I was in the same boat. I'd chased Eastern whitetails, but nothing bigger. I decided to use a guide, since I knew nothing about the creatures' habits out West, nor would I have any opportunities to do any scouting in the area before the season.

I went to BC, because the cost of a guided hunt would be about the same as in the states, but I wouldn't have to do preference points for a good area. Plus, BC has a 6-point rule, so I knew that if I did take an elk, it would be a pretty good one.

I'd had a pheasant mounted by a local taxidermist during a North Dakota pheasant hunt, & I figured he'd know more about elk than any Ohio taxidermists. He suggested 3 outfitters (2 in BC, 1 in ID), & I talked to them, & checked their references. I felt very comfortable with the one I picked, & it turned out to be a great choice.

In my 1st hunt with them, I noticed some false advertising: they claimed the outcamps had wall tents, but they'd actually all been upgraded to new cabins. The chow was bountiful & great. The guides all knew what they were doing, & had guided that territory for at least 10 years each. I think you can tell a lot about an outfit by how they treat their equipment & their pack animals, & it was immediately obvious that this group was top-notch.

My 1st year out, I came back empty handed. We saw a few bulls, only fleetingly, and none were shooters. It wasn't for lack of trying, though. We never left camp less than 1 hour before sunrise, & we never returned sooner than an hour after sundown. On my last day, the owner called-in an extra guide to glass for the rest of us. No, the elk weren't on leashes, but that's why they call it hunting. And the country was breathtaking.

My 2nd time, the owner himself guided me, & I took a 6x5 on my 2nd day, after having called-in 4 bulls that day. It was after pulling the trigger that I was glad I didn't DIY the hunt: we were 4 hours, 2 ridges, and no trailsaway from the truck. An ATV would have been worthless, but the pack horses made quick work out of hauling the pieces (and my tired butt!) out of that drainage.

I still harbor some romantic notions about doing a DIY elk hunt sometime, but without knowing the area, or drawing a tag for the best area, or figuring out how to care-for, store, and transport the meat (both during the hunt, & for the return trip!), I think I'll put it off 'til I get more experience.

My advice? Be honest with yourself about your budget, your physical conditioning, your knowledge, and your hunting skills. That'll make your choice more plain. Whatever you do, spend more time on getting in shape & practicing shooting from field positions, than on surfing the net comparing cartridges, rifles, & scopes.

Hope this helps,

FC