I've seen plenty of elk tracks in my deer hunting area, but never an elk. OTOH, I've seen large herds on a dairy farm next to a freeway where the hunters can't get them. They are not stupid animals...
About 11 years ago we were at Redwood National Park and a herd of them came right into our campground. Beautiful, majestic animals. I would be thrilled if they came into my neighborhood, but that's not likely to happen.