Doesn't sound to me like you've ever been short on food. How do you know these people weren't providing for their families by putting meat on the table? After all, that is the point of hunting, is it not? What difference does it make if the elk so-happened to be by the water's edge? They aren't used to being shot at, so they didn't care if they were cornered. Speaking of which, I came back last Thursday on a mule deer hunt in central Idaho where they are not at all used to being hunted, let alone seeing humans. I located a group of about 12 does and 3 bucks. They all knew I was there, but didn't care because not one of them had probably ever been shot at before. I dropped a buck at about 70 yards. Was this not sporting because they didn't run from me?

Bottom line: They drew a tag and filled it. It was legal. They now have elk meat.