It's not 100% but most of the folks saying that it is okay to go back into an area on public land where a guide took you the year before aren't from the West. Some of these same folks are saying things like why would a guide take you to a great spot on public land in the first place. Some of the BEST hunting spots in the west are on public land. The key is knowing these areas. Some of these areas are not great distances from the nearest trail. The place where I took my elk this year in Wyoming was less than 2 miles from the nearest improved gravel road which doesn't seem very far to me. There were 2 different outfitters hunting that same area and both of them took elk out of there and one was pushing 360". In the first week of rifle season 5 bulls were taken that we knew off in an area about 3 miles long by 1.5 miles wide. That's a honey hole IMO. One thing that is helping that area stay a honey hole is the wilderness guide rules in Wyoming. You can't go back there without a guide by law, but otherwise it would be pretty easy. I know know where the wallows are, where the best trails are, etc.

That's what got me thinking about this issue. Even if there wasn't a guide requirement I don't think I would go back there without my friend or without his permission. It is an area he spent about 20 years figuring out exactly where all the wallows are and where the best trails are and he showed them to me in 1 week. If I had paid an outfitter I think I would feel the same way.

Oh well, I was just curious how others felt and it looks like we have a pretty wide range of opinions on the subject.

Thanks for the input.

Nathan