I have never hunted using an outfitter, guide, or resort because I can't afford this. I would say, however, that what would spoil my hunt more than anything would be to be drawn into an unethical hunt or a hunt which did not involve principles of "fair chase." Perhaps second to this would be to be linked with another client, for example sharing a guide or living quarters, who was obnoxious or diminished my hunt in some way, as for example being totally out of shape and my guide and I would have to lolly-gag along at the unacceptable pace of the unprepared hunter.

I have hunted with someone else and have had some bad experience in that. I had staked out a whitetail stand and was on watch when my buddy walks up -- before I had decided the morning stand was not going to produce -- and while he is squatting beside me a deer walks out on the hill I was watching, maybe 150 yards out. I mounted my rifle, said there was a deer, my buddy mounts his rifle, and I feel I have to shoot pronto or have my buddy shoot the deer on my damn stand. After the shot, which brought the deer down but was high and in the back, my buddy confirmed that if I hadn't shot, in about a second or two he would have taken the shot. I didn't like this kind of shooting at all and felt I would have made a better shot if I hadn't believed my buddy was going to otherwise take my deer. Maybe this could have been avoided by our talking this out and agreeing on "rules of engagement."