I've been on many do-it-yourself elk hunts (Colorado, New Mexico, and Idaho) and about ten guided ones (New Mexico and Colorado). If dressing out and hauling a bull off a public land mountain is something you enjoy, have at it. I certainly admire you and wish you the best. I've done it, too; it does give some sense of accomplishment you don't get with a guided hunt. But after going on private land guided hunts, I don't miss the do-it-yourself exhilaration. A good guided hunt can provide the same degree of euphoria, especially after shooting a nice 6x6. Your chances of scoring are often far better as well.
I haven't shopped around recently, but I would guess a pretty decent private land guided hunt could be had for around $10,000, your choice as to staying in a lodge or a tent. If you have the money handy, a guided private land hunt is well worth it, but check and double check on the outfitter. You want no surprises.
