I had a guy PM asking about a unit. The unit was so small I couldn't (wouldn't) give him any info. I simply told him just go and glass and figure it out. That's what I did. If he did that, he was successful. That's what I always do.
Just go and spend an entire day or even two, glassing, hiking, finding food, water, bedding, escape routes, ridges, drainages. This isn't rocket science and elk aren't acting different than they did 100 years ago, they still eat, sleep and drink. Perhaps pressure has changed some, both human and other, but note that and use your electronic thingy and see where the elk may be heading due to all the 4 wheeler hunters or boy scout expeditions.
But I do get it, many guys on this forum not from the West, get sucked into "gear need" mode. They gotta have this or that to "get r done", cause that's what the Youtuber has, or that's what the hunt shows have, or the latest pod cast said.
Maybe some of these guys spent a lot of $$ and they feel the pressure to tag out and avoid a run down from the Mrs. when they return home with a clean $800 kifaru set up, $300 Crispi, $1000 tipi and stove, $400 WM sleeping bag, $1000 worth of cool FL or Sitka matching camo, $1800 binos, $180 trek poles, $80 game bags, $250 BM knife, $150 worth of water purification, fancy $125 cook stove, $400 electronic thingy
and NO ELK MEAT.....
Mama gonna have a yard sale....
To these guys I will just say- go.
Spend a day scouting, watching , looking and use common sense and figure it out. Hey if you're in an area that is crowded, it's gonna be tough. If you're in an area that's extremely dry that year, it's gonna be tough. But it's only tough if you stay there instead of using common sense and go some where else that offers elk food water and bedding. Use that cool $400 electronic thingy.
But don't ask on a forum for help. Please, PM and if that doesn't work, no big deal. You will figure it out, or maybe this isn't for you.