No honeyholes? I can give you about 100 crappy spots. Would that help?

I know. I'm a wise guy.

That would be #97. It's a little less crappy than the rest.

Seriously, I hunt the ML season. My spots may be lousy by 2nd rifle that you hunt.

You will find that the country that most deer and elk inhabit is going to be fairly tough going for the hunter.  You will find some that hang out in the flat country but as soon as the first rifle goes off they will head to the meanest country that they know. 

The best advise is to start looking next summer at different units and find one that you like the look of and then scout the dickens out of it.  You don't need to go all the way up to 10,000' to find deer and elk either.  The place that I plan on shooting my cow elk this year is just a hair over 7,000' and they have been there all summer long.  Also some of the best elk hunting that I have found for larger elk it around 8,500' and no higher, and that is here in Colorado. 

As for next year you might want to look at Exbiologest web site and pay a little bit of money and pick one of the better areas that he suggest.  So between his site and some scouting next summer you might have a good plan on where to go in 2013 and you just might get lucky in 2012. 

I have had great success in unit 79... most likely more drive than what you are looking for.  I have also done some scouting in the plains east of me and have found some very nice deer for possible future hunts.  I don't think you have to find the Hunter25 area to ensure of a success - although if the property right next to him was for sale I would be buying it!  I found some great areas also near Westcliffe in the national forest that is definitely worth taking a look at.  I am much closer to these areas than you but think finding the right unit for multiple hunts is the answer as well.  Good luck in your scouting.