fit to hunt
i am that 10% elk hunter. 20 bulls since 2002 if that matters. All over the counter in idaho and no i am not taking people out hunting. I am a solo guy. With that said, the guys i know who kill elk constantly do more than hunt in the mountains. they recreate in them year round. they are able to go in and out of the mountains year round in any weather in any season. they are super comfortable in the mountains. they are comfortable night or day. they are not afraid of the dark and it is no big deal to hike, ride what ever in the dark or in a storm. Once you are not worried about getting lost or concerned about looking at your phone to see where you are, you will start picking up on the animals. you will be comfortable to go where the animals are. Basically you have to be comfortable going where no one else is willing to go(and that does not mean deaper than most). Become comfortable bushwacking.
My tatics have been find, hunt, kill. you can't hunt until you find, but you can go from find to kill pretty quick. But to be able to find them you have to be comfortable and not worried about where you are or when you will get back to camp. but even if that is mastered, do you have the eyes to pick up game? I am lucky i can look for elk year round, but what if you can't. Train your eyes to pick up on movement. Look for little birds at lunch to train your eyes, ect. There are a myraid of ways to gain more knowledge of the backcountry with out hunting. Go backpacking, biking. go get some firewood, go climb and see what is on the other side of the mountain on your days off.
The actuall hunting part i will leave for the others to chime in on. A guide would be a good way to learn some stuff. A school would teach you alot to be honest with you. Especially if you ever wanted you own stock. But ask questions of the outfitter. I did a dall sheep hunt with an outfitter out of alaska. My guide was a first year guide. I had been in the mountains of alaska more than he had(we actually ran out of food, but i got my ram). I lived up there for 3 years. I taught that kid alot. So the guides are usually expierenced but not always. However i am an annomaly. I have roamed the mountains of alaska, british columbia, montana and idaho all my life. So i do have an advantage over most that way. When you are in the mountains year round, you see game year round and can understand there life cycle a little better and the more knowledgable you are about your quarry the better you will be. Do you study your quarry? Do you have a libary of books on the animals you are pursueing. Anyway i am home sick for the 10th day and bored. I hope this helps some.