If I'm paying $8k for an elk hunt, it better come with a guide, and more than just a picture of a single shed. I can drive up to Colorado for a lot cheaper than 8k to look at scenery.

Wasn't that to be split 3 ways? Couple of Franklin's will get you to just scenery for sure..

We go almost every year during archery or muzzleloader. I have killed 3 bulls and 9 cows in 15 trips since 1999. None of my trips have cost more than $1200 including the tag and I made several for less than $500 (cow tags and fuel were cheap!). The tag should be the largest expense this year.

Suggestions to save $$$: 1) Camp out - a wall tent without the frame can be had for $500+ and will sleep 5+ people. 2) Cook and freeze meals in ziploc bags before you leave. These can be warmed up in boiling water. 3) 3 people per truck (1 driver, 1 navigator and 1 sleeper) is ideal and drive straight through (save the cost of a hotel coming and going). 4) DO NOT carry an ATV (save cost of fuel for ATV and poor gas mileage dragging a trailer).

To kill and elk: MOVE! MOVE! MOVE! MOVE! MOVE! MOVE! Stay on the game trails and watch for elk of course, but you are looking for sign of elk! Move until you hear them, smell them or find a fresh track. Follow the tracks - they always lead to an elk! If you smell them, walk into the wind SLOWLY until you find them. If you hear them, RUN to them (try to breathe while you run!) and try to stay downwind of them. Once you find elk in an area or a lot of sign, keep sneaking back to that area until you spook them or kill one. Its almost like hunting moo cows, elk are just wilder!!! Elk are big and make a lot of noise, so don't worry much about the noise you make while walking. If they see you or smell you, their gone. Hunt the dark timber on north facing slopes and stay out of the open areas - elk do NOT like the sun in the fall! Unless you like hunting with 10 gazillion other hunters - hunt muzzleloader or archery season.