BJ has a point but only to a point....if that makes sense. In my opinion here are a few scenarios:

1 - General areas. In these areas I would agree 100%. Scouting isn't real productive until just before the hunt starts. I like to show up 3 days early and scout. Before that it's pointless, they just move too much. Even then you must scout from a distance, you can't enter their living space and get busted or they will be gone. Glassing and listening from a distance can be productive though a few days before the hunt starts. Even then however you could be right where you left a bull bugling at night fall the night before the hunt starts and show up to see 10 hunters there the next morning. At that point like BJ says you are relying on your knowledge of the area on tackling the rest of your hunt.

2- Limited Draw Areas for elk only. Even though the elk get limited hunting pressure deer hunters are hitting the hills in droves all fall and drive the elk out often times. In Utah all the archery deer hunts start a few days before the elk hunts start. So while you're sitting at home posting your scouting pics on the internet about the big bull you found there's some guy chasing a muley two point around in camo blowing everything out of your elk honey hole. It'sa mistake hunters often make thinking their season starts a certain day so no one is out disturbing their hunting area. In reality hunters should know all hunts that are happening in their area prior to and concurrent to thier hunt and plan accordingly. It's a mistake to think that just because you have the first elk hunt of the year to think that the elk are undistrubed. For this reason much like scenario number one scouting can be spotty but sometimes can yield good results if you can find an area the deer hunters stay away from.

3- Limited Draw Areas (All species). This means the whole area gets little hunting pressure all year long. There aren't deer hunters all over spooking elk into the deep dark canyons of the back country. It's been proven time and time again that in these areas you can scout throughout the summerand have great success finding some of the bulls right where you left them. If they have food, water, cover and are not disturbed they don't seem to be quite as nomadic. Since they naturally live far from the nearest road they usually aren't disturbed since only hunters venture off to find them. It seems to me that elk behavior in draw areas where hunting pressure is light year after year they don't roam as much and are much more vocal. You can have success scouting these elk. If they aren't right where you left them they are usually only 1 canyon away.

There is a draw only area here in Utah where year after year I can go to the same pockets and find elk. (I have been trying to draw a tag here fro 6 years with no success. For now I just shoot them with a camera) In the general areas that does not happen.