Since it is your first time elk hunting just a couple of thoughts. (1) Assuming you have hunted deer, the sweet spot for elk is different: it is lower and further forward because the heart & lungs are further forward elk are just built different. Consider busting them em right through the front shoulder not behind it, especially not high and behind it. Elk are three times bigger than deer and have three times more heart and will to live. Always follow up on your shot to see if you hit 'em. A deer will stagger when hit by a 270 whereas an elk will often bolt and run without even a flinch and then die within 100 yards. Hitting them in the shoulder slows down their locomotion substantially.
(2) Even though they are three times the size of a deer they are amazingly easy to miss mostly because it seems like when it is "show time" they just don't give you as good a chance as deer do, elk typically don't give you the "run 125 yards, turn broadside and look at you" like deer do. They just keep going and since they like the timber they are gone quickly. People frequently discount magnums arguing that shot placement is the key, true enough; however, compared to deer, elk frequently don't offer you that perfect "sniper shot" and if your placement is off a bit the magnums have a better chance to make up for your error.
(3) One great tip from Jim Zumbo, "Unless they see you or they are very close always try to get a rest for your shot, trees are great and if you are caught in the open sit down and shoot over your knees.
(4) Get up as early as it takes to get to your morning "stand" an hour before sunrise (GPS helps here). Put a man and an elk in the wild and have them both move around and the odds are in the elk's favor he will discover you before you discover him.
(5) I am thinking positive that you are going to score - - so then comes the hard part field dressing and packing. Elk hide gloves are a favorite of men building fence and working with barbed wire because the hide is so tough, so make sure your knives are up to the task and take a saw or a hatchet. When it comes to packing think twice about trying to carry it out unless you are an iron man. Pick ups, atv's, or horses --- anything beats trying to carry out an elk on foot -- especially if you are a desk jockey.

Sounds like you have a great set up on what sounds like private land with food, water, and cover all available - excellent! We hunt on public land in Colorado and some years it is a 5 day hunt for a 15 second opportunity - so try to stay focused as high a percentage of the time as possible. Don't let your guard down!