I was lucky enough to grow up hunting elk via horseback and have also done a lot of backpack trips and river raft trips for them. Flew in on a DeHaviland Beaver on floats for one elk hunt and several moose/caribou hunts, all DIY. Rode well over 100 miles in the McKenzie Mountains on a guided horseback hunt. Been on the Arctic sea ice via snow machine and dog sled with subsistence hunters out of Barrow.
I won't pass an easy opportunity when I stumble onto one, but I certainly am prouder of the critters that I got to experience the whole schabang for. Some of my bigger antlers are thrown out in the corner of the barn, with 'lesser' trophies in the house. Just how I am, I guess.
Good luck to the OP, whichever route he takes.
