The only outfitter I ever hunted with was Snowshoe Lake Hunting and Fishing in Newfoundland. They far exceeded my expectations in my 3 trips and always tried to make me feel comfortable. They worked their arse off to ensure success. It is hunting however and some things are beyond the scope of what they can handle. When things turn tough that is what separates the true professional outfitters from the people who take your money just to let you hunt on their land. When I pay an outfitter I am paying for the location, with his experience and unique personality to give me something I can't easily accomplish on my own. This year 2 of my best hunting friends and I tried something different. We went to Colorado as first time elk hunters and decided to try it on our own. None of us had experience or even seen an elk but we are accomplished North Country deer hunters. Hunting is hunting and even though it took a few days to figure it all out we came home with 3 nice animals. It was fun to hunt a strange new country but I kind of missed a guide to fill us in on all the intricacies of that particular hunt and the lore of the native people who live there. Success to me doesn't mean a filled tag. There is much more to the hunt.