I started elk hunting 6 years ago in colorado. I have always put in for a cow elk, my family loves the meat. I have been very fortunate to get an animal ever year. Out of the 6 years I have gone I could have had 3 shots at Bull elk, 2 where in the 1st year and 1 was 3 years ago. of coarse I didn't have a bull tag. This year I did purchase 1 and never saw 1..
The 1 thing I can tell you ever since I have had the chance to hunt colorado I have lost most of my interest in white tail deer hunting here in CT. Part of it maybe picking 100s of ticks off myself.. The other is walking and hunting and not seeing a house or a road for miles in the colorado national forest. It's something I would recommend to any hunter. It's not cheap but worth every dollar I spend on this trip.