>Mexico and Nevada who have
>in the last two years
>kicked out the some of
>the largest bulls in the
>west makes this a less
>then credible list.
>
>Nevada has two Bulls over 440"
>alone. Matching utahs two, New
>Mexico has 1 that I
>know of. Arizona had
>0 last year that I
>saw, however Arizona did have
>a 430"+ straight 6 typical
>that's unholy! Point being,
>Nevada and New Mexico are
>on par with Arizona and
>Utah when it comes to
>giant bulls
>
>https://www.facebook.com/strawberrybayoutfitters
 
How about a rank based on over the counter, general tags? Curious what people's thoughts on that would be.
My thoughts are

1 Montana
2 wyoming
3 Colorado
4 Idaho
5 Utah
6 nm/az/nv?
7 nm/az/nv?
8 nm/az/nv?

I don't know much about Arizona, nevada or new Mexico as far as general hunting, if they even have one.
 
There are so many ways a person could rank the states for this.
1. What is a monster bull? You ask 100 hunters and you will get 101 different answers.
2. Do you simply mean for the state to produce a monster or us specifically as we answer the question cause the ease of acquiring a tag must fall into this ranking then.
3. What about repeating success? UT you need to wait 5 years, NV and ID you need to wait too. AZ not sure on, don't apply there.
4. you also could look at it as in % of bulls above certain score total or % of bulls above score from available tags.

Could go on and on.

Personally I'd say you need to acquire a tag nearly every year to increase your odds. That kicks out AZ, NV and NM from any consideration. UT has a few General units but don't think their quality opportunity is all too good, any unit in that state with any good quality is a LE unit(years of waiting).
So that leaves WY, CO, ID and MT. I am biased since I live in CO so I am putting it at the top. I can hunt every year, and with some good scouting in remote areas a person can find 320+ bulls. Granted it isn't a monster but at least I have an opportunity vs just getting another "point". Also some great bulls come out of units that you can draw with 3 or 4 points or less. So every 3rd/4th year you can be hunting a mid tier unit with better quality.

I'd think there are some good units in the other 3 states that are general tags but don't know them so that is why I picked CO.

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"
 
Colorado above Wyoming? If you hunt hard in a Wyo general unit you can take a 330 bull and in Colo hunt the same and you might find a 280 bull....of course you might have an exceptional bull come out of Colorado but dont count on it.
 
No doubt Nevada is a top state if you are talking those draw tags. New Mexico kind of the same, although you can get landowner tags and with no point system, you could get really lucky and pull a few tags. Are the big bulls coming off public land? I know there are some top ranches in NM.

But what I'm interested in is the hunts that a normal working class guy can afford to hunt on a fairly regular basis. I'd put Wyoming at the top, but that's based on what I have read not personal experience. Just wondering what everybody else thinks. And I use the 330 inch bull because I don't think many would pass on that bull in a general hunt. And most would be elated to tag something that size, including me.

For the record I'm going to try some of these general hunts this year. Rifle in Wyoming, archery in Montana and hope to pull a muzzy tag in Colorado. Lets hope my schedule holds out.
 
New mexico 445,412,408 all public land . The 445 was guided ,the 412&408 d.I.y.average joes


>No doubt Nevada is a top
>state if you are talking
>those draw tags. New
>Mexico kind of the same,
>although you can get landowner
>tags and with no point
>system, you could get really
>lucky and pull a few
>tags. Are the big
>bulls coming off public land?
> I know there are
>some top ranches in NM.
>
>
>But what I'm interested in is
>the hunts that a normal
>working class guy can afford
>to hunt on a fairly
>regular basis. I'd put Wyoming
>at the top, but that's
>based on what I have
>read not personal experience.
>Just wondering what everybody else
>thinks. And I use
>the 330 inch bull because
>I don't think many would
>pass on that bull in
>a general hunt. And
>most would be elated to
>tag something that size, including
>me.
>
>For the record I'm going to
>try some of these general
>hunts this year. Rifle in
>Wyoming, archery in Montana and
>hope to pull a muzzy
>tag in Colorado. Lets
>hope my schedule holds out.
>
 
Very impressive, especially since NM doesn't have those classic top units like 9 and 23 in AZ, San Juan plus others in Utah.
 
By "all public land" do you mean general hunts/ over the counter tag, or do you mean a le tag for public land. Assuming they were killed in high point areas
 
Also if anybody passes a 300" bull on a general tag hunt, you're crazy in my opinion. Even 250" is hard to pass on general. Unless you've just killed a bunch of monsters. It's a general tag where 90% of hunters would be happy to shoot a cow and 90% of hunters won't get a shot. Granted most are Road hunters, no matter how hard you hunt, a big mature bull is extremely hard to pass no matter the Antler size. Most general units, in my experience, only have genes to grow mostly 300" bulls at full maturity with those rare 350+ bulls in there.
 
There is no point system in New Mexico ,if your question was directed to me. Its all a lottery system . No OTC elk tags neither, all draw. In New Mexico every year you can potentially draw a good tag.





>By "all public land" do you
>mean general hunts/ over the
>counter tag, or do you
>mean a le tag for
>public land. Assuming they were
>killed in high point areas
>
 
LAST EDITED ON Apr-20-16 AT 10:14AM (MST)[p]B&C trophy search on typical elk for last 5 years, it's Montana.

You can hunt MT every year. Kind of a no-brainer.
 
>
>New mexico 445,412,408 all public land
>. The 445 was guided
>,the 412&408 d.I.y.average joes
>
>
>>No doubt Nevada is a top
>>state if you are talking
>>those draw tags. New
>>Mexico kind of the same,
>>although you can get landowner
>>tags and with no point
>>system, you could get really
>>lucky and pull a few
>>tags. Are the big
>>bulls coming off public land?
>> I know there are
>>some top ranches in NM.
>>
>>
>>But what I'm interested in is
>>the hunts that a normal
>>working class guy can afford
>>to hunt on a fairly
>>regular basis. I'd put Wyoming
>>at the top, but that's
>>based on what I have
>>read not personal experience.
>>Just wondering what everybody else
>>thinks. And I use
>>the 330 inch bull because
>>I don't think many would
>>pass on that bull in
>>a general hunt. And
>>most would be elated to
>>tag something that size, including
>>me.
>>
>>For the record I'm going to
>>try some of these general
>>hunts this year. Rifle in
>>Wyoming, archery in Montana and
>>hope to pull a muzzy
>>tag in Colorado. Lets
>>hope my schedule holds out.
>>
What is the draw percentage for those units though? 5, 3, 1%?? how many years would a person realistically have to wait to draw that tag. Yes everyone has a chance in NM every year but that doesn't mean you are going to draw. A hunter could very well NEVER draw those tags.
Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"
 
>LAST EDITED ON Apr-20-16
>AT 10:14?AM (MST)

>
>B&C trophy search on typical elk
>for last 5 years, it's
>Montana.
>
>You can hunt MT every year.
> Kind of a no-brainer.
>
How many tags were sold though? what percentage of the people who had general tags in MT shot a B&C bull? .01% or less?

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"
 
>>B&C trophy search on typical elk
>>for last 5 years, it's
>>Montana.
>>
>>You can hunt MT every year.
>> Kind of a no-brainer.
>>
>How many tags were sold though?
>what percentage of the people
>who had general tags in
>MT shot a B&C bull?
>.01% or less?
>
>Mntman
>
>"Hunting is where you prove yourself"
>
Don't how many licenses sold, probably a lot, but I do know I tagged 2 of the 42 Montana booners in that 5 year span. And honestly, the really big ones usually get away.
 
LAST EDITED ON Apr-20-16 AT 02:22PM (MST)[p]One was general, one a guaranteed draw, both on public.

I've got max elk points in WY and will have 19 next year in UT unless I draw next month. I'll have 20 elk points in AZ next year after I finish the bonus point class on Saturday.

Hopefully the best units of these states will stack up to the whopportunity state.

to clarify though, my elk are "awards" not "all time" 375+net. But those come up in the B&C trophy search.
 
Either way, that's really impressive. And it sounds like the best is yet to come. Going to have to build a barn to hold all the heads.

Knocking down a great bull in even the better units is a tall order if your a DIY NR hunter. But if you can find 330+ bulls in general type hunts that's even more impressive to me. About a dozen years ago I hunted archery Colorado unit 61. Probably saw over a 100 bulls in a week. Probably only two at or above 330. Pretty rare.

I'll take some luck if I can get it.
 
Idk the draw percentage for NR, I do know a NR that is three years successful in two of the units that we are talking about. A 330 billbis a shooter to me any day any weapon I have passed several 280/300 types.



>Either way, that's really impressive.
>And it sounds like the
>best is yet to come.
> Going to have to
>build a barn to hold
>all the heads.
>
>Knocking down a great bull in
>even the better units is
>a tall order if your
>a DIY NR hunter.
>But if you can find
>330+ bulls in general type
>hunts that's even more impressive
>to me. About a
>dozen years ago I hunted
>archery Colorado unit 61.
>Probably saw over a 100
>bulls in a week.
>Probably only two at or
>above 330. Pretty rare.
>
>
>I'll take some luck if I
>can get it.
 
Colorado shouldnt even be on the list for monster bulls and Wyoming should definitely be above Colorado and Nevada puts out more monsters than Colorado too.
 
From a statistics standpoint, Idaho has better success than Colorado on many OTC tags. In fact, there are many units that have a better success rate for archery hunts, than many of the Colorado rifle hunts. There is no waiting period for OTC tags in Idaho. BUT, for BIG bulls Idaho is definitely lacking compared to many of the others mentioned (exception the limited entry southern Idaho units). I would say I have seen a better "average" score bull in Idaho (270-300") than in Colorado as well (I have hunted both states multiple times). Yes, Colorado units, 2, 201, 10, 61 are kicking out great bulls, but, the OTC units in Colorado are kicking out raghorns for the most part (yes there is the occasional big wilderness bull).

Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona are kicking out great bulls, but as a non-resident of those states with 10+ points in Nevada and Utah (I have drawn AZ twice in the last 5 years), it is a long drought between tags.

Many people have gone to other states because of the perceived wolf problems in Idaho. In some areas its true, but in most areas, hunting has never been this good. Just have to put out my .02 cents here.


Free Draw Odds!
www.hunthardcore.com
 
I know of 2 bulls that came out of some under the radar units here in new mexick on the first archery hunt in 2015 one bull went 422 and the other 408 by two average diy guys. These two units also have good odds of drawing with 550 total combined tags just for archery alone not including muzzy and rifle tags
 
9173img20160422145202916hdr.jpg



My 2015 archery bull, just got him back today.
 
I have got to put Montana up near the top. I hunt a unit that is guaranteed archery draw for residents and near 50% for nonresidents. I can't remember the last year I did not see a 380 or better gross bull. Last year I saw four. Granted it is much more difficult for people that don't know the aria as you can spend your entire hunt with out seeing even a cow. I know top end hunters that have gone elkless for days. It is also true that some of those bulls are on land that is difficult to get access to but some could be hunted with a little walking by a DIY hunter driving a compact car.
 
I have never got any bull over 280, but I've been really thankful for those. I used to hunt/live in Colorado for 8 years and spent three years around Ely, NV. I seen lots of good bulls between Ely to Caliente, like in the 340-370 range from the roads. It's just a matter of basically drawing a oil tag even for a resident and killing a big bull in NV. It can't even be compared to the other states for opportunity to kill a trophy.
I've seen multiple pictures of hunters in Montana and Wyoming that kill several book bulls and usually get 300 bulls most years, but they are the 2% of hunters that know a given area or range and know where to find game throughout the season. I'm not there yet, I'm happy with a branched bull or legal cow.
I'd personally rather have the chance of killing of big bull over a long period of actually hunting, than draw a oil tag in NV, UT, or Az. I like to hunt, so I thank Montana, Wyoming and maybe some of the Canadian provinces offer the best chance of your willing to work at it from my limited experience.
 
>>
>>New mexico 445,412,408 all public land
>>. The 445 was guided
>>,the 412&408 d.I.y.average joes
>>
>>
>>>No doubt Nevada is a top
>>>state if you are talking
>>>those draw tags. New
>>>Mexico kind of the same,
>>>although you can get landowner
>>>tags and with no point
>>>system, you could get really
>>>lucky and pull a few
>>>tags. Are the big
>>>bulls coming off public land?
>>> I know there are
>>>some top ranches in NM.
>>>
>>>
>>>But what I'm interested in is
>>>the hunts that a normal
>>>working class guy can afford
>>>to hunt on a fairly
>>>regular basis. I'd put Wyoming
>>>at the top, but that's
>>>based on what I have
>>>read not personal experience.
>>>Just wondering what everybody else
>>>thinks. And I use
>>>the 330 inch bull because
>>>I don't think many would
>>>pass on that bull in
>>>a general hunt. And
>>>most would be elated to
>>>tag something that size, including
>>>me.
>>>
>>>For the record I'm going to
>>>try some of these general
>>>hunts this year. Rifle in
>>>Wyoming, archery in Montana and
>>>hope to pull a muzzy
>>>tag in Colorado. Lets
>>>hope my schedule holds out.
>>>
>What is the draw percentage for
>those units though? 5, 3,
>1%?? how many years would
>a person realistically have to
>wait to draw that tag.
>Yes everyone has a chance
>in NM every year but
>that doesn't mean you are
>going to draw. A hunter
>could very well NEVER draw
>those tags.
>Mntman
>
>"Hunting is where you prove yourself"
>

As a res in NM I have drawn elk rifle and archery 6 out of the last 7 years. as a NR w/o registering with an outfitter yea your playing with 6% odds. If you register w/ an outfitter your odds greatly increase.
 
>As a res in NM I
>have drawn elk rifle and
>archery 6 out of the
>last 7 years. as a
>NR w/o registering with an
>outfitter yea your playing with
>6% odds. If you register
>w/ an outfitter your odds
>greatly increase.

Yep. NM odds aren't that bad if you play the system and you are willing to shell out $1,500 (or less) in the event that you draw the tag. That's a cheap option to increase your draw odds in my opinion.
 
>LAST EDITED ON Apr-25-16
>AT 12:01?PM (MST)

>
>6% is the number of tags
>available to non-guided NR applicants.
> Your odds in many
>cases are much less than
>this.
>
>Free Draw Odds!
>www.hunthardcore.com


Yes your right, but I was actially referring to a hunt within the state.
 
Hands down...no debating/no arguing about it...the state you have the best odds at getting your trophy bull in is...the state/area you have a tag in.
 
>Hands down...no debating/no arguing about it...the
>state you have the best
>odds at getting your trophy
>bull in is...the state/area you
>have a tag in.

That was deep man! Logic like that is rarely found on these forums! When I grow up I want to have gooder insight like you!

And for the record NM does suck, I strongly encourage those that drew tags to not even print them, you will only be disappointed. Until New Mexico does a better job making things fair for everyone, we as a community on Monster Muleys should boycott!
Good luck to you all!
 
YOUR POLL IS NOT COMPLETE.......FOR TROPHY BULLS NEVADA IS IN THE TOP THREE. CHECK THE RECENT RECORDS..........YD.
 

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