Endnote

(In defense of guided hunts ... BGH forums)

I guess I look at it like this - where I am at in life I can't afford to eat out at 5-star restaurants, and only seldom at fast food joints with their $1 specials. Depending on the meal, my D.I.Y. cookin' may be as good, better, or worse than a meal at a 5-star (day in and day out – probably worse).  The main difference is that someone else sets the table, prepares the meal, serves, and cleans up.  I only need to eat and pay the bill (and tip, depending on the service).  My dad, on the other hand, has finished raising kids, is a successful businessman, and has now been able to afford some guided hunts. In the decades previous he has tipped over far more deer and elk than I have ... all DIY ... and has lived at the edge of adventure closer than most of us. Now he can afford 5-star restaurants - and I don't fault him for it. Maybe my day will come also. Until then - I'll savor the DIY approach.

On my dad's fully guided / outfitted hunt ... I spotted and effectively led us to his ram ... and my dad spotted the elk he got. And our guide was one of the best. (And I found and popped and packed out a deer while we were waiting for the outfitter to bring down our stuff.) So you can do far more than just pull the trigger on a guided hunt.

A lot of life is what you make of it. A lot of what you see in life depends on what you're looking for.