Most of the places where I Elk hunt are steep and remote and elk are LARGE. Many times I have had a big bull in the scope and thought it better to head back to the truck. I think the most fun I ever had was during the archery season, hunting with my son Jim when he was about 9 years old. I have the ability to talk elk. If there is an elk around, I can call him in. I know what to say to them using my own throat and a 30 inch piece of 1 1/2" abs pipe. Jim was with me and I called in a big 5X5 bull. I had him dead, but decided to give Jim a lesson on elk hunting instead. The fact that we were 3 miles from the truck in some nasty, steep country and the thought of the 2 of us dressing and hauling out 500 lbs. of meat was on my mind too. When you call in a bull you are saying to him "I am a bull elk and I am going to steal your cows for myself." Elk calling is picking a fight with a large animal and hoping he will come in and fight. When they show up they are really, really mad. I almost got nailed by a big by a big 6X6 that came in way too fast one time, but that is another story. 
Each time the bull would come in he would tear up the brush and trees with his antlers, paw the ground and charge back and forth looking for the bull that was tormenting him. We would lay low and move down wind until he would go back to his harem, then call him in again and watch his show of rage and violence. Jim was a little scared, and there were several times I thought I would have to shoot the bull in self defence. We played with this big bull for over four hours like this, calling him in and letting him go. Jim was getting tired and so the last time he came in I moved up wind and he took off. So did we. A few years later, when Jim was old enough to hunt, I called him up four bulls and he shot his first bull elk, a 4X6, and that rack is hanging on the wall as we speak. I have called in first bulls for 5 other friends, but the one we played with and did not have to pack out is my best memory of elk hunting. DC
Each time the bull would come in he would tear up the brush and trees with his antlers, paw the ground and charge back and forth looking for the bull that was tormenting him. We would lay low and move down wind until he would go back to his harem, then call him in again and watch his show of rage and violence. Jim was a little scared, and there were several times I thought I would have to shoot the bull in self defence. We played with this big bull for over four hours like this, calling him in and letting him go. Jim was getting tired and so the last time he came in I moved up wind and he took off. So did we. A few years later, when Jim was old enough to hunt, I called him up four bulls and he shot his first bull elk, a 4X6, and that rack is hanging on the wall as we speak. I have called in first bulls for 5 other friends, but the one we played with and did not have to pack out is my best memory of elk hunting. DC