(And before I am going to be flamed: Yes I am sure the very vast majority of prof. guides are brilliant and decent and professional and honest!)
Thanks for everyone's feedback, and I particularly enjoyed some of the more 'tongue in cheek' ones
Perhaps, Erik's final comment sums up the problem, as discussed on other posts, that there is no simple way to identify 'Professional Guides/Stalkers'. In many professions there are - professional standards body, minimum qualification, independent review/audits etc, whereas for stalking which is ultimately 'a game of chance' in which you are trying to stack the deck, we have to rely on luck in finding good people to buy services from.
I do not expect to get 'freebies' from professionals, but I do expect a professional service.
If I am buying from a 'recreational' stalker, then that fine if I know the reality before I sign-up.
Word of mouth is probably the best source, but as you start out you don't have the trusted network to help you.
Lack of trust/Fear is something that is common - fear that I'm going to be'ripped off' from both sides, will the 'guide' try to take advantage? will the 'guest' try to take my land?
Unfortunately I see no easy answers to this as it appears that too many people see an opportunity to take advantage of the demand from people wanting to stalk but with no ground of their own.
I am happy to pay, but payment demands a fair and reasonable service from the provider.
Tet!