Most OTC tags in the USA for elk are going to be hard hunts and with the dollar being the way it is, an elk tag in Colorado for example (which is known for it's high elk population and high elk hunter numbers) will cost you close to 850-900$. There is very few good otc elk hunting down there that will even rival the opportunities we have in Alberta, poeple don't realize how good we have it here (Elk in all 5 subregions, months of general season in the north or archery seasons in the south, draws for some hunts, cow hunts that are easy to get and even otc in a lot of units, hunting pressure, access to private land, overal cost of a hunt, bull quality and overal elk numbers).
If you are considering playing the points game and want a shot at big boys or the better hunts, Colorado and WY are not your first pick for points. Many states have hunts or a point system where if you don't already have points you are throwing money away because you will statistically never ever draw them for a list of reasons (Wa, Or, some of AZ with their new system, most of Co, just to name those ones).
MT is interesting but with social media bringing attention to it and the fact you can easily get a tag there (for 868$ usd so 1154$ cad at todays rate...), it does see pressure from non residents. It can be done, but it's no walk in the park.
Have a lot of hours behind the computer and on the phone doing research, this is my 2 cents worth.
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