BJ you did give us somethin to talk about. Now I know that you have a mountain of experience so I hope I don' t come off too pompous but I do disagree partially with your statement. Elk can be patterned although it is much more difficult than mule deer as you said. Yes elk migrate and they do move quite a bit based on influences such as food, water and especially pressure. However I have had success in patterning a herd of elk. I found that if they find an area that they really like and they get very little or no pressure they will come back to the same area and they will have a pattern. In a low meadow at first light and move to a certain high timber black hole during the day. Granted there will be times you' ll come back to the same spot and you won' t see em for a few days but I do believe you can pattern a herd cause they always come back if the conditions are right. I have had tremendous success doing this. Gotten elk the last 4 trips in a row all in the same 1/2 mile radius and I' ll go to my grave with my secret honey spot.