About any area that offers OTC tags will either be very limited in the number of elk in that area,or have very heavy hunting by other hunters.
You best bet would be to look for leftover cow tags that go on sale a little later than the OTC tags which are usually in the later seasons.This however presents another problem as it sounds like you would not be equipped for harsher weather. There are always a few leftover tgas for the 1st season,but now many.
I can't help much with areas,as I don't hunt units where foot traffic is prevalent
