Your favorite OTC nonresident hunt.

[Nuke Man]

My cousin recently decided he's going to quit saying maybe next year and just go for it. We're going to get something going for the 2016 fall season. I know he doesn't have any points built up for anything anywhere. I am looking for some advice and opinions on some OTC western hunts. What have you guys done, what would you do different? Both of us are experienced midwest hunters, but neither of us have much mountain time. Either archery or rifle. We're not really seeking trophy grade head gear but really just want meat in the freezer and to have a good time. Also would prefer to go DIY.

 

[Mtnboy]

I mentioned this in another thread, but certain units in Idaho you can hunt Elk, Deer, Bear, Cougar & Wolf all OTC, with a rifle or bow, all at the same time. It would just depend if you wanted to hunt in Sept or Oct.

If it were me and I were making my first trip out West, I be looking for somewhere that had as much opportunity as possible to give myself the most opportunity for success.

 

[Shrek]

I mentioned this in another thread, but certain units in Idaho you can hunt Elk, Deer, Bear, Cougar & Wolf all OTC, with a rifle or bow, all at the same time. It would just depend if you wanted to hunt in Sept or Oct.

If it were me and I were making my first trip out West, I be looking for somewhere that had as much opportunity as possible to give myself the most opportunity for success.

Idaho is also lower cost for what you get. Your deer or elk tag can be used for bear or wolf if you want and in many units you can buy a second tag for elk , deer , and bear with the bear at a significant discount. Lets say you get lucky on day one and get your elk. While in town dropping off your elk at the processor you could swing by the Game and Fish and pick up a second elk tag if you wanted. All depends if there are leftover tags which there usually is. Second bear tag is about $32 for non residents . A lot of value and a ton of public land. Much of it remote wilderness.

 

[Slim Jim]

I really enjoy heading to AZ every year for OTC archery deer.

 

[dirtytough]

Washington has some good otc archery high country deer and bear. Or you could even do it rifle.

Or draw a Colorado unit that takes zero points for deer archery and get an elk tag. We do otc rifle elk in Colorado and have a good time.

Montana you are pretty much guaranteed a combo tag in the draw and it's like an 11 week season between archery and rifle for deer and elk.

Lots of options

 

[Nuke Man]

Awesome tips on Idaho! Hadn't given it much thought. I was thinking about Colorado elk, but I've been told it's pretty crowded during rifle season. I like that Idaho has lots of opportunities and reasonable tags!

 

[Bonedalien]

CO OTC tags are cheap,and the seasons are a human zoo.

 

[TEmbry]

Alaska Caribou and Montana Elk were my favorite two hunts so far.

 

[sodaksooner]

SD archery deer or CO archery elk

 

[MTbowhunter36]

Archery season in coastal Oregon for Roosevelt elk. For me it was a different experience than Rocky Mountain elk.

 

[rodney482]

Me too! Love hunting AZ in Jan

I really enjoy heading to AZ every year for OTC archery deer.

 

[Archerm]

I have been doing GE hunts in Montana since the mid 89s and have never been let down. Lots of Opportunities for a general tag. I can honestly say every trip I have had a opportunity or more than one opportunity to take a shot at a elk. Now whether I took that shot is for a different thread.