fetzer,

And had your father in-law not taken a bear. What then?

Guides to me are nothing more than another resource- a tool if you will. No different than a dog hunting pheasant. No different than a lure at the end of a fishing pole. No different than a pile of corn outside a blind.They are the truck thathauls myarse from Colorado to Kansas-it/they/them put me a little closer to my prey. Could I kill animals with my teeth? Sure, but it could be rather difficult I imagine. Therefore I use a weapon that flings a projectile (sheez, another tool). Does it make hunting easier? Maybe. Does it make hunting more fun. Maybe. A lot depends on the time, the place, and the species involved. Wouldn't you agree? Because Iuse these tools I am still not assured a kill...right?

I believe the part everyone is missing revolves around having fun. I personally, have killed many animals solo, but I enjoy sharing the chase with others. Not always but sometimes those "others" turn out to be guides. In this land of opportunity, am I not entitled to have fun? And if I do,should my accomplishment be degraded? Apparently so...Wow, that blows. I thought I was doing well up to this point.

We all establish what "degree of difficulty" we'll applywhile hunting. Moreover, ever hunt is and should be different (see above). That's what keeps us going back into the woods. In the end, we all go out of our way to have fun (at least I think so. A show of hands please. Who does not have fun while hunting?)!What's fun for me more than likely isn't your idea of fun and vise versa. But that's ok... I promise! Be your own critic. It's easy to measure yourself. It'simpossible to measure others-you haven't walk enough steps in their shoes.