The Group hunts that Len puts together are done at very good prices and would be worth looking into.
If you can't swing that the next best option is to find a new friend in a good area and get yourself invited.
Volunteer to be a pack mule, spotter, camp cook and wood chopper, whatever it takes even if you don't draw a tag.
I've never drawn myself but have now been on 6 elk hunts all of which were successful and I wouldn't be prouder if I'd done the shooting.
What you don't want to do is go it alone and get a bull down in a place you'll have to pack it out one pack load at a time. The fun goes out of that real quick and if you decide to give up and let the critters get the rest after a trip or two or it spoils on you due to high temps and you abandon it you can end up in serious trouble with the Game Wardens for wasting game.
Elk offer you a lot of considerations you won't think of. Visit the Elk hunting sub forum here in Hunting and read all you can there, it'll be a lot of help.