Washington’s over-the-counter tags make a DIY elk hunt easy to start. Finding elk is the hard part. Roosevelt elk country west of the Cascades is thick, wet and full of logging roads with changing access. Eastern Washington’s Rocky Mountain elk country is more open but often spike-only during general seasons. How you hunt matters as much as where.

The three options at a glance

	DIY	Drop camp	Fully guided
Who finds the elk	You	You	Your guide
Camp and gear	You bring everything	Outfitter provides camp, you bring personal gear	Outfitter provides everything
Getting in and out	You drive and hike	Outfitter packs you in and out by horse	Outfitter handles it
Packing out an elk	You	Outfitter, usually at the end of the hunt	Outfitter
Typical cost beyond license	Lowest	Middle	Highest, often $4,500–$6,100
Best for	Hunters who can scout and handle wet, thick country	Wilderness hunters who want to skip the logistics	First-timers, short trips, nonresidents new to the state

DIY: hunting on your own

Pros: It’s cheap, the tag is guaranteed, and you can hunt every year without waiting on a draw.

Cons: You have to sort out which timberlands are open, which units hold elk, and which antler rule applies where you’re standing. Roosevelt elk can be hard to see in heavy cover, and the weather is often wet.

DIY works best if you:

• Can scout before the season or have hunted the area before
• Know how to read access maps and timber company rules
• Are prepared for rain and mud for a week
• Have a plan, and a partner, to pack out an elk

Drop camp: the middle ground

Drop camps work best in Washington’s wilderness areas and high country in the Cascades, where horses can get you miles past the trailhead.

Pros: You get away from the road-hunting crowds without carrying a camp on your back. It costs much less than a guided hunt.

Cons: You still have to find elk. Weather in the Cascades can turn fast in October and November. Meat care is up to you until the packer returns.

Ask before you book a drop camp:

• What’s in camp: tent, stove, cots, cooking gear?
• How far from the trailhead, and how many other hunters use the area?
• What units does the camp sit in, and what’s the legal elk for my weapon?
• How and when do you pack out elk?

Fully guided: the highest odds

A good Washington guide knows which units hold elk, which timberlands are open this year, where elk feed in the clearcuts, and how they react once the season opens. Many offer lodging and meals, and some include help with meat processing or taxidermy.

Pros: The best odds, especially on a first trip or a short one. Washington’s guided prices are lower than many Rocky Mountain states.

Cons: It costs the most, and with few outfitters in the state, good dates fill early.

Questions to ask any Washington elk outfitter

1. What units do you hunt, and what’s the legal elk there for my weapon? Many general season units are spike-only or 3 point minimum.
2. Are you hunting public land, private land, or timber company land? Ask how access works and whether any access fee is extra.
3. Do you have a permit for the land you hunt? Outfitters on national forest land need a special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service.
4. What were your success and opportunity rates the last few years? Ask for both.
5. Which special permits do you guide? Then check how many points those hunts take.
6. How many hunters per guide?
7. What’s included, and what costs extra? Lodging, meals, meat care and pack-out.
8. What’s your deposit and refund policy?
9. Can I talk to past clients? Read reviews, too.

So which should you choose?

• First elk hunt, or new to Washington? Go guided, at least for the first trip.
• Experienced hunter who wants wilderness? A drop camp in the Cascades.
• Live nearby with time to scout? DIY on a general season tag, and apply for special permits every year.

Related: How Washington draw points work · Draw odds by unit · Washington Elk Hunting Guide · Cost of a Washington elk hunt · Season dates

Season and license facts are from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for 2026. Confirm the current rules for your unit before you book.