You need to learn to read a topo map first of all. Its more ' an how far apart the lines are. Look for benches on steep slopes that have avalanche chutes (meadows) periodically along their face. The benches are the beddin' areas in canyon country. North slopes in the early season are a good bet. East slopes in the afternoon will work. Also look for broken ground on a high mesa, or in a gorge where there ain' t no traffic. If you get to an' area with dark timber on a North slope, an' there' s jack straw timber all around or its way too steep, then you gotta figure out where to bushwack the elk, or call ' em out. Elk like to cross a divide to git to good graze in the evening. Check out saddles an' passes. I like to watch big parks at the base of a divide that is remote on the far side. That' s a good evening hunt. In the mornin' , I' d be apt to climb from downwind an' try to intercept the critters on their way back over.