Will, that's awesome of you to offer that, and I hope you have as much luck taking people hunting as I have had. I've met some great people, several last year alone, by going hunting with people that I met over the internet. A few guys came up to Alaska on a bou hunt and we had a great time, we shot 7 bou in one day! A couple months later I went on an elk hunt in Montana with two guys off the boards here. Robert Scott was kind enough to invite Don K and I down to share his elk camp in western montana. We had a great time, too many laughs, and made great friendships along the way. Both of them are invited to chase bou on the tundra any time they can get up here to do so.

The guys I took bou hunting this summer are taking me on an elk hunt in Oregon in Sept. They really look forward to getting me out in their country, and the pressure is on. All of them tagged out with great bulls, so they feel they need to return the favor.

I also met a member of the board from hawaii and went deer and goat hunting with him on Molokai. I took the wife down on vacation and while she relaxed on the beach, I sweated my butt off in the mountains chasing spanish goats. We had a great time, and once again got skunked, but those trips with new folks proved to be some of the most memorable.

Good luck with your upcoming season!
ArcticBowMan's Hunting Photo's

Problem is Beaver, I can only afford a guided hunt about every 10 years. And your 25% success rate includes all residents in the mix. I would be curious what the nonresident success rate is. I have only been hunting in Wyoming once and it was a guided hunt out of Cody, Wyoming. Both my brother and I got a deer (all we had a tag for) and I would recomend the experience to anyone who can afford it. And I don't think for the most part that outfitters charge to much.

However, I have a strong desire to pursue either deer or elk yearly in some western state, and I can't afford a guide every year. I usually do swap hunts. It is a shame I can't swap with anyone in Wyoming who hunts in a wilderness area unless they have an outfitters license. If I were in your shoes, I would probably feel differently.

My friend that hunts for deer in Wyoming every year runs about 70% success rate in his group. It really boils down to doing your homework and legwork. For those of us who do, we will always beat that 25%.

I agree that the 25% success rate is with all the idiots, the lazy hunters, and the wannabe's mixed in. Oh and all those greenhorns too. Too bad common sense ain't to common. If you do some homework and you're not afraid to use your lungs a little bit then that rate will be a lot higher. And thats if you're hunting a area for the first time. If you find a good area it can produce for years for you. Then again all the idiots on the hill just means more for me, that is if one of them doesn't shoot me first.

I cain't argue with nuthin' rather an' Tex jus' said. Trouble is, there's a darn lot of them fellers what don't know what there gettin' into. The smart ones call an outfitter. The others, well...let's jus' say they jump right in there, safety an' success be darned. I like the test idear. Guides an outfitters gotta take a test. Why not jus' give non-residents a test an' make 'em sign a waiver. And make that contribution to Search and Rescue mandatory too. That way my EMT buddies won't have as much to complain 'bout.

BJ

Well, this topic got of on the wrong foot some how. Beaver is very right with so many thing. Here in Montana people die every year. Die. Now outfitter help keep them safe. Outfitters have the tents and the gear and the know how to help hunters, but it is very pricey. I definetly am not ever telling anyone to but come out west and try to hunt with out alot of know how. Every year we end up helping someone pack out there elk because they did think about it before they shot it and they where not able to get it out. Then there is the weather. I know this Sept. we had several hugh snow storms, and it where didnt have the tents and stoves to help us you could freeze very easy. But then there are alot of people that can come out west because they have the know how. WHat i am trying to start is frineds helping friend find places to hunt that cant afford a outfitter. Outfitter need to feed there familys too, so if you can help them i am sure it will be worth you money, but if you cant, there has to be another way right. And that is where guys like me come in.
Ok about the 25% on hunting. There are alot of variables in that. I killed a 25 inch very nice 4x4 mulie deer this year in one day, and seen 15 more that anyone in there right mines would shoot. And elk is a little harder but you still have over a 50% with a bow and better with a gun. I guess it all depends on the situation.
But think before you jump into things please. Good luck hunting all.

txhunter58, If I remember correctly any Wyo. resident can be your guide for a hunt, he doe's not have to be licensed, just has to sign that you are in his charge, usahunter

2-Gun

I like the test idea and I say every state ought to do that. I think some sort of class ought to be mandatory too. Its not just safety either thats a problem around here. Last year we had some idiot californian drop a moose with a bow and leave the gut pile right next to a popular restaurant on a ski resort. On the wasatch front hunt that borders Salt Lake City guys were dragging thier deer through peoples driveways. But the one that took the cake was a smart fella from Florida. Stopped at a checkpoint and bragged about the biggest damn deer he'd ever seen and he bagged it earlier that morning. The officer went back to check it out and he had 40' moose in the back of his pickup. Make em take a class please!!!!

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The guys that are offering to help the lesser experienced guys should receive some sort of medal. To many guys out there just don't want to share or help anymore. Reminds me of a time I was bass fishing a point when a local told me I could fish someplace else. (Not exactly how he worded it). I dropped a big waterdog on his deck from 50 feet away and moved on. I booked a hunt in Utah this year just to get a feel for what I should be looking for when I go it alone. Have hunted deer in southern CA for 30 years with good success but can't stand showing up in one of my spots to find 15-20 LA idiots that only hunt opening day camped and partying all night and then yelling to one another opening morning. I've tried to use them to my advantage and let them push the deer to me but any self respecting deer left the area when the camp started forming. I've been reluctant to show many people my best spots for fear that next year I'll show up to the above situation. If the Utah thing doesn't work out for me, I'll for sure contact one of you nice fellows next year. Also, it looks as though more states have started requiring hunter safety for the younger folks. That's good, but it doesn't seem to have helped in CA which has required hunter safety for at least 25 years. Of course I'm talking CA, never mind.

CA has produces some of my favorie hunters, and mos' of the ones I dread seein'. The tendency to under estimate the danger is pervasive. Guides is taught skills to save people's lives in spite of themselves. Tip good an' often.

BJ