You hunting west side or east side? Big difference in the hows and wherewithalls. West side is Roosevelt elk in dense terrain, east is Rocky Mountain elk in more open terrain.
My first suggestion for either (although you might already be done for this year??) is get a cow call. There are many types from ones that you blow to diaphram calls that go in your mouth. Although TV makes it look like bugling is the way to call them in, most guys I know that are routinely successful don't bugle. Roosies are not as willing to come fight someone, and would rather just take their cows and leave. Rockies might be more willing to fight. But both like a friendly cow
Disagree on a "big" rifle. .270, 30-06, 7mm Rem will do fine. Biggest elk I have ever seen killed was with a .257 Roberts.