I run about 70% rifle hunting and 67% bow hunting.
For me it’s really down to one thing. Location.
I elk hunt in Oregon. Rifle hunting late season. It’s a area that my family has been hunting for generations. Their are always at least some elk in the area. I know the area like the back of my hand. Or better. Where they feed, where they travel, where they bed. How they react to pressure. Also, I’m not a glassing person. We hunt more dark timber and thickets. It’s up close and personal most of the time. Many may not agree with this but I’m the guy that goes in and makes things happen one way or another. For better or worse.
I don’t use calls. Weapons don’t matter to me too much. Although I prefer rifle now just because it allows me to hunt with my father and that means more to me as I have gotten older
But drop me in a new area and I’m sure that I would not do as well. Or it would take me a bit longer to figure out where the boys are hiding.
Also, I don’t scout at all. I know the area well enough after 20+yrs of being in there. The elk usually don’t move into the area until fall anyways. Scouting in summer has no impact on what’s going to be there in November. At least in our area.
So yeah. I think personally the biggest keys to me is to find areas that have elk consistently. And learn the area well. Also, learn where the elk go when pressured. In our hunting area they really don’t leave per say. But they hunker down even more.
If you can find areas where elk like to move to when pressured big bonus.
Also, don’t be afraid to mix it up in the thick stuff. Every elk I have killed with a rifle has been in thick junk. From 20-100yds. Sure. It’s not easy, and you will spook lots of animals. But the more you get into them the better your chances are of connecting.