LAST EDITED ON Oct-07-13 AT 06:53PM (MST)[p]
LAST EDITED ON Oct-07-13 AT 06:41?PM (MST)
Good posts with thoughtful suggestions.
Apparently, you have some ability to hire an outfitter or that wouldn't be one of your options, so I would suggest you do some of both your options.
Such as: applying for elk hunts on known, limited entry elk units, if you don't know which units have fair numbers of 320 or larger numbers of bulls in a State, someone here on MM will most likely help you pick two or three units to apply for. As stated, some States like Idaho are just an open draw, equal chance for any out of State applicant. It's more expensive to apply in Idaho because you need to buy an out of State license first, but.........every opportunity has it's price. Other States are cheaper to apply for a preference point or a tag but they are more limited in there drawing odds. Each has it's merits and aw sh!ts
If you pick two or three good elk States and start putting in now, by the time your fifty you'll have most likely drawn three to five elk hunts (remember your not applying for the best best units, just units that have good numbers of 300/320 type bulls so, the odds aren't as bad on these "secondary units". Your investment will be in the neighborhood of $300 to $500 a year for the "preference points game" for thirty years. That equates to, give or take, $12,000/$15,000 for maybe three to five hunts. You could spend over $1500.00 a year of you let yourself get carried away, there no need, unless you want bigger bulls or more hunts.
While your waiting for lady luck to draw you a bull tag on a limited entry unit, in the mean time you could purchase elk tags, in some States, with outfitters, for $5000/$6000. There won't be guaranteed 320 bull hunts but, if you do a lot of checking with sportsmen, here on MM and else where, you'll find outfitters that can, on some years, find you a bull of the size you're looking for. If you find a good outfitter, who's clients are, (while your in camp) bring in some of the kinds of bulls your after, stay with him, if he knows he can count on your coming ever two or three years, human nature says he'll likely work a little harder to see that your loyalty is rewarded.............. provided of course that those kinds of elk are in fact in the area's he's hunting.
If you get in the preference point pool process, it does get frustrating but, at your age it will eventually get you good tags. HOWEVER, just because you draw a good tag, on a good limited entry unit, it won't be like shooting a fish in a barrel. Most of these non-high fence hunts are anything but easy. Yes, sometimes elk wander into a meadow your walking by but there are still hunts you'd better be prepared to strap your boots on, head out across a half dozen ridges............. where you all ready know there are elk, and then be prepared to pack 450 pounds of wet soggy meat and a large set of antlers out of some deadfall hell hole, on your back.
Another problem that guys have that drawn these limited entry tags face is they have never seen the unit before they come to hunt it. Finding good bulls, hell, finding any elk, on most of these mountains is not a sure thing. Elk are generally in the same places every year but they are not prolific across any unit and knowing which forty acres they're in, out of 2,000,000 acres, takes a whole lot of luck or a whole lot of time and expense.
I don't want to discourage you, just prepare you for reality. I live near some of the best and maybe the easiest big bull elk hunting units in the State of Utah and I've seen many, many good hunters draw these units down here and go home without the kind of hunt they anticipated. In plan words, it's not easy Now, I would never say guys don't come out DYI and kill huge bulls, lots bigger than 320s but............, well, it happens but it's no sure thing.
Fact is, if you're sure a 320 type bull is what you'd like to hunt and kill every two or three years, I'd go the route of a well vetted outfitter, then stay with him/her. Personally, I've never done that but, I've never needed a bull the size your after to be satisfied and of course I've never killed a 320 bull. I have tried.......just haven't got it done!
There are a lot of other folks that read and share info on MM, keep asking, (more guys well comment if you keep you post active) giving as much info about your wants and eventually you'll sort out what's best for your circumstance. We each have our own path to follow, yours well be just as unique are the rest of ours.
There are a ranches in Utah that run a program called "CWMU" you may find interesting.
http://wildlife.utah.gov/about-the-cwmu-program.html
There CWMUs are not all created equal, there are certainly good ons and a bunch maybe not so good, prices vary, quality varies, check, check, check, check with other hunters that use them before you ever go with one, but the good ones provide better than average animals and a good hunting experience.
Best regards in your hunting future.
DC