Jim, I have never hired a guide, I taught myself to hunt, And I am 13 for 14 on elk with a bow. I am not telling you this to brag!!! Im telling you this because they arn't that tuff to hunt and they are very easy to bow hunt on public land. I have hunted CO. WA. and OR Get the primose(sp) vidio the truth about big bulls vol. 1-6 watch them get some calls and practice Buy the book Radical Elk Hunting Stratagies and ask questions here Or pm me . Save the money. Pack lite and tent it. Look for national forest topo maps and look for roadless areas and pack in. Its not hard and its a heck of alot more fun when you do it yourself. Pick a state that you want to hunt and Call the Fish and Game department and ask them . Talk to the bios, Most times they will put you right on the elk. These are all things the outfitter does not want you to know>>>,, Why ? because they can't rape you for there fee's. Save the money and Buy that new coustom bow you always wanted.