How much time should you wait to hunt an elk kill site? A day or two? Late afternoon should be best, right?

I think it depends on how warm it is. It seems bear like things good and smelly. If you can stand the smell it will call bears in from a long ways.

yeah smell

I have never seen a gut pile last more than two days. Something always gets it ate up quick. Birds, coyotes & bears move in quick where I hunt.