Thanks for all your support guys. It didn't take much convincing for me to decide that AZ is the way to go, but it's also nice to see some of you see my plight (looking at you Mike 338). Makes me feel not so selfish. We have been discussing it about every other day, and I would like to go, but unfortunately season dates and this wedding are making logistics a real bitch. We both want to make sure each of us makes effective use of our limited time. Problem is elk season starts the 13th, and I wont be able to get down to AZ until the 16th because I'm in this wedding as I've explained before. So I'd be missing the first 4 days of the hunt off the bat.
Now I said before, my buddy isn't a bad hunter, just has no elk experience. Also, his resources are "plentiful" - already has 2 scouting trips planned over the summer. He has also reached out to some locals over on Hunt Talk and has got one guy offering to scout with him and show him some spots. That said it seems he's gonna be poised for success. That makes me want to be there more, but missing the first 4 days, I might even miss out on the whole hunt. It'd be disappointing if I got down there just in time for the pack out and that's it.
So we've come up with this plan of action: Depending on what happens with work in the next couple months, I may or may not be able to take even more time off to hunt. I plan to go do my colorado hunt - if the action is on and I'm having encounters every day, I'll stay til I get one or have to go home. Maybe that'll be early or maybe it'll take 2 weeks. But if I do tag out early or I just can't find an elk to shoot, I'll go home early with time to spare, and if my friends still hasn't punched a tag by the 15th, I'll hop on a plane, likely very hung over, and finish out his AZ hunt.
Sound like a solid plan?