If the majority of hunters who come to the high country to hunt elk would worry less about their rifle and more about their physical ability there would be a lot more enjoyment involved in elk hunting.
The number one comment I get from guys when I bring them elk hunting in my favorite unit is "You've got to be kidding me!". It's either straight up or straight down and our base camp is just at tree line. If you aren't in good shape and I mean really good shape the enjoyment of the hunt quickly drains into physical exhaustion and frustration.
The very best thing a DIY hunter can do is start a rigorous exercise and diet program NOW so that you'll be in elk hunting shape come the fall. I highly recommend Cross Fit for a workout program. The high country of CO is no joke and it will whip your butt if you are not prepared. I live here and hunt here and it's given me a solid butt whipping on several occasions.
As mentioned above, the more fit you are the more fun you'll have and the greater chance of success. I run about an 80% success rate on elk which blows away the state average. Folks ask me what my secret is. Quite simply it's nothing more than I get farther back into stepper, deeper, nastier country than the average bear and that is where the elk are. My motto is at least two ridge lines over from the nearest road and if you look down into a deep, nasty, steep, cross fallen, hell hole that you wouldn't dream of going down into during any other time. That is the spot you need to hunt for public land elk in CO.
But you have to know your limitations too. Don't go in if you can't possibly haul something out of there. And know that you will be making multiple trips with heavy loads to do a recovery there simply isn't any other way.
(Rereading this I think I might be getting to old for elk hunting! All those painful strap biting into my shoulders, legs on the verge of collapse, lungs burning, heart trying to thump out of my chest, memories are coming flooding back to me!)
