Definitely get out and scout in the off season.
Get to know the country and where the elk are hanging out. Learn how to get around in the area.
Be at your best spot opening morning.
Bummer is all those great spots you found during the summer will most likely still look great the afternoon of opening day, only minus the elk.
Unless you are way in the boonies and the elk are unpressured, at the first sign of hunters they move into the nastiest thickest timber and brush and only come out at dark and are back in the timber at first light.
When you are scouting look for North or NE slopes with thick cover and flat spots with water.
Check out the topo maps and look for flat spots and then go look for sign.
If you are not experienced at silent stalking through timber try to determine where they are moving to at night to feed and then sit on the trail first and last light. Elk tend to move a lot so do not be discouraged if it takes a few days of trail sitting to hit it right.