Free: Contests & Raffles.
Nope. I'm not as fortunate as you and Vidman. I'd sure like to get my matching powder blue shirts though.
generally speaking where I hunt and how I hunt there isn't a team of guys following me around. I tend to kill withthe first shot, and I tend to find my animals on my own. I've been in the woods when the USO guys were after a 400 inch bull down in NM, hanging their 100 trailcams out trying to find him, and I've been photographing in the Methow when the teams of guys were out scoiuring the hillside with their radios for the tag holder. Generally speaking, I'm not too impressed. Other than that, I'd say I am the typical armchair enthusiast that reads alot of the stories. You know the ones, fly in, shoot a trophy and then fly out, all while its being videotaped as if its a record class type hunt. The best ones are the ones in peoples yards and it takes a great photographer to make sure the subdiviosion isn't in the background. Mostly I am referring to the Arizona hunt this last year, not the Wenatchee hunt. Lots of whispering going on, the shot is taken, he walks up and pokes the animal with a stick while the camera man has already been there 10 minutes setting up, because the camera man is probably in the best shape of the bunch and is probably the stealthiest, and is probably cussing under his breath as the guy shoots for the 4th time to put the animal down. I think I mentioned in the Eastmans journal how I really felt about these tags. I'm sure there are exceptions to the rule, and there are a couple guys out there that utilize them to their fullest, but I do believe they are exceptions.
P.S. I love the pics in MULEY CRAZY but the stories suck half the time. That is why I LOVE THE PICS.
I take great enjoyment helping other people with a tag wether it is a gov tag or a special permit. When someone else kills a monster whatever and they work to get it I am stoked.