I know some of the posts above come off stern and selfish, but the crowds are getting ridiculous. Call me sour grapes, but hear me out.
I think Randy Newberg, Corey Jacobsen and some of the other personalities are making it way too easy. Randy is literally posting videos on youtube of random units and talking through exactly what to look for when google earth scouting. He does his elk application videos where he walks you through exactly how to apply in each state, where to enter your credit card info, which points to buy and so on.
A bunch of guys on Randy's own forum, HuntTalk, were beating him down for blowing up SE MT and literally showing GPS coordinates and maps on what to look for in the easier to draw units (deer and lopes) in that corner of MT. Corey is selling an entire series on "how to" to call elk, how to setup your tent, how to tie your boots and how to blow up your pad. There are hundreds of gutless method videos on youtube.
Don't think we are negative naysayers. We still get into plenty of animals every year, the last 2 years were some of the best deer hunting I've personally experienced. The last 5 years has been overall fantastic elk hunting in many units. We've been lucky to kill a few good bucks and bulls, and have some truly fantastic ones get away or outsmart us.
Last year I found a place on google earth with a 3800' climb that was no where near a road or any type of trail. No foot trails, no horse trails, no old dirtbike trails, no skid roads and truly limited access.
It took me 7 hours to hike up into that basin in 90 degree temps during August scouting. The next morning a guy comes waltzing right into my camp as I'm glassing. Was your typical Utard and had the entire new matching KUIU set head to toe. He had only had 1 elk tag in his life. He saw my truck at the bottom.
He had heard about the unit on the forums and had done his research. Kudos to him for putting in the effort, the time, the research and boots on the ground. I can't fault him, as he certainly worked for it and put a lot of money and effort into going scouting a state away.
I've got 3 or 4 instances like this over the past 2 years.
But it's just way too easy with social media, forums and the internet to learn. It's taking the fun out of it honestly. If someone can't figure out how to filter water, how to set up their tent or how to blow a cow call, then jesus.
I'm not saying don't usher in new hunters. But let them want it and let them learn a little on their own. All in the name of a dollar...