ORIGINAL: Hunter_59
Ok, I'm lost here! I'm a redneck whitetail hunter that has never shot a 150 class buck but has seen dozens of em in my neck of the woods. I've saved up a wad of cash to hire a guide in Wyoming to go on this dream elk hunt this fall. Am I still a good ole boy that can come back to the whitetail woods or will I be tarred and feathered for going on this hunt? I'm spending a "wad" of cash to hire 1x1, and hunt a trophy area, on a wilderness horseback hunt. By the way, it's required by Wyoming law for me to hire a guide, I couldn't hunt "do it yourself" if I wanted to. I know I could go cheaper but spending the extra money will get me farther off the road and a chance to see a trophy bull. Does that make me any less of a hunter to want this type of hunt? By the way I've shot whitetails in their day beds at less that 20 yards. They never knew I was there! I consider myself a decent hunter!
I'm sure that you will have a great time. IMHO, any comments on here (correct me if I'm wrong guys) that you might have thought were negatively describing the type of hunting that you are about to do, were actually describing hunts where the amount of money one spends
GUARANTEES that person a huge animal. I'm sure you've seen those kind of ads in magazines and such----ex. "XYZ Ranch--350'' BUll ELK HUNTS---$7500--no trophy--no pay" and as you can tell most on here, including myself, would say that those places maybe a little less than sporting. As you can also see, many on here, including myself, felt that hunters, in general, should not be judged on the number and size of trophies that they have accumulated, especially those purchased in these managed supermarkets, but rather on their skills, knowledge, and respect they have for their quarry as well as their willingness to pursue the animals in a total fair chase (the animal can leave the country if it wants to) scenario. I personally would say that, to me, a lot of this comes down to the character one possesses as a hunter. Many might say that most of the outdoor shows on tv also lack that same quality. You sound like the type of hunter that knows that in real hunting there are no guarantees. One thing you'll be guaranteed is a great experience in some of the most beautiful country ever. I hope you get one too. good Luck
hb