Vance, just go out solo, hardest part though is getting drawn. With all the national forest, state and BLM land, you should take advantage of it. I personally wouldn't hire a guide.
Geez Wolfkiller, thats a pretty pricey piece of meat that elk is, $8000 for an elk, lets say you get 300#'s ( thats being very generious) of meat out of it, that works out to be about $27.00 a pound, and thats not counting loss of wages at work, wow!!! I thought I lost money this year when I had to drive 6hrs to bag my elk this year but now I guess I didn't do too bad after all. Bobby