After paying for two fully guided hunts for elk. I have decided that self-guided hunts are for me. Both the guides, while knowledgeable, concerning the area hunted and the animals, had little or no "people skills". The hunt is above all, supposed to be MY hunt. The hunt should be conducted at MY speed. I had told both of these guides that a quality, enjoyable hunt was higher on my agenda then was the kill. Neither of them listened to me. One was 20 years my junior, while the other was 40 years my junior. Neither of them adapted their hiking speed to allow me to keep going without damn near dying! Am I whining? Yeah! I came away from both those hunts needing a restful vacation! I cannot recommend either guide. Now, I go where I can rent the cabin and horses and go hunting at my own speed.
My advise to anyone contracting a guide: Make certain that the guide understands your limitations. If your guide seems not to be listening to you before the hunt, bail out and find someone else with whom to hunt and spend your money. Both of those guides expected me to be as knowledgeable, conditioned and in shape as were they. For me to get up to speed with someone who has lived their life in those mountains is, in my belief unfair and unreasonable.