All of my elk have been in transition areas too. I think unless you’re going to terrain where you spot them a long way off, you’re gonna have to get in to where they’re heading to bed down early and wait for daylight to push them to you, or get nearby and knock one down before they get where they’re going.
I’ve only taken one that was bedded down and managed to glass her before the herd made us, and that was about 280-300yards. As soon as she stood up, whaaackkk.