OTC is my favorite! That way you know you don't have any advantage over all the other guys--you just have to work harder. For backpacking, make sure you study the maps and find honeyholes where you can get away from horses; they are your biggest competition. Don't spend much time hiking trails and thinking you're getting away from them--horse guys will ride 15+ trail miles like it's nothing. They'll also find a way to get into all but the steepest nastiest spots. Those are where you need to be, and if you can find enough options and keep covering ground, you WILL find elk! Best of luck.
Pete