In the December hunts the elk are usually spread from one end of the unit to the other. The nothern part is mostly big pines which drops into oaks then PJ flats as you go south and east.
Most of the unit is thickly forested with only a few areas that can be glassed well. A lot of the cow hunters road hunt and kill alot of elk. Most of the cow hunts run about 50% success.
We've killed elk walking, sitting small meadows,water and road-hunting.
There are hotels in Tusayan and Valle or camping throughout the unit.
The weather sometimes has winter storms or rain making the roads in the south into nearly impassable mudholes. We had 10" of snow when we left last year on the next to last day of the hunt but by the time we got to the highway there was only about 2-3".
We will be there again this year as we have 6 tags for the late cow hunt. I don't have a tag but get to be driver,cook,butcher etc. for our group.
These are freezer tags and we usually have a great time.
Good Luck.
neb