issuing unlimited cow elk tags (you can buy a tag, go kill a cow elk, then buy a tag and go kill another one...).

The catch? They're all on private land which you can't access. And the private landowners are mad that the elk are too numerous and eating all the forage their cattle need.

There are programs the WGFD incentivizes ranchers/landowners with programs like Access Yes and Hunter Management Areas where they're paid for allowing hunters come onto their land to hunt. But not all landowners want to use them.

The linked article has some good points (don't waste money, make more money by utilizing hunters), but also some dumb points as well. It's worth skimming.