Elk are still emblematic of Western big-game hunting, but in recent decades several non-traditional states—including some far from the Rockies—have quietly built impressive elk populations. Herds that were once wiped out have rebounded thanks to long-term conservation and reintroduction programs, and many wildlife agencies now offer limited but highly prized hunting tags. Drawing a permit can be tough, but far from impossible. Here are five unexpected states producing trophy-class bulls—and why you should start applying now.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin usually brings to mind big gobblers, bruins, and world-class whitetails—but elk? Absolutely. After elk were eliminated through unregulated hunting, the state launched restoration efforts in 1995 and again in 2019. Since then, the herd has grown well enough that Wisconsin offered its first modern elk hunt in 2018.
Each spring, residents can apply for a once-in-a-lifetime elk tag. Applications cost $10, and most of that fee directly funds management and research. Hunters who do draw typically focus on the Clam Lake region, where quality bulls roam. In fact, last fall a hunter named Dan Evenson arrowed what is believed to be the state’s first bow-harvested elk in roughly 140 years—a heavy 6×7 bull.
Kentucky
Kentucky’s elk comeback has been so successful that the state has become a mainstream destination for big bulls. Between 1997 and 2002, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources partnered with several Western states to relocate elk into a massive 16-county restoration zone covering over 4 million acres.
Applications open on January 1 each year, and both residents and nonresidents are welcome to apply for one of three permit categories. In 2021, more than 130,000 people applied for fewer than 600 available tags. The state now holds an estimated 10,000 elk, and its fertile farmland produces exceptional antler growth. The largest archery bull ever taken in Kentucky—a 392⅜-inch brute—was harvested by Todd Ayers in Pike County in 2021.
Pennsylvania
A century ago, elk had vanished from Pennsylvania. Thanks to determined restoration work from the state and groups like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, that’s no longer the case. The first reintroduced elk arrived by train in 1916, and the herd has since flourished into one of the country’s best conservation success stories.
Pennsylvania offers a limited number of archery, general-season, and late-season elk hunts. Both residents and nonresidents can enter the lottery, and nonresidents are eligible for all hunt types. The odds of success for tag holders are extremely high—over 80 percent in both 2019 and 2020. Trophy potential is impressive too: in 2021 a hunter harvested a 455-inch monster, the biggest elk ever recorded in the state and the sixth-largest taken in the entire U.S.
California
Few hunters realize that California is home to phenomenal elk hunting—and three distinct elk subspecies: Rocky Mountain, Roosevelt, and Tule elk. Tule elk exist almost exclusively in California, making the state a must-visit for hunters pursuing an elk “slam.”
Drawing a tag, however, is the catch. For nonresidents, only one standard elk permit for any species is offered per year, although the state’s SHARE program provides a second chance via a special-access lottery. Those who do draw will find low hunting pressure and exceptional trophy quality. Grizzly Island remains the premier location for giant Tule bulls on public land, though the draw odds are notoriously tough.
North Dakota
North Dakota may not be the first place hunters think of for elk, but the state holds far more big bulls than many realize. With abundant public land, wide open landscapes, and solid herds, a drawn tag can lead to an incredible plains-style elk hunt.
The lottery system is complex but provides at least some chance for every applicant. All seven elk units hold the potential for huge bulls. In 2021, hunter Jason Burtness proved just how big they can get when he tagged a 440-inch non-typical elk on the Standing Rock Reservation—one of the top 20 largest bulls ever recorded.
Source: https://www.fieldandstream.com/stories/hunting/big-game-hunting/untradtional-elk-hunting-states
By Jace Bauserman
Nov 04, 2025
