Not that I'm saying I disagree completely but in my experience elk can at times get in habits in certain areas at certain times of the year however I don't think I would call them creatures of habit like say a muley or whitetail. It's said that 80% of the elk live in 20% of elk country at any one time meaning they are little bit nomadic. Scouting elk I've found can be difficult at times.

Many things influence elk movement. Elk need a very large quantity food and since they hang out in herds that multiplies that need. They will travel sometimes many miles a day to find good feeding grounds. Water is obviously an issue.

Alot of times bulls have a summer area wherethey hang by themselves and then establish a pecking order before the rut then later join the herd. You can scout an area where the bulls have been hanging out all summer and you'll find rubs, thrashed trees, beds, dung and track but the elk will be long gone because those bulls have gone to join the herd.

Elk also sometimes have staging areas where they like to rut that may differ from their summer home. This would also cause you to find a ton of sign but no hair in sight.

And obviously predators or pressure can move them miles away.

These things can make scouting feel pointless and frustrating so when you scout elk make sure you have severals areas scouted. Don't concentrate on just one or two areas. Cover a lot of ground. Make no mistake elk can be very nomadic. Try and determine escapes routes or travel routes where the elk will likely go if pushed out of the area. I really try to avoid going into bedding areas. This will blow elk into the next county. I try the long distance approach as much asI can and glass from high ridges. Just because you find elk in an area in July there is a decent chance they won't be there come hunting season. So lots of ground is the key. Good luck!