DIY Elk Hunt- Oregon or Utah

After a successful Mule deer season, I would like to try my hands at some elk. I grew up eating it with my grandpa, who hunted northwestern Colorado religiously. I live in California and dont want to wait 30 years to pull a tag. Does anybody have any thoughts on what state might be the best to travel to in order to go after them? I would be interested in Colorado as well, but Utah and Oregon and a closer run for me considering I will be towing a Polaris Ranger with all of my gear in order to stay a week with my family.

Any info is greatly appreciated. Hope everybody is having a successful year!
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killerbee
Are you thinking about this year or next year? do you hunt rifle or Archery?

I can only speak for Oregon, but if you dont have any points for either state, Oregons general archery season is not a bad way to go.

If you don't bow hunt, I have friends who do well with the general cascade bull hunt also, but I have never hunted it myself.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
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Thanks a lot for your reply. I have been on the Oregon Department of Wildlife website all day looking at info. Its much closer for me and we (I have a 3 and 4 yr old) love traveling in Oregon. I might try to go this year, but more than likely I will be planning for next years season.

I love to archery hunt and would prefer to hunt early with my bow. Can you point me in the right direction for areas to look into with an archery hunt in Oregon? I am interested in over the counter tags as I am trying to avoid a drawing. I read that coastal tags are over the counter, but I would appreciate any info you may have.

Thanks again for your response.
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derekp1999
Utah offers an unlimited quota of OTC archery elk tags from mid-August thru mid-September. The hunt coincides with the archery deer, it's a great way to have a combo hunt assuming you can draw the deer tag now that we've switched micro-units.
You can hunt anywhere in the State, you just have to be aware of whether you are in a Limited Entry or Any Bull area. If you're in an "Any Bull" unit you can take an elk of your choice (either sex) & if you're within a Limited Entry unit you can take a spike or cow (with occasional exceptions).
The Utah Big Game Guidebook does a decent job of explaining all your options. Here's a link to the Utah DWR website for the guidebook: http://wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/hunting/guidebooks.html.
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You guys are awesome. I cant wait to get on the ground after elk.

Thanks
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