I grew up hunting mulies, prairie goats, and elk in Wyoming. In fact, my family still derives a large part of their living up there from running a restaurant, motel, and game processing business that does about 75% of the annual revenue during hunting season. We've had 4 and 5 generations of families come back year after year, and on the other side, I've dealt with the folks that really had to scrape by to try a western hunt. Zumbo's article may show how it can be done, but the hunters I've known that did it that way were generally disappointed with the overall experience. Unfortunately, hunting just is not cheap anymore. I grew up with a pocket full of keys to the back gates of the ranchers and could go hunting anytime with just a courtesy call. But the rancher's grew older and didn't hunt anymore. I moved out-of-state and didn't feel comfortable just dropping in. And enterprising outfitters now pay the ranchers significant money for exclusive access for their clients. It is particularly angering when that outfitter "buys" the locks to block access to some vast strip of public ground just beyond the rancher's driveway, but that's another story. This new economy is what makes it feasible for a family to still run a ranch. I don't hunt my old grounds anymore. I hunted public lands for elk last year here in Colorado. Unsuccessfully. I'll keep trying places until I find something that works. I'm skipping this years elk chase to try the otherside -- my first guided big game hunt in AK. I hope it will be worth the cost of 5 Borer props!
One thing should have stayed the same: no "hunter" should feel any sense of accomplishment for taking a "pen-raised" animal. When I grew up in Wyoming, private ownership and/or holding of game species was illegal. The game belonged to the state. I've heard of "elk ranches" even here in Colorado, and the entire concept of the industry disgusts me. I was in a Cabela's store today, and there is a sickening amount of products sold that directly violate the spirit of the fair chase. Growth hormones, game feeders, motion-trigger video cameras, even range finders (as far as I'm concerned). Boots and eyes. That's what a real hunt depends on.