To me it would depend on the individual circumstances. A guy who put in his effort on a hunt deserves some credit where credit is due. Guided hunts provide better chances granted, however the drive to keep after it comes into play, hunting is hunting. A guy who puts in sun up to sundown days on end, even under the guidance of a guide or outfitter did put in some dues.

Lets take another animal just for kicks. I have taken several folks elk hunting, even though I knew where the elk would be, these hunters gave every last bit of energy they had just to get into camp, let alone get up before daylight every day and walk 5-10 miles before noon. We took a pope and young bull a few years back on a hunt, did that guy deserve respect, heck yes he did. He paid his dues and deserves every bit of respect.

I would take my hat off to a guy who takes on the extreme and goes down the path less traveled even if he used a guide, as long as he puts in his dues. Not all guided hunts are easy. Some DIY are easy.

Lets take two DIY hunters, one takes a pope and young buck on public land, and the other takes his on private ground that has been managed for big heads. Lets take a guided hunt where many miles have to be covered in harsh weather on public ground, and lets compare that to a guided hunt on private ground where a guy steps out of a heated cabin and shoots his animal on the edge of a private field. I would go with the harder hunts in either case, be it guided or unguided.

I don't believe that an outfitter coming into play has anything to do with respect, it all boils down to the hunt and the type of circumstances as they unfolded. Each hunt deserves its own respect.

I have some friends that guide in AZ and into Mexico, and know that the hunts are real tough on both the guide and the hunter. Would that hunter that crawled with his guide through rattlers and cactus in the heat of the Mexico desert for whole week to stalk a Cous or Mui Grande , deserve less respect than the guy that hangs a tree on the back of his clover lot to kill the buck that he has patterned to a 30 minute window. In my book, he would deserve more.