You're a good man Robert Scott, the kind that's good to have in the elk woods. Seems like there's no middle ground on this next one so here goes. Even if it was packed deep in their packs the guide and the client both should have had radios like the Motorola talk abouts, worst case don't even turn them on unless you're in trouble. Similarly, a GPS would have showed the location of the camp, the stand, the bull and the trail travelled in between. Don't have to be (as) scared of the dark or the weather. Weight is minimal and benefits are high. The boys in today's U.S. Army figured this one out a ten years ago!

Good judgement comes from bad experience! Half of elk hunting is knowing what NOT to do!