Well this is exactly what worries me. Im not a western hunter and really am looking into heading west to elk hunt. I hunted WA elk back in 2004 when stationed in Ft Lewis but have been considering a guide service and this is my exact fear. Sorry dude
You want to stay out West? Further east you can hit MO, get away from KC or StL and there are tens of thousands of acres public. Mark Twain forest is the biggest. Easy to get in all by yourself and not see others. Further north is Atlanta conservation area... lots of deer there.
I pay my neighbor... its $40/head. Well worth it than for me to cut, skin, boil, dispose, and stink up my garage. I also really prefer the euro look. And easy to display
I grew up just climbing a tree that fit where the deer were and standing on a limb. Saddle hunting for the last 15 years and I love it. I find it more comfortable and you can get in trees that lean, have a million branches that climbers can't go up. And it is easier than preplacing a ladder...
+1 for the ELD-X. Can't go wrong with Hornady. But sheesh 300 wsm is a whallop of a gun for a whitetail. My kiddo drops them with a .243 and no mule kicking your shoulder