One of the most difficult aspects of hunting elk in the West is drawing a license. Ironically, the state with the most elk, Colorado, offers many areas where licenses are available over-the-counter. Normally, elk hunts take months of preparation and extensive research on where and when to hunt. In over-the-counter hunts, you can literally stop by a Colorado WalMart, buy a license, and head for the mountains. Todd Wilson is a recent native of Colorado who loves statistics; upon moving there, he immediately immersed himself in units where he could hunt every year with the over-the-counter technique. Last year he took a 330-class bull (shown above) with a bow on public land and explains the dos and don’ts in this post from Hunting Fool.

Hunting with an over-the-counter elk tag is not easy, and I often wonder why I keep doing it. However, as I glance at the 338 1/8” antlers on my wall, I am sure I will chase over-the-counter bulls for years to come. For many wise hunters, these tags are a last resort, and where they are offered, you will not find solitude. My home is surrounded by over-the-counter units in Colorado. I pride myself on knowing these units like the back of my hand. The only sure thing in my multi-state applications is that I can always pick up a tag for my hometown archery hunt.

Hunting over-the-counter units is like playing cat and mouse, but playing it with other hunters, not the elk. If you want to find the elk, it’s simple, avoid the other hunters… [continued]

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