Book Your Adventure 1-800-346-8747
Book Your Adventure 1-800-346-8747

Landowner Vouchers: Your Chance to Hunt without Having to Draw

Erik Schell
|  

When you consider the total number of high-quality, outfitted bull elk hunts across the West, the availability doesn’t come close to meeting the overall demand. This lack of supply leaves many of us wondering how to hunt bull elk reliably each year. The answer is simple: landowner vouchers.

A landowner voucher allows you to purchase a guaranteed tag in extremely difficult-to-draw game management units. Although vouchers are available in several states, the most prevalent are Nevada, Colorado, and New Mexico. Typically, these vouchers will be held or controlled by one of WTA’s elite outfitters. Purchasing a voucher ensures a guaranteed tag and a top-shelf outfitter—the recipe for a world-class elk hunt.

Utah and Wyoming offer robust auction tag programs. These auctions usually take place from December through April and allow you to purchase tags, normally from charitable conservation organizations. This enables you to bypass the frustration of trying to draw for decades, and allows for a tax write-off to boot under 501C3. Utah tags are designated for an area, season, and weapon. Wyoming’s auction tags allow you to pick the unit you wish to hunt and utilize the tag throughout the entire season, making it an extremely attractive offering.

Due to an extensive array of available vouchers and auction tags, one can be almost certain that the right tag is out there waiting for you. All it takes to begin the discovery process is a simple phone call to WTA. Pick up the phone and speak with one of WTA’s expert consultants. Outline your prerequisite expectations, and we’ll ensure you buy the right voucher with the best outfitter to meet or exceed your hunting expectations.

Please see below for a small sampling of the elk hunts available with landowner vouchers for 2022.

Archery Bull Elk in Northern New Mexico

Dates: September 6-10, 2022 (1 Spot Available)

This 20,000-acre private ranch is strictly managed for the benefit of the native wildlife that call this area home. The ranch is not grazed by any domestic livestock. Elevations will range from 7,500–9,000,  modest elk country physically. Shot opportunities on this property are spectacular with archers experiencing 80% opportunity. Hunters can expect to target bulls in the 290–320 class with bulls over 340 taken on the ranch each and every year.

Colorado Unit 40 Rifle Elk

Dates: November 23–27, 2022

Unit 40 in Western Colorado is one of a select few units in the state managed to produce trophy bull elk. Regardless of the season hunters can expect to target bulls in the 320–340 range with bulls up to 370 coming out of this area every year. This outfitter and his team of guides whom live on the edge of the unit are true professionals that understand how to operate an enjoyable, safe, and successful hunt.

Colorado Private Ranch Bull Elk

Dates: October 29–November 2, 2022

Southern Colorado offers some of the best elk hunting in the country and some of the best genetics in the state.  This hunt takes place on 12,000 private acres that is surrounded by other private ranches managed for trophy elk hunting. This hunt offers a very realistic chance at harvesting a 270-300″+ bull. The professional staff and cook will meet your every needs and give you a quality hunt to experience and to remember for a lifetime. As an added bonus, trout fishing is available right at your doorstep!

New Mexico Unit 16A Rifle Bull Elk

October 15–19, 2022 or October 22–26, 2022

The Gila National Forest of Western New Mexico is arguably one of the top producing area for trophy bull elk with unit 16A leading the way. Hunters can expect to target bulls in the 330–360 class on this hunt. The outfitter is local to the area and heavily scouts prior to the hunt to ensure you are targeting the best bulls in the unit. A comfortable lodge and home-cooked meals will be provided on the hunt.

We’re happy to share more information about landowner vouchers. Call us at 800-346-8747 or email us today.  

Recent Articles

Popular Rocky Mountain Elk Hunts

Elk, Rocky Mountain Elk   ·
Utah
From 
$2,500
Outfitter #075
Draw Required
Rocky Mountain Elk   ·
Wyoming
From 
$11,000
Outfitter #1075

Top Hunting Trips

Draw Required
Rocky Mountain Elk   ·
New Mexico
From 
$6,500
Outfitter #1079
Draw Required
Mule Deer   ·
Colorado
From 
$10,500
Outfitter #458

Related Articles

Against the Odds: Drawing Back-to-Back Sheep and Goat Tags 

Against the Odds: Drawing Back-to-Back Sheep and Goat Tags 

Drawing a sheep tag with 1-in-5,300 odds is amazing. Drawing a mountain goat tag the next year? That’s lottery luck. That’s why it didn’t seem real when my WTA consultant, Jordan Roche, called me two years in a row with that news!

I’d been working with Jordan at WTA TAGS for about five years, letting him manage my hunting applications in multiple states while I focused on staying in shape for whatever hunts might come through. When he called about the Tok Range Dall sheep tag (the only non-resident permit out of 10 total), I knew it was special.

After the excitement of drawing my tag settled in, it was time to find the right outfitter to make my hunt a success. WTA recommended one of their top partners for that area and handled every detail. My outfitter made it clear: this would be a backpack hunt in some of Alaska’s toughest sheep country. At 64, with two hip replacements, I can’t run anymore. But I can hike. So that’s how I prepared—I hiked mile after mile with a weighted pack, knowing the Tok doesn’t care about age or medical history.

We went in a day and a half before the season opened and spotted a band of 14 rams, including one heavy-horned giant that immediately caught our attention. Then Alaska did what Alaska does best. Weather rolled in, the rams vanished, and we spent the three days scouring valleys and ridges to find them again.

When we finally relocated them, we had to break camp and make a major move. After a full day’s work, we spotted six rams bedding down as evening fell. The next morning, we made our play.

The wind that day was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. It sounded like a freight train roaring up the mountain; gusting, dying, gusting again. At 320 yards, I had to time my shot during the lulls. My first shot went wide in the wind. The second shot dropped him—a beautiful 39″ ram. Honestly, I didn’t care about the number. That’s not why I hunt. I’m in it for the experience and a good animal. This ram was both.

The pack-out was its own adventure. We crossed the glacier-fed Tok River multiple times before Matt showed up with a Korean War-era military vehicle that could go just about anywhere. After nine days in the mountains, that slow, bumpy ride was a step up from travelling another 10 miles on foot. This was a trip I’ll never forget.

When Jordan called me in February 2025 to tell me I’d drawn a mountain goat tag, I actually laughed. “Figure out something for next year,” I told him, knowing the odds of a three-peat were one in a million. But first, it was time to prepare for my goat hunt.

I flew into Homer at the end of August, expecting to start hunting on Tuesday. By Monday evening, my outfitter, Paul, was warning me about the incoming weather. “We might not get you in until Friday,” he said. He wasn’t kidding. We sat through three days of howling wind, driving rain, and zero visibility before finally getting our chance.

Paul operates from a landing craft that serves as a mobile base camp. But getting from sea level to where the goats live? That was the hardest climb I’ve ever done, and I’ve completed five sheep hunts.

It was only 1,500 vertical feet, but every step came wrapped in devil’s club thorns, soaking brush, deadfall, and rain-slicked cliff bands. We hiked for what seemed like an eternity before stopping for the night to set up camp.

The next morning changed everything. Once above that coastal jungle, the alpine opened up to reveal why we’d suffered through that brutal climb. There were mountain goats everywhere. Good billies. The kind that makes you forget about devil’s club and exhaustion.

I took my billy on August 30, the first day of actual hunting after being sidelined due to weather. While packing him out, we witnessed something I’d never seen: ravens harassing a billy goat. They would swoop within inches of his head, and he’d swing his horns, trying to knock them away. Paul had told me about this strange relationship between ravens and goats, but seeing it firsthand was incredible.

The trip down gave us one more show. A black bear, fat from gorging on berries, army-crawled through the blueberry patches, entertained us from 400 yards away. I had a bear tag, but watching him was worth more than any trophy. Crossing salmon-choked streams on the way out completed the full Alaskan experience.

Both hunts worked because of solid preparation and connections with the right team. Jordan, my WTA consultant, had been helping me strategically build points and select units for years. When the draw results came through, WTA’s network meant proven outfitters were ready and handled every detail. They provided thorough gear lists, arranged logistics, and coordinated air charters. Everything was dialed in.

Some guys chase record books. Others chase hunting milestones. I finished my slam in 2019 with a desert ram, but what excites me most these days is the experience—the hunts that test you, humble you, and stay with you long after the pack is unloaded. When you work with the right people and put in the preparation, amazing things can happen. Jordan’s already working on my applications for 2026, so we’ll see what adventure comes through next.

Contact WTA TAGS to learn more about drawing the tags of your dreams: 1-800-755-8247

Get Started with WTA TAGS
Wyoming’s Preference Point Deadline Is Approaching: October 31

Wyoming’s Preference Point Deadline Is Approaching: October 31

Preference Point Deadline: October 31, 2025

The deadline to purchase Wyoming preference points is October 31. If WTA is already managing your TAGS applications, you’re all set. If not, don’t miss the chance to secure points this year. It’s the perfect time to talk with a TAGS consultant to start a new portfolio or grow your existing one.

Wyoming’s system is unique. Unlike other states, you don’t automatically receive a preference point if you’re unsuccessful in the draw. Instead, you must log in after July 1 and purchase your points separately. Building points is critical if you want a shot at drawing a Wyoming tag. Over-the-counter opportunities are a thing of the past. Today, only 25% of non-resident tags are issued randomly. The other 75% go to applicants with the highest point totals.

If you want to hunt big game in Wyoming, building preference points isn’t optional…it’s essential.

Watch Wyoming Video

While preference points are an investment in the future, don’t let that keep you from starting now. While Wyoming has units that require 18+ points, there are also good opportunities to hunt sooner. There are elk, deer, and antelope hunts that can be drawn with 0–3 points. Think about it this way—the more points you have, the more options you have.

View Wyoming TAGS Hunts

Serious hunters know that Montana is home to some of North America’s most coveted species: Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, Shiras moose, mountain goat, and antelope. The key to unlocking these dream hunts is building points, and the deadline to secure your bonus point for this year is September 30.

Montana squares bonus points in its draw system, and hunters with more points gain a significant advantage in the draw. If you’ve ever dreamed of chasing a record bull, a giant ram, or a heavy-horned buck in Montana, strategically building points will put you in the best position to find success in upcoming seasons.

Watch Montana Video Rocky Mountain Elk

Montana consistently produces exceptional trophy bulls, making elk the most sought-after species in the state. Archery permits are especially appealing, often requiring only 4–7 years to draw—a remarkably short time period compared to other western states. Rifle permits can often be drawn with a similar point investment, though trophy quality is slightly lower on average. Many of these hunts take place on expansive private ranches, providing hunters with excellent opportunities and high success rates.

View All…

Get Trip Specials & Cancellations,
Right Where You Want It.

No spam. Just the good stuff. Opt-out anytime.