I too went emptyhanded this year for the same reasons. Did some hard hunting. Had a 5x5 47yds and passed. Had a 350 class bull bust my buddy and I as we were wispering very quietly about ours plans on how to harvest this huge bull, 35 yrds away from his bed(of course we didn't realize he was so close until it was to late). Man we were all in the elk and then the weather got warm the elk quit bugling ang we got skunked. Can't wait to do it all over again, maybe get the bullnext time though.