In Colorado there is an 18% success the last I read. This usually increases a substantial amount on private land guided hunts. Those can run from $5,000 to what ever your wallet will let go of.
Youth hunts as I understand now can start in an either sex 1st season hunt (5 days). If unsuccessful, you take your license to a DOW office and exchange it for a bull tag that supposedly is good for all the rest of the seasons. Or you can start in the second season as well instead of the first.
This year in northern Colorado the elk never came down out of the high country until after the 4th season. So we were unsuccessful for 4 seasons. A did talk to a lady who arrows a fine 6x6 in late September on private land. Also some young South Dakota guys walked up high and manage to get 50% of their elk (mix of cows and bulls).
All in all 2019 wasn’t a very good Colorado elk year according to a warden we talked to.
Its a matter of percentages. The more you scout and hunt an area, the better your chances. You have to understand that the earlier seasons the elk are mostly very high. They usually need at least a foot to 18” to even start moving down.
I have been very lucky by taking 17 elk (mostly meat cows) in close to 40 years hunting them. Still, I worked scouting and walking lots to find them. That’s the easy part. Once you take one, the hard part starts. I’ve hauled my share out on my back including my 3 loads of the five three seasons ago when I was only 70. Even though I work out, it’s a killer task!
I’m glad to answer any private questions you might have about Colorado, or elk hunting in general. Just PM me.
Best of luck in what ever you decide! Everyone should try it at least once!
