Even living where I live, elk and deer hunting are major under takings. Unless a neighbor is gracious enough to grant access (and im blessed that they regularly do) it takes most of a day. Elk really does take most of a week, unless pursuing a depredation type hunt.
I can kick the dog out of the truck across the road from one farm and hunt sharptails, Huns or pheasant. Cross the canal at the other farm and i’m knee deep in chukars. A good hunt literally takes less than an hour out of my day. Forest grouse take a hour walk up the hill from the neighbor’s place, so it’s a half day. Either way, a tremendous return on the investment, and it permits going out many more times during the season.
But the real reason is that the dogs like it much better.
