With no elk experience of anyone of you, I would save more money and go with a full guided hunt. With drop camp,you will have to figure out where the elk are or went. If you stumble into them and spook them, they are more than likely to head to the next drainage out of your walk-able area unless you are in super physical shape.
In a guided hunt someone is there that knows the area, and knows how to hunt elk.In addition,fully guided hunts usually are permitted to have horses in camp,which makes your huntable area a 8-10 mile radius.
I have helped quite a few first timers,and I am only trying to keep you from having an expensive camping trip. Probably anyone on this forum that recomends an outfitter is on the up and up.I'd sure take those recomendations over any Google search.
