My opinion is this, it still takes the same thing to kill the buck on a DIY or on a guided hunt. You have to be where the buck is, you have to put your time in stand, you have to practice scent control, be patient, be still, and you have to make the shot.

As far as the "well a guide tells you everything about the deer" comment, how many people on here discuss their hunting area with their buddies? How many people talk to the farmers who own the property they hunt on? How many people discuss hunting area's with the guys at the local pro shop? To me, thats no different than a guy who talks to a guide and the guide tells him where they have been seeing a big buck, and where he thinks he should be set-up. I am pretty confident that the local farmer who's property I hunt knows just as much about where the deer are on his property as a guide does for his lease. I talk to the landowners of all the properties that I hunt and they are always giving me alot of advice, they live on their property and most of them spend a good part of their days out on their property so they know whats happening with the deer herd. Does that mean that all of my hunts are "tainted"?

One other thing to think about as far as difficulty of a guided hunt goes, which would you feel more comfortable with, having somebody tell you the patterns of deer on a property that you have never stepped foot on or being on your own property and seeing it unfold before your eyes?

With that said, I have never been on a guided hunt but I am currently researching some outfitters in Buffalo County Wisconsin for a possible hunt in 2008. I feel that it will be a nice change and I feel that it will be every bit as rewarding as hunting here in PA. Its a change of scenary and a new style of hunting.