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Montana – Trophy Elk Opportunity without the Wait!

WTA Team
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Montana – Trophy Elk Opportunity without the Wait!

 

For many of us elk is a species we dream to hunt. Coming from back east it was always very high on my bucket list as it is with many others from my side of the country. After moving out West it is a species I now truly love to hunt. I am always looking for different angles to find new areas to not only hunt elk, but to hunt big elk. A lot of us can’t afford the price of big bulls anymore if we plan to go outfitted. Elk prices have soared and the opportunity just isn’t what it used to be. That is why drawing tags is the best chance to be able to hunt large bulls, whether it be via an outfitted hunt or DIY. There are lots of great places to hunt big bulls: Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada to name a few. All of these states have something in common – for the most part, to draw the primo units, it will take years and years of applying unless you get lucky. That is not a bad thing, it is a great idea to diversify your portfolio and have those long-term goals. In-fact, some of these hunts will be the best on the planet and it’s just not realistic to think you will draw them more than once-in-a-lifetime. So what does a guy do that wants to hunt big bulls, that doesn’t necessarily want to wait for an extended period? Or can’t afford a $12,000 hunt? One word…..Montana!

 

Montana boast a great opportunity for archery hunters. There are several units in the eastern part of the state that are producing GREAT bulls. At the same time these areas come with very reasonable draw odds. These units are taking as few as 2-4 bonus points to draw which is outstanding. The caliber of the bulls are going to be 290-330 on average with an off chance at 350+ type bulls. Obviously, these do not live around every corner but they absolutely call these units home. We have secured some great outfitted opportunities in these units. The hunt cost is one of the most attractive pieces, coming in at around $6,500 2×1. These hunts will cover your guided hunt, meals, lodging and in-field transportation. We are really excited about this as these hunts are definitely a great opportunity for archery hunters to get on great bulls at a very good price.

 

The Montana draw system is a little different in the fact that they have a preference point system for the general license and a bonus point system for the limited entry license. Additionally, one must first draw a general license before their name can be in the hat for a limited-entry drawing. That is why it is important to purchase a bonus point and a preference point just to be on the safe side. This ensures that you draw your general license. One of the great things about MT is the fact that we have until the end of September to purchase points. That means, even the guys behind the eight ball, can give us a call and get started on their Montana points this season. Here at WTA TAGS our Consultants can go through the draw process and hunt opportunities with you. This is one that definitely should be on your radar, especially if you are into archery and big bulls.  Call WTA TAGS today and get applied for this great opportunity today. DON’T MISS OUT – 1-800-755-TAGS (8247).

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Dialed In: A 360-Inch Bull Elk and the Luck that Made It Happen

Winning one hunt sweepstakes through Worldwide Trophy Adventures feels like a long shot, but winning two? That’s the kind of luck I still can’t fully wrap my head around. I started entering WTA sweepstakes a few years ago, taking full advantage of their Bonus Bucks program and hoping to win someday. I’ve hunted whitetails in Minnesota’s flat woods, mule deer out West, and Sitka blacktails in Alaska’s rugged country, but this was different. When Worldwide Trophy Adventures called to tell me I’d won their 2024 Nevada bull elk hunt, just a year after winning a Utah mule deer hunt from them, I was stunned. Two sweepstakes wins in two years? Unreal. And the icing on the cake? I’d be hunting with a crew that truly knows their elk. As Erik Schell put it: “John, when it comes to elk, these guys are paid killers.” He wasn’t wrong.

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Baker is a speck of a town, population 16, just shy of the Utah line. The outfitter set us up in an Airbnb called The Corner Place. It was homey, with enough beds for me, another hunter, and the guide crew. The kitchen had stacks of premade meals like casseroles and snacks, whipped up by the outfitter’s wife. We heated them up after long days, but if we got back late, we’d hit the Border Crossing, a bar and greasy spoon split between Nevada and Utah. One side had slot machines, the other a gas station. We’d grab burgers and a bucket of Budweiser, the guide Richie’s favorite, and swap stories. It was simple, but it hit the spot.

The outfitter’s team was world-class. They’d been scouting for a week, pinpointing a bachelor group of bulls in a canyon 20 miles north. That first night, we sat around the Airbnb’s kitchen table sipping beers and scrolling through their scouting videos. Three bulls stood out: a beat-up 6×6 they called Bondo, a heavy 5×5, and a narrower 7×7. We decided to hit the canyon at dawn.

Day one was no joke. Richie, my guide, led me up the mountain before light, climbing a couple thousand feet. The air was a bit thinner than in Minnesota, but Richie kept a steady pace. Two spotters, Cameron and Ryan, worked the opposite canyon rim. It felt like I had the dream team for this once-in-a-lifetime elk hunt. We eased onto a rock ledge about 400 yards above a bench where five bulls were feeding: Bondo, the 5×5, a thin 6×6, a young 5×5, and a spike. No 7×7. This was the first time I was faced with taking a bull elk, but Richie talked me through it. “The 5×5’s got 30 inches of mass per side, swords in the 20s, probably 9 or 10 years old. Scores at least 330. Solid first bull.”

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I’d put in time at Gunwerks’ Long-Range University: a hands-on, no-BS school that focuses on real-world shooting conditions, not just benchrest skills. They train you to read wind, manage stress, and make clean, ethical shots in exactly the situations that hunters face in the field. I knew my rifle, my dope, and my limits. “I got it,” I said. I checked the yardage, my level, controlled my breathing, and squeezed. The bull collapsed. “You smoked him!” Richie said. When he tried to get up, a second round finished it.

Reaching the bull was an experience I won’t forget. I’ve taken plenty of deer over the years, but this 360″ elk was in a league of its own—sheer mass, thick beams, and antlers that looked heavy even from a distance. Standing over him, the scale of the hunt hit me. We built a small fire, took photos, and soaked in the moment. Then came the hard part. The canyon was steep and treacherous, slick with snow and loose shale. I took a spill on the descent, and every step down was a test of footing and balance with meat on our backs. It took over three hours to reach the canyon floor and get the bull out, but it was worth every bit of effort. Back at camp, we celebrated the way hunters do—cold beers and a good story to tell.

We caped the bull that night and packed the meat in coolers, though it was cold enough outside to keep everything fresh. I hung around a few days, spotting for the other hunter’s bull, glassing canyons, and enjoying the Nevada backcountry. No pressure, just good times behind the glass. When I left, I strapped the antlers to my truck, crammed the coolers in, and drove 24 hours straight home, still buzzing. Back in Minnesota, I vacuum-sealed the meat, enough for months of meals, and dropped the rack with a taxidermist for a shoulder mount.

This hunt was as good as it gets. The outfitter knew every inch of that country, had bulls dialed in, and gave me options. For a guy who’s now won two WTA sweepstakes, I’ll tell you straight: these hunts are real and the sweepstakes are worth it. Nevada’s elk country and that crew of “paid killers” gave me a bull and a story I’ll be telling for years.

Don’t miss your chance to enter to win this world-class elk hunt in Nevada. The entries are limited…only 1,750 total entries, giving you very good odds of winning this elk valued at $72,000!

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