Elk can be found here in Idaho at the elevations mentioned. 6000-7000' is where I'd concentrate heavily on though from my experience here.

You are absolutely correct in getting back off the beaten path. If you're near a trailhead there will probably be more rigs there than you care to see. If not, use them to get into the mtns deeper before daylight, at least 2 miles! Other than that, stay away from traiheads, they're people magnets!

Check maps out carefully as a pre-scouting challenge. Know where you're going to go before you ever get there. Look for drainages with water or ponds, somewhat flat bottoms or park-like areas are great. Have several areas as options if one or two don't pan out! The elk are there, hunt the less pressured areas, yes it's possible but not if you're not a serious hunter!

Make sure you plan ahead in how to get your elk out & to keep it in good shape once at camp & on the road home!

I personally wouldn't even consider not taking a bugle & mouth reeds during an elk hunt in the rut.

If you have no desire to learn how to bugle, then leave it home!!!However, if the opposite is true, then pick up a good grunt tube & some single reed diaphramgs & start practicing now, you want to be very good & convincing to elk, also you must learn to call in such a way that you know what you're saying so as not to push elk away but instead get them to respond to you just enough to give away their location.

As a bowhunter there have been countless times I've been in the woods & it be deadly silent for hours only to have it come alive by me getting things fired up, this is not difficult to do in Sept. & early Oct. I couldn't have done it without bugling. I could go into cow calls too, but I won't!!!

Too, when things seem too quiet & you can't get elk located by sign or sound in daylight hours, then go to plan B, this requires a bugle though!! Hit the woods, especially high-points or the top of drainages where sound can carry. It doesn't matter if you drive around or hike to noted areas of this sort. Do this after 11:00 p.m. at night of course, elk are very vocal & brave at this time & will answer anything, thus giving away their location for a mornings hunt. Elk will be there at first light so get there early (hour before light) to both listen & get a strategy together, and to get a direction they're heading towards their bedding area. -----Do not try to call elk to you once they answer at night!!!!!!!

Anyway, take the time to learn these important things & you won't be sorry!!!! By all means do yourself a favor & start practicing with that bugle now!!!!--------------------------ElkNut1