ORIGINAL: Rick James
No, I do not feel as much respect for an animal taken by a fully outfitted/guided hunt as compared to a DIY. Doesn't mean I wouldn't go on an outfitted hunt, however I find it difficult to think that a guided hunt would be as memorable or rewarding for meas some of the dinks I have shot but worked very hard for.
I honestly think if I wanted to travel to hunt, I would do a lease on some property with other guys and a DIY. We have a lot of guys that come into the shop that have done this with some great success and I feel I would be able to take more pride in that than to have a guide tell me where to sit, drive me there, gut the deer, drag it out, etc..................
Once again, I see nothing wrong with a fully outfitted hunt and may do one someday but I don't think I would take as much away from it as I would a DIY.
This is almost exactly how I feel about it. I'd still go on an outfitted or guided hunt, but it will never measure up to the hunts where I guided and outfitted myself into killing a mature or P&Y buck. How could they compare? I guess that the reason I'd go on a guided hunt would be to get a chance at something that is not available in the areas that I normally hunt. Like a 300 lb dressed out canadian whitetail.