I went back the next morning and the herd was also back in the area. Lots of tracks and lots of sign, no blood and no dead elk. to be found . I had several more days to hunt but i believed that the elk was either cead, or not recoverable. So as I said above I had already punched my tag so I went home. Sorry i wasn't clear, I some times ramble on, this time apparently I was too short,
