My experience with elk is that they are realy hard to hunt, the kudu of North America only more nomadic and spooky.

Even outfitted hunts have a 50/50 success rate and that only about 10-15% are trophy bulls.

I have taken a few little bulls but no herd bulls.

I think New Mexico is probably the best place for big bulls and a private free range ranch or the Indian reservations are tops. Chama and Ted Turners ranch are both 1st class. I think they both are over $15,000 USD but if you take a bull earlier they both have great deals on Bisson. Both use bourse but no back country wall tent experience sadly.