They are where you find them, I've killed them anywhere from a mile to 5 miles in from a trailhead. If they're 5 miles in I'll hunt them there, but there's something to be said for being mobile. If I'm hunting a new spot I'll hunt from the truck the first few days and if I get into them more than 2 miles in I'll likely spike in.
It's a big gamble hiking in 5 miles to an area you've never been and expect there to be elk.
It's a big gamble hiking in 5 miles to an area you've never been and expect there to be elk.