My yardstick for taking an elk is to make it as difficult as I possibly can on me. I do not own an atv, or animals to hunt with. I walk in or backpack in to hunt. Stay out all day or for a week. I carry no gps, no phone, no radio or sat phone. Lately, I've even been leaving the bino's in the truck too. I just carry my weapon, some food/water and my boots - minimal gear. I've killed a pile of elk; making it as difficult as possible or hunting a new and unknown area has been a way to keep elk hunting fun and fresh.
For me, few things are as rewarding as going into a new area stone cold, sniffing around a little, reading some sign, figuring out what they're doing and then getting into elk.
Being up close and personal so that you can see the reaction on their faces when you fool them or waking them in their bed brings me more enjoyment than the killing. That part I now leave to my son just so we don't miss out on all the fun that packing one out really is
