" ...most of the farmers are outrageously wealthy..." ??? Come on wolfen there is NO way you can honestly state that as fact. The majority of landowners are FAR from wealthy. Farming is hardly an " outrageously profitable" business.

The landowners are simply providing a service and are entitled to be compensated for their work. Its simple economics at work and gripe all we want, its only going to continue to become more common. GONE are the days of " free hunting" or hunting on a buddies/family members land. Clubs, leases, outfitters lease holdings and " pay to trespass" is the rule of the day. What are landowners to do? Someone falls out of a tree yet can sue the landowner who must carry liability insurance, what is he to do?

The outfitters also make it much safer for most. Most of us east of the MS that hunt outwest are hardly in shape to do so and if so its still safer to go with someone who is familiar with the terrain and know who and where to contact folks in the event of an emergency. A guided hunt is also MUCH more productive. You can go out and spend half a week scouting and trapsing allover the place just trying to find likely spots. Or you can spend that entire week with much better odds of actually seeing what quarry you are after when utilizing a guide.

Sure the prices are steadily going up in the various trophy producing areas regardless what type of animals you are talking about. Thats pure and simple economics. There is only so much carrying capacity and only so many trophies available in a given time period, yet the list of willing " guns" grows larger each year. Simple economics will again dictate who gets what.

This is why it should become more evident to " the common man" that he should utilize and maximize his own lease, farm or available hunting area for trophy production without the need of " going to the Holy Grail" wherever that may be. But sadly, many just want to pop raghorns, not shoot slickheads, not bother with foodplots and the expense. Yet they are the first to claim, " My area wont grow big boys" . But then sadly they complain about outifitters and hunters who pay for such mgmt in areas that do produce such animals.

I for one enjoy hunting different areas not only for the increased trophy potential but also for the " different scenery" and all that a new area has to offer. From the strictist point, deer hunting is deer hunting regardless where you go. But I enjoy places like MO, KS and TX moreso than my homestate of TN not solely because of trophy production (truth is my place in TN produces larger bucks and the place in hunt in southern MO and TX) its just that " other places" are different and may offer more of a given class of animals. And heck isnt anticipation and preparation half the fun?

Cant ANYONE be happy?
RA