3) In order of importance, things that sink you are 1) smell 2) sight 3) sound. If an elk sees you and you're still... even if you could magically be breaking branches while you sat still, they wouldn't care. They might walk right up to you. They don't recognize the human figure well and are not bothered by it. You can make noise in the woods, but I'd try to cover with cow calls. When elk are at ease they make TONS of noise. They will catch you if you're moving and they aren't, so try to move slowly. All that said, if they smell you from close or from far, they're GONE. Wind, wind, wind. I don't care if you rolled in elk urine, you'll just smell like a human who rolled in elk piss to them. I don't care if you have sent lock, washed yourself in scent free soap, and have been eating elk turds, they'll still smell you. If your wind is bad, the walk you're about to do is pointless, the elk will be gone before you can see them. I've had an elk walk up to me, standing in wide open timber, within 5 yards, and she didn't spook until I felt the wind on the back of my neck and watched her nostrils flare.
All his bullet points were good advice. This one is the most important... Ive had elk at 5 yards upwind not spook, and I've had elk at 300 yards downwind turn and run.
