The buddy thing is not going to happen. It is limited to relatives, and cousin is not one of them. You must be accompanied by a licenced guide. Your "Buddy" may be licenced as an assistant guide, but there is paperwork, and with him working under the licenced guide, it would still cost you money. Licenced guides are not overly likely to give up one of their tags without getting their fees.
When I proposed taking my brother on a hunt with me, he would still have to pay non-resident licence fees, the tags are in the same category, and he could not shoot an animal on my LEH. He would have been limited to Black Bear, Deer, and birds.
We never put the paperwork together. Considerable time is required . . . much like the gunsmith . . . you want it when? Ha Ha Ha