Blur....If you want to be an elk hunter. Then be an elk hunter, and do the hunt yourself. What pride can you take in the hunt when a guide does it all for you? You sound like you want a trophy for your wall. Will you tell people......that's my elk that I shot, but the guide did the whole hunt. I'd be embarrassed to even say I shot it. Shooting is the easy part. No different than shooting at the range.

I've hunted elk every year since since 1954. Alone since the mid 80's. I'm 70 now, and missed this year due to a broken back. I have a list of physical handicaps that you'd think I shouldn't even be hunting for squirrels. I'm already planning for next years elk and bear hunts.

It takes a certain amount of toughness to hunt elk in the Rockies. Accept the challenge, and get on with it. If all you can haul out is 25lbs, then haul out 25lbs, and keep going back for more. Hang the boned out meat in trees, put it in some streams to keep it cool. Keep going back for the meat until you have it all. It doesn't matter if it take you 3 days. Just get it done. Then you can be proud of what you have hanging on the wall.

Man up, or just stick to shooting whitetails from a treestand.