Not to bag on Jim Zumbo because he seems like a nice guy, but I just got back from a hunt with an outfitter whose catalog made a big deal about how JZ had hunted with him (didn't say when; could've been years ago). Worst hunt I've ever been on.

As far as Cabela's goes, business must be good because I've had a hard time getting them to take my money. Five years ago my buddy and I were all hot to trot to go on one of their hunts (combo mulie and pronghorn). However, my buddy only wanted mulie, but Cabela's wouldn't accept anything but the full combo, so we got ahold of the outfitter directly. He was more than happy to modify the package (in fact, his brochure had mulie-only hunts!), so Cabela's lost about a grand on that deal.

Went on their unguided AK caribou hunt. It was so-so. When Cabela's sent me a follow-up form, I told them I was very interested in more of their hunts, but they never even got back to me. (Like I said, business must be good for them.)

One positive aspect of booking through Cabela's: the outfitter will probably treat you better than someone who books on his own. On that mulie/pronghorn hunt, we got the grumpiest guide, and a few times we got lesser treatment than the Cabela's hunters. (But we got even by bagging the two biggest deer in spite of that, snicker, snicker!)

Never trust a bow under 40 (inches).