My best advise is to read as many books and articles as you can find if you never done an elk hunt before. Got to remember, elk hunting is not deer hunting. Ive read somewhere and its pretty true. Forget everything youknow about deer hunting in order to hunt elk. I am a firm believer in the morning and evening hunt when you can catch an elk up moving to or from there bedding area to where they feed. We usually get walking to our vantage points for glassing and be there at light even if it means leaving camp1-3 hours before sun up. I seldom go into the dark timber middle of the daylooking for bedded elk unless its around the rutand if they are talking. Bumping elk out of there bedding area will usually end up them leaving thearea to another area to where they wont be bothered. They dont care if they live in a certain drainageor the next or3 drainages away.Will you be wanting togoing during bow season or rifle? O yeah, better the shape you are in the better.