Simple reason it hasn't been published:
It's simply not a study that has any significant scientific value. In other words, there's a small population (dozens, possibly a hundred) that think it's a Bigfoot butt. Everyone else who's seen it; amateurs, professionals, and disinterested laypersons recognize it immediately as the impression of some 4-legged, hoofed animal, though they may not immediately recognize it as being an elk.
Scientific publication demands that a study be either:
1) of scientific value to a wide variety of researchers.
2) of great value to a modest degree of specialists.
3) of tremendous value to a very small group of highly specialized researchers.
The elk imprint falls into none of these categories.
If you're really interested in the nitty-gritty, pm me and I can give you a full rundown of exactly why this is more a study for sociologists and psychologists than animal imprint specialists.