i hunted that area for archery elk this past season. Try to hunt above timberline if you can, i hunted way too low. the elk weren't down off the high peaks yet. i heard some good bugles and managed to catch the tail end of a bull. but i didn't see any others besides that.

In area 7, i would suggest hunting as high as you can that early in the year unless it snows. And i also suggest trying to hunt the rut. We went in too early last year, not a whole lot of elk activity on opening day in 7. The elk didn't make it off the mountain till a couple weeks later. A guy in our party ended up shooting a 6 point on labor day weekend though.

Thanks for the advice. May I ask you the vicinity you hunted in 7? I was mostly around Deadmans Road. Went to Cherokee Park and Bull Mountain.

umm let me see.... We hunted near Glendevey and brown's park.