Problem is Beaver, I can only afford a guided hunt about every 10 years. And your 25% success rate includes all residents in the mix. I would be curious what the nonresident success rate is. I have only been hunting in Wyoming once and it was a guided hunt out of Cody, Wyoming. Both my brother and I got a deer (all we had a tag for) and I would recomend the experience to anyone who can afford it. And I don't think for the most part that outfitters charge to much.

However, I have a strong desire to pursue either deer or elk yearly in some western state, and I can't afford a guide every year. I usually do swap hunts. It is a shame I can't swap with anyone in Wyoming who hunts in a wilderness area unless they have an outfitters license. If I were in your shoes, I would probably feel differently.

My friend that hunts for deer in Wyoming every year runs about 70% success rate in his group. It really boils down to doing your homework and legwork. For those of us who do, we will always beat that 25%.