“Elk are where you find them”. This means that they leave a tremendous amount of sign. If you aren’t seeing fresh sign, move on because they aren’t there.
When you get one down, don’t gut it. Do the gutless method. It is so much cleaner and quicker. Go to YouTube and watch a few videos on how to do it.
Gear: A good frame pack that fits you well. Good game bags to keep the meat clean,I like Caribou Gear synthetic bags. I also carry a Wyoming saw which comes in handy. I use a 4” folding Buck knife. You don’t need a huge knife. A GPS comes in handy. Onx chip is also nice if you are flirting with private land and need to stay on a particular track. Leather boots, not rubber boots that us eastern Whitetail hunters always wear. Good binos, I like 10x42s. Stay light and stay mobile.
Elk have a great nose so watch the wind. Even a slight change will send them running if they catch a whiff of you.