Shoot uphill from where parked the vehicle and the nearer road within legal limits then the better for your back. Some of us don't care if we see an animal while out hunting. Others of us get discouraged if not seeing animals a few times a day. If you tend to need to see animals to stay motivated then this will be a tough hunt. You might look into access to private though may find landowners have signed over access to a guide. Some landowners may want the elk cow population reduced by one and if they think you will close gates that you open and behave like an adult years beyond your current age then you might want to start looking up ownership and see if can find contact information. OnXMaps may be your friend.
Now, if you find yourself with a good shot on a cow elk then elk are designed like a whitetail or mulie so bullet placement is the same. Should not take much bullet to do the job if have a good rest, aren't winded from hustling into position, are 200 yards or closer and the cow is not moving. Have a good meat hauling pack. Consider the gutless method. Have suitable game bags. Consider not packing out leg bones. Definitely cut off the hooves. Have a large cooler. Get the meat cooled down. Lots of ways to prepare elk and cow elk is very good eating.
As for gear, have boots that are kind to your feet, keep the wrinkles out of your liner and outer socks, keep laces snug so stop after hike a bit to snug them up again. If sleeping in the field, consider ear plugs, eye patch, stocking cap, comfortable sleeping pad and maybe Tylenol PM.
If will be hunting above 6000' elevation and you live closer to flat lands then hydrate more than are thirsty and take it easy the first 2 or 3 days after arrive at altitude. Avoid booze at first, if can.
If are not close to a town then consider a gas can, first aid kit, and satellite transponder. Arrive with a plan for where will start each day. Sounds like public land is nominal or does not hold elk after the first shots ring out so may be traveling a ways to get between huntable land so that can burn up fuel fast and the spare fuel can may let you spend less time heading miles back to the gas station.
I keep a hunt diary. Almost 50 years of notes, observations, temperatures, wind, etc at this point. Is nice for me to sit on a winter's afternoon and randomly pick up one of the journals and read about a hunt or two. If you write down who/what/where/why/when then that is good. If add in a preamble before arrive for the hunt about how got the tag, odds to draw, harvest rate, history of the region will hunt, flora and fauna, how will travel to the destination, actual miles driven to get there, and plan for when the sun comes up Day 1 then is even better, in my opinion.
Good luck! A day in the field beats the heck out of a day in my office and I love my job. There will be curve balls such as flat tires or broken gear or encountering asshats though over the years I learned to embrace those moments as it allowed me to persevere when others might not have. Go get 'em!
