I’ve only hunted Wyoming In pressures public land. Not knocking anyone but I think so many people don’t know how to hunt elk, have the energy to work elk country for many days in a row, or know the land well. I think if you can string together effort, knowledge of how to hunt elk, and knowledge of the land, success rates go through the roof.
So to all the discouraged hunters, keep learning, spend time in the land you want to hunt if possible, and get in shape so you can put in max effort day after day. No guarantee but I’ll bet that quadruples the odds of success.