There is a difference in scouting and finding prospective areas but not going directly into them vs stumbling around in bedding areas. calling and leaving your scent everywhere like walking around a wallow. If you screw with their living room or bed room,you screw up.
Very true. Kick elk out of their bedroom and they won't stop running for 5 miles. They won't be back until they're spooked out of somewhere else. When scouting, stay out of thick stuff and black timber.
I suggest getting on ridge tops and glassing early and late. If you see a herd moving out of timber near a ridgetop after sunset, that's where you want to be before light the next morning. There's a very good chance they'll still be there. In a herd like that in Oct., there's a good chance that the big bulls won't be with them. They'll be in bachelor herds somewhere nearby but less visible so keep looking.
