Very interesting discussion. I hear of hunters who show up, look fit as heck and can't make it past the first few days. As mentioned, crawling out of that bag day after day and going into rough country seems to be a good way to increase your odds.
It reminds me of a SEAL instructor talking about guys who'd show up for BUDS looking like they were carved out of granite but didn't have the mental toughness to stick it out. The contrast is the pudgy kid from rural America who wouldn't let anything beat him down.
I tend to think that by the time you reach a point in your life to go elk hunting, that mindset is already formed, you either have it or you don't. The exception being teenagers hunting with role models.
I think most elk I've killed have been in situations when my heart and lungs were heaving out of my chest. Learning to calm your heart rate and breathing down to pull that trigger has been key. Obviously, the better fitness you have, the easier that becomes.
