I feel qualified to make the statement since I am a recognized expert at not finding elk.
LOL. That's a quotable quote right there and hits pretty close to home.
Although I don't quite have that problem. I think every elk hunting season I've eventually found elk (unless my memory is bad). However, I have often
not found the correct
sex of elk that matched my tag more times than I care to count.
I have had cow elk less than 15 yards broadside with a spike bull tag in my pocket. I've been less than 100 yards from bachelor herds of beautiful bulls in multiple seasons with a cow tag in my pocket. I've been within 75 yards of a huge herd bull and all his cows with a spike bull tag in my pocket. I've gone home empty handed far more than I have with meat in the freezer.
But I would agree that if you are hunting with a suitable bullet, finding the
right elk is a lot harder than killing them.
