Started elk hunting 2 years ago.
I hate to be the one to say this, but this is the reason you were surprised by other people hunting where you were. That there were others willing to walk to the same places you were is pretty much a given unless you're super-human.
Do it enough though, in the right places (it might take more than 2 years to find those) and you'll get lucky and have some places, some years, to yourself. Or nearly so. Which is still better than hunting hear the road.
