I'll say it for at least the third time, I didn't start this poll in order to have the rule changed. I started it out of curiosity. I knew in the beginning that the chances of this poll swaying the rule one way or the other was slim, if not impossible. I started it to see what everyone thought, not to start arguments.

I'll step in real quik and then leave. This issue was covered in the rules last year. It stated thatyour deerhad to be legally taken.
What do you call an outfitter anyway? Is it someone who shows you a new hunting area? Is it someone who places you in a stand? Maybe its someone who field dresses your game? Maybe it would be someone who puts together a nice hot meal after a long, tiresome day?
I thought thats what they call a friend also. Sono hunting allowed with friends, period.
Bobby

If the only thing you have to do is shoot an animal, you are hunting with an outfitter.

Last time I checked I didn't pay my friends $1000 - $5000 to help me with those things if I needed/wanted help.

No, as I think that using an outfitter/guide offers a distinct advantage to that individual especially in trophy areas away from home that the hunter might not have the opportunity or time to scout.

If the animal was harvested in a legal manner, than I believe they should be elgible for the contest.

Simple as that.

Keeps things a little easier when keeping track of harvests.

I can't believe this is even an issue. People got nothing better to do than try to ruin a good thing and stir up all kinds of contraversy over a FUN contest.
ANY legally taken deer should count whether you put in 500 hours of scouting to find it, or was walked to a stand by a guide.The contest isnot measuring the work involved in getting the deer, we are just adding up inches. The teams are picked at random, it's the luck of the draw who has who on thier team.

Canned hunts should be banned for obvious reasons.

I voted yes. Here's why. The playing field is skewed to begin with. Yes, teams are picked at random but depending where your team members are located around the country you could be at a disadvantage to beging with. A team of hunters from the heartland shouldproduce more inches then a team of hunters from Florida, New Hampshire or Maine. Yes there are nice deer around to be hunted, but there are not nearly the number of P&Y book animals that occupy IL, KS, IN,OH just to name a few.
In some of these state you've either got to get drawn for a tag or pay an outfitter to hunt. Assuming the deer are free ranging and all rules of fair chase are adheared to, then the only thing the hunter didn't have to do is scout out animals and hang a stand. Finding land to huntmay even prove to be a task as a non resident even if drawn for a NR tag. Just because you have a tag dosen't mean you have prime land to hut.

I agree with adams and though I don't plan on entering the contest, I do plan to hunt with an outfitter but it's not a guided hunt. It's not even semi-guided. I am just paying for access to the land. I don't see that as being any different than if I just got permission. I will be doing my own scouting and setting my own stands etc.

Yes, they're hunted - just like any other deer.