Great Story. Hang in there. Although it's great to go out and bag an animal, if you did it every time there would be not much fun after awhile.
For me Elk is the last great animal that still gives me a rush. I have so many deer around here it just does not give me the same addrenilin rush as it used to.
Looks like the weather forcast has changed a bit maybe a touch of snow in the high country might just get um going.