I've only done 3 guided; 'fixin' to go on another in a week, plus a couple of DIY. I've killed two bulls, both on guided. From my very limited experience, I'd say the elk outfitters that have every detail covered, and covered well, are very few and far between. These guys don't run a business all year long, and finding a guide to work for you that doesn't have a job in town has to be pretty difficult. 'Not defending a poor hunting experience in any way. I can't say the outfitter that I killed the two bulls with was that great, we just lucked into them. First bull I had a young, hungover kid and I spotted 3 bulls, standing 60 yards to the left of us while he was drooped over his saddle horn. Second bull the owner of the same outfit guided me and he couldn't see or hear worth a $hyte, but he knew good look out points. After the kill, he was almost physically shaking to get back to the tent where, I assume, there was a bottle. (In his defense, his head guide had run off with this guy's wife less than a week before this hunt!) The third guided the outfitter (who advertised on here) didn't own enough horses for everyone to ride into camp and put us in solid blow down from the old fires. I watched a bull almost all day, but there's no way I could ever get to him.
It's still the wild west in them mountains. And now everybody can smoke pot legally. I doubt the situation will improve.