It's true, we have more elk than any other state, around 280k. And it can be easy. One year I ran into 4 NRs camped at the trailhead who had never hunted that particular area. I got my bull, and they got 3, the guy who didn't score couldn't really get around. We were almost the only ones hunting there.
I'm sure they went home and told everyone how easy it was. The next year, the place was really crowded and I ran into a few hunters on the trail who were grumbling about that and the lack of game. I'm sure they went home with a different opinion.
