Easiest Elk Tags to Draw in the West

Not every elk tag takes a decade of points. These are the units you can draw with the fewest nonresident points in each Western state — the fastest path to an elk hunt this year, ranked from real draw data.

Easiest elk unit in each state

The lowest nonresident points-to-draw we have on record for each state, plus how many of its units draw at two points or fewer.

StateEasiest unitPoints to drawUnits ≤ 2 pts
ColoradoGMU 1040 pts94
South DakotaH1B0 pts · 100%15
OregonColumbia Plateau1 pt · 100%51
WyomingBoulder Ridge1 pt · 20%3
UtahCache, South Limited Entry Late1 pt · 100%1
CaliforniaGabilan22 pts · 100%0

How to read this

“Points to draw” is the number of nonresident preference or bonus points it took to draw that unit in the most recent results. A unit that draws at 0–1 points is effectively available to a first-time applicant; the higher the number, the more years of points you need to bank first.

Low points usually means a trade-off — deeper country, lower success, or antlerless/either-sex tags rather than trophy bulls. Open any state above to see every unit, its odds curve, and its success rate before you apply.

Find your elk hunt

Compare draw odds, success rates, and harvest history for every Western elk unit, and track the ones you plan to apply for.

Browse elk draw odds →

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