HIGH END OVERVIEW: OTC LICENSE PROS VS CONS

COLORADO

IDAHO

OREGON

UTAH

WASHINGTON

Most of the major draw deadlines for the western states have come and passed for the year and elk hunters are generally split into two groups now: those who have tags in their pockets and those who do not. Personally, I have some deer hunts potentially coming if the draws are nice to me, but my current archery elk hunts are largely in the air.At this point in the year, you might have some chances at leftover tags and turn-backs; however, the primary options will be found in the various over-the-counter (OTC) tag options that are spread throughout the West.In the following sections, we will look at some of the OTC archery elk hunting opportunities that exist as well as explore some of the better options for each state.

When it comes to OTC tags, there are definitely some pros and cons that should be considered. Not all OTC hunts are equal — just like everything else in life — but there are some good opportunities that can be found with some thorough research.

Pros:

Cons:

Please note that this article covers the HAM non-permit tag (handgun, archery, muzzleloader), but there are other any legal weapon OTC opportunities as well. These will be covered in a future article.

ARIZONA

Arizona is typically not a state that comes up often when discussing OTC opportunities — and for mostly good measure. The state has implemented these hunts to help control elk populations in areas where the elk are causing extensive crop damage or outcompeting other trophy species like mule deer. Some decent bulls do get killed on the OTC hunts every year, but the odds are, in general, dismally low and local knowledge reigns king. Couple those parameters with the fact that Arizona also has one of the highest priced nonresident OTC elk tag and it’s pretty plain to see why better opportunities can be found in other states.

It is important to note that many of the OTC hunt areas in Arizona do not follow traditional hunting district boundaries and are set up for specific regions that may span over several connecting hunting districts.

My general takeaway for Arizona OTC elk

For the most part, the OTC archery tags for elk in Arizona will have very little to offer for most hunters without some great local intel or by hiring a guide. My general suggestion here would be to explore some of the limited draw options for elk in this state while researching OTC options in some of the other states available in the West.

It’s very rare that the conversation around OTC elk tags would come up and Colorado wouldn’t get mentioned. Colorado has the highest elk populations of all of the western states and OTC tags are sold in unlimited numbers for many areas.Colorado offers an enormous amount of OTC hunts for archery and rifle seasons. With careful research, some amazing hunts can be found. Trophy qualities are generally lower in the Colorado OTC units though some great bulls are taken in these units every year. Competition can be very high in some units and finding solitude can be tough, but certainly not impossible.Getting an OTC elk tag in Colorado is as simple as driving out to the state and then stopping at any license vendor. Hunter numbers are not controlled on a unit by unit basis so one of the biggest complaints you’ll hear from hunters is about hunting pressure. This can be a fact that can drive some hunters away; however, focusing on your pre-hunt research and e-scouting efforts can really pay dividends in areas and conditions like this. This is where the power of Insider and Filtering 2.0 really begin to shine!

Some hunts omitted from the list based on lack of public hunting opportunities and inflated harvest success due to low hunter numbers.

My general takeaway for Colorado OTC elk

The Colorado OTC elk tag can be a good one to consider and with its open availability, it fits perfectly into anyones schedule as a contingency plan. The OTC tag is very flexible as hunters do not need to declare a unit and can simply hunt any open OTC unit in the state. Hunting pressure is almost a given in Colorado; however, good quality hunting can still be found with enough hard work — even in high pressure areas thanks to the state’s elk population. Hunters should be aware that hunting conditions might differ slightly from the norm — elk may be more call shy, may move around an area nomadically and more.

Overall, Colorado can be a great state for anyone to consider and, with enough research, some great options can be found. While hunting the OTC units, I would also encourage anyone to explore some of the various archery draw options as many of these can be drawn with just a handful of points.

Start your Colorado OTC archery elk research here

Idaho offers some excellent hunting opportunities; however, it is generally a state where hard work and mental exhaustion is a likely prerequisite to any success. Basically, Idaho doesn’t give them up easily. OTC archery hunts are available all over the state and over many different terrain types. There is a hunting opportunity for really any hunter when it comes to Idaho.

The Idaho OTC tag sale system can be very challenging and frustrating and while tags are available OTC it can be very tough to count on getting a tag here. Idaho divides the state into various Elk Management Zones. OTC licenses are sold by the zone and tags are only valid for the units within those specific zones. Each zone has a set quota of licenses available to nonresidents so the demand can get very high.

Each year, on Dec. 1, the OTC licenses go on sale for the following season. Hopeful hunters log into a virtual waiting room and then are assigned a random number. Once the tag sale starts, the hunters with the lowest numbers get to start selecting the tags they want. This continues until all of the tags are sold. This can quickly shoot holes in your list of zones you want a tag for and makes planning a hunt here extremely difficult until you actually have a tag in your pocket.

How to Get a Tag for This Year

If you want an Idaho OTC elk tag and currently don't have one, you'll need to pick one up during the returned tag sales. You can learn more about this process here from our 2023 kick off article on Idaho's OTC tag sale. Also, remember that all OTC/Leftover articles are published here. So once the next round of Idaho's returned tags become available, we will have an article on the tag list.

Below is a list of upcoming returned tag available dates:

Pick up an available tag here once available

My general takeaway for Idaho OTC elk

Idaho is one of my favorite states to hunt because every hunt comes with its own unique set of challenges and Idaho is typically a state that makes you earn every inch of horn and pound of meat. There are some awesome opportunities for those willing to put in the miles.With Idaho’s tag system being so complicated, it can be difficult to secure yourself a tag year after year and if you want to hunt with buddies, the odds of getting multiple tags in the same zone is an even taller order. I do hope to see some changes to their system soon, but only time will tell.Overall, if you can secure a tag and are ripe for adventure, then the Gem State should definitely be on your list!

Start your Idaho OTC archery elk research here

Oregon offers OTC archery hunting opportunities for both Roosevelt and Rocky Mountain elk, a cool perk. Generally speaking, Interstate 5 that runs north and south in western Oregon is considered the dividing line for the two species although the gene traits can obviously become muddy in the transition area.

While Oregon is not known for producing trophy Rocky Mountain elk, there are some great bulls that are taken every year. Roosevelt elk on the western side of the state can provide good opportunities for mature bulls; however, locating the animals in the thick rainforest-like conditions can be tough, but this is just part of the territory.

Oregon general archery elk tags are sold OTC, but must be purchased by Sept. 1. The general archery season tag can be used for either species and in any of the open units, giving some great flexibility to this hunt.

Some hunts omitted from the list based on lack of public hunting opportunities.

Some hunts omitted from the list based on lack of public hunting opportunities.

My general takeaway for Oregon OTC elk

Oregon has some great opportunities to offer, but for many hunters it simply gets overshadowed by some of the other states due to elk numbers, length of drive, etc. If you are a person looking to hunt Roosevelts, then this is likely one of your best bets and is something I would definitely check out. Some good opportunities can be found for Rocky Mountain elk on the east side of the state and it may be worth checking these out if you are unable to secure a tag in some of the other states or if you are somewhat local to the state.

While Utah is commonly known for producing some of the largest bulls in the West, the fact that OTC hunts are available in the Beehive State is seldom discussed. The lack of discussion isn’t totally unfounded; however, since the OTC hunts are a polar opposite of the limited entry tags and successfully punching a tag can be difficult—even more so when targeting mature bulls. OTC tags are limited by a quota and sold on a first come, first served basis.

Utah OTC hunts can be broken down into two categories: spike only and any bull. Spike only hunts are generally conducted in units that feature limited entry hunts for branched antlered bulls. Conversely, any bull units allow hunters to take any legal bull they find; however, these areas typically see lower elk densities and populations along with high hunting pressures.

Success can definitely be found on the any bull unit hunts, but it may take a year or two of learning an area to really get an idea on how to hunt the area and to avoid people.

*2022 harvest data is not yet available

*2022 harvest data is not yet available

My general takeaway for Utah OTC elk

The OTC elk hunts can be a great option to consider if you are looking for a tag to fill a spot this year or are interested in exploring some new country. Success can be found year after year in several units, but a successfully punched tag is usually held by those with private access or those with intimate knowledge of an area and how the elk use it. It is also important to note that the larger percentage of bulls taken every year on general units are spikes and immature bulls.The success rates on some of the spike hunts are very attractive, but some hunters may have trouble justifying the expensive tag costs for fewer inches of antlers and a much lower yield of meat to haul home. While the spike only hunts certainly aren’t a huge destination for most out-of-state hunters, they do have a hidden value to high point holders. As we talked about before, the spike only hunts are generally conducted on units that feature limited entry hunts for trophy bulls. With this fact in mind, if an applicant had high odds of drawing his or her preferred tag in the next few years, it could be a great idea to pick up a spike only tag for the area a year or two prior to hunt and scout simultaneously.

Start your Utah OTC archery any bull elk research here Start your Utah OTC archery spike bull elk research here

While Washington did make our list because of its OTC tag opportunities, very few hunters ever make their way to the Evergreen State. Hunting for Rocky Mountain elk is highly regulated and only a handful of units offer opportunities at branched antler bulls while most of the other units are only open for spike or antlerless elk. Along with that, population densities are generally low as is the average trophy potential. On the western half of the state, hunters will find a plethora of opportunities for Roosevelt elk with very few restrictions in terms of legal take.

On the trophy potential side of things, the Roosevelt elk herd does much better than their Rocky Mountain counterparts in Washington although many hunters looking to target Roosevelt elk will opt to hunt Oregon. Depending on their personal choices, hunters can find vastly different hunting for Washington elk ranging from high country areas to the jungle-like West Coast. In the following tables, we will break down some of the better options for each species.

Some hunts omitted from the list based on lack of public hunting opportunities.

Some hunts omitted from the list based on lack of public hunting opportunities.

My general takeaway for Washington OTC elk

While Washington does have a fair amount of opportunity, it does struggle with elk numbers and quality of bulls. In general, I am more interested in some of the other surrounding states, but there could be situations where a Washington hunt could be appealing. Washington could be an option for those looking to pursue Roosevelt elk, especially when trying to avoid high license fees in Oregon, but at the cost of lower amounts of public land and, in general, smaller bulls.

Start your Washington OTC archery Rocky Mountain bull elk research here Start your Washington OTC archery Roosevelt elk research here