A bull elk hunt is just out of my reach financially these days with these short little people that i have to feed and let live in my house sucking up all my money, BUT, a cow elk hunt is possible Is $1,200 for a guided cow elk hunt a good deal?
$1200 would be the high end. For that price, I would expect you, the hunter, to just "show up and pull the trigger". Jumping in to help would be up to you.
For $1200 you can do a DIY hunt read thread. https://forums.bowhunting.com/threads/dyi-colorado-elk-hunt-how-to.76889/