I'm 6/6 when it comes to elk. 3 draw tags 3 otc. 2 bull tags in Washington, 1 cow tag in Colorado, and 3 otc bull tags in Colorado.
You can be lucky, skilled, have money, put in the effort, etc to be more successful. For a brand new elk hunter going diy the thing that will help the most is getting in the best shape of your life and putting in the effort. You will gain the skills while out there. But it will be hard to learn if you can only hunt half assed because you are beat down after 2 days of hunting.
What he said about being in shape x10
No B.S. WHATSOEVER either be in the best possible shape or try to find enjoyment in misery and failure
I've been on four 100% DIY elk hunts and were 100% successful each time 2 in NM 2 IN WY 2 6x6s 1 5x5 and one 4x4
All were limited entry units my hunting partner and I spent combined HUNDREDS of hours researching prior to choosing the unit and after getting drawn
All else being equal that you draw a unit with good numbers of legal bulls IMHO these things will make or brake your hunt
#1-As said be in Olympic good shape
#2-Very often over looked land navigation skills the hunter than can get 3,4,5, or more miles away from roads or trails without fear of getting lost is way ahead of the compititon don't bet your LIFE (literally) on GPS they can, do and WILL fail know howv to use a map and compass or accept loosing huge areas of likely the best elk habitat to those who can
#3-If you dont already know Google satellite pictures are your new best elk hunting friend get some killer good topo or what I used Arial photos and scout your area from home
#5-Glassing points you can't kill an elk that you can't first see and your best spot to see elk are from glassing points above where the elk hang out great glassing spots are gold and often not easily found this is a question (one of meny)for the units biologist
#4-when you talk to anyone about the unit have if possible both topo and APp's handy and if applicable a BLM map so you can mark as close exactly the actual areas or locations people tell ylu about and IMHO any information more the 2 or 3 years old about where the elk were might not be very helpfull try to get as recent info as you can
#6-if you choose a unit that allows quads have one or get you *** kicked by those who do who will fly by you as they close in on that bugling bull elk you just pined your hopes and dreams on not to mention almost your tag
#5-Calling less is more call only enough to get a bull to give his location away and enough to allow you to pinpoint as close as you can his position if you can here his bugles so can everyone else in ear shot and bulls really do become call shy again just like turkeys
#6-If you're not seeing it hearing slit if bulls during daylight try crusing the roads that scert the high point or rims of the vallys or drainage and listion for bugles as some times if to much pressure or to hot bulls will be more active after dark also while scouting or driving have your map and it GPS on hand and mark all points of interest you find well enough so you for certain can find that same location again
#7-All things being equal the earlier you can get in your unit and the more time you can spend scouting prior to opening day the better your odds are arriving with 5-7 days to scout is highly advisable
LASTLY-I could go on for pages but I'll finish with saying be brutally honest with yourself in setting REALISTIC expectations on what to expect in the type of bull you will likely kill
I had somewhat unrealistic expectations on my first elk hunt (NM ML hunt) because I was a complete novice despite that I managed to get within 300 yards of a great 6x6 only to blow it still managed to take a fine 4x4 though which brings me to my last advice don't hunt elk like there white tailed or mule deer they aren't your better to error on being slightly to aggressive than being to cautious I hesitated and it cost me a great bull but I learned and it helped me take my second bull a beautiful 340 class 6x6 4 years later in WY. The only animal I've hunted that are similar to elk are believe it or not turkeys in you always want to be above an elk no.matter what you're doing and just like a turkey you can call an elk up hill one heck of a lot easier than down hill unless you are legitimately in shape on par with a world class sprinter
It is next to impossible to successfully pursue a elk that is,already well out if rifle range heading to its bedding up a mountain and hope to close with in rifle range but if you are already above the bull it's much easier.
Best of luck and have fun
