My biggest mistake during my first decade of elk hunting was hunting elk like deer.
There weren't nearly as many elk when I started big game hunting in Montana almost 50 years ago, but there were a LOT of mule deer. Consequently I learned to hunt mule deer, including big ones, which is different than hunting elk.
In general, big mule deer live higher in the mountains than elk--as in almost right on top.
Did better on elk in the past two decades, partly because there are a lot more 'em!
