Water holes and wallows located in areas where these features are not abundant are typically the most consistent spots to take up stands and still hunt around. Not knowing how well you know the unit, nailing these types of areas down can take some time (in some cases years). I love to hunt...
Good elk hunters are good scouters, glassers, callers, strategists, adaptive, persistent, good shooters, etc. Being adaptive to changing seasons, conditions and hunter pressure increases odds of success. If you are not calling elk, you are missing out on that part of the September elk hunting...
I use a magnus sharpener and it works particularly well for fixed blades but I can also pull short blades from slick tricks as well. Final touch up with a sharpening steel.
A lot of good discussion here and anyone reading the posts will gain valuable knowledge that can be used to make important equipment decisions. I was in an archery shop a few weeks ago and the owners were discussing how legalization of mechanical's in Oregon is going to make it so much easier...