Stay out 2 hours after dark and 2 hours before daylight, listening and calling moving from area to area until you find a vocal bull. Be sure to cover ground. If you find a vocal bull late evening don't pressure him with to much calling. Back out and come relocate him early morning the following day. If you find one in the early a.m. again don't pressure him sit tight and wait for daylight. Elk can move multiple miles in one night and elk that left fresh sign today might not be back for a week. If you stay in an area that has that kind of fresh sign you could burn a tag waiting for elk that aren't there anymore.
Use google earth and topo maps to find benches in drainages that provide rest/breeding areas. Preferably with clearcut close by. Then go to those spots to do your late evening early morning locating when the bulls re most vocal.
Remember don't hunt them way they aren't. Fresh sign isn't truely fresh unless it's steaming. Okay that might be a stretch but you get the drift. Move until you find elk not sign.
