I've seen the same thing. Found a big broad basin a few miles in that held dozens of elk in late August and zero by muzzleloader season. They'd packed in with horses and set up a big camp right smack in the middle of where they elk were hanging.

They'd have been much better off camping at the trailhead and riding in every morning.

It was a good area so we stuck with it and now we hunt the spots they push the elk to every year. It works pretty well.



A wise man is frequently humbled.