Elk Hunting Mistakes

[Seahawk12]

A ton of really good advice here. I haven't hunted elk in a decade or more, but I know some mistakes I made early on. One thing I haven't seen yet is that it's a mistake to enter an area blind. If you're going to hunt a new area then make plans to go on a scouting/camping trip earlier in the year. It is incredibly frustrating spending valuable hunting time going through areas that you've only seen on maps and figuring out that what looked good on paper is a terrible spot to hunt. The more time that can be spent in your area of choice early in the summer just walking around the happier you will be come hunting season.
A general mistake I have made was the night before heading out I laid out all my gear. Clothes, tents, bow, camp equipment, etc. First thing in the morning I loaded everything in the truck and made the five hour drive to camp. I set everything up and realized that all my perishable food was back at home hundreds of road mile away  . Future fix: I now make a list and check things off as I load. 

[RadSav]

Don't let a woman load your boots in the truck! 

While she may know every style/color of ladies Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo and Taryn Rose she likely can't tell the difference between a 10" left boot and a 6" right boot or see any difference between a green boot and a grey one.  I've made that mistake twice!!  No matter how you lace them, two left boots won't make a right

[vandeman17]

Another thing I have learned which has kind of been mentioned is the value of a cow call or even going in silent once you have an idea of where the bull is with his cows. We blew a nice bull out one year in montana. He was screaming and we would bugle back and close the distance. Before we got a look at him he busted out and went quiet. Shoulda, woulda, coulda.

[TheHunt]

If I had to put together a list of lessons based on importance based on MY type of hunting.  I chase them and call.  I only hunt from a blind if I am exhausted.
1. Check the wind
2. Check the wind
3. Check the wind

4. Elk are lazy animals and will take the lease resistance path to you when calling them.
5. If a bull replies to your location bugle, run at the bull and cut the distance in half. BUT if it is closer than 200 yards close the gap but look at the terrain and estimated where the encounter will happen. It is hard on the West side to pick any shooting lanes prior to them wanting to play.  When estimating the path keep the wind direction in your mind.  If he has cows there will be cows as well hanging out.  Get down and move low. 
6. Be quiet but it is OK to snap a branch that is a normal sound of elk.  As you move keep an eye out for elk.  If you cow call move at lease 15 yards left or right immediately as the animal has pegged your location within feet. Do not blindly cow call and continue walking through the woods.  Set up the calling sequence and move quietly to give you an advantage if you hunt alone like I do.  IF you hunt with a buddy put the buddy 80 yards minimal in front of the caller.  A bull will come into a caller within what he thinks should be visible.  Most of the time it is at least 60 yards. 
7.  If you hunt alone... YOU best be accurate with your bow out to 60 yards. 

[blindluck]

Not knowing the damn laws, I walked up on a 3x5 bull it was spike only, he bedded down at 30 yards for 10 minutes stood up walked away, his 3 pt side was a 4 foot curved spike with brow tines below his ears. he qualified as a spike I learned later that day.