I have never hunted, looking for advice.
Do experienced hunters think it's better to toss myself in the deep end, or pay for a guide?
Background:
I'm a DIY kind of person, and I'm fairly certain I would handle hunting by myself the first time just fine, whether I get a deer, or not. I've already been thru the required hunter education, and I've already built my own .308 AR. I am already an avid hiker and have done several multi day thru hikes. I live in western Washington, so these questions are mostly directed at hunters experienced in western mountainous hunts. My plan is to use this year to plan out several hikes to get familiarized with areas I might want to hunt, then start hunting in the fall of 2016.
My first question is: Is it worth it to spend 800 - 1000 on a guided hunting trip the first time out?
Second question is a multi part: When you scout an area you've never hunted, what is the minimum number of days you scout an area? Have you ever successfully hunted an area you didn't see deer in during a scout? How do you choose one area over another?
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