Doing a guided hunt this fall. Wondering what your thoughts are on tipping the guide if he is the owner of the outfitting business. Normally you do not tip the owner of a charter boat but definitely the mate. I'm sure I will tip him, but had me thinking.....
Advanced tipping question
- Thread starter delrmef
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JimP
Administrator
Touchy subject. Years ago I read in a hunting magazine that if the guide is the owner of the outfit then no tip was necessary. However my way of thinking is that if they do a great job for you why not tip them? The tip isn't considered part of their wage but a show of appreciation for their efforts while they have you out with them.
But you also have to realize that most outfitters will have a number of guides working for them and the actual chance to get the owner as a guide may be slim unless you especially request him and he wants to do it.
But you also have to realize that most outfitters will have a number of guides working for them and the actual chance to get the owner as a guide may be slim unless you especially request him and he wants to do it.
a tip is a gratuity, not a mandatory thing!
if you are not grateful ,do not tip!
this applies to everything from waiters/waitresses restaurants, hotel bel boys, bar maids/tenders, to hunting guides .
I once had a waitress follow me out the door , mad because I left her a penny tip. I told her she wasn't even worth the penny . I just left it so she would know I didn't forget.
this whole Idea of tipping being mandatory is as ridiculous as trophies for participating. if you are not satisfied , DO NOT TIP!
if you are satisfied, tip. if you are immensely satisfied ,tip well! it ain't rocket science.
here's a tip...….. don't take any wooden nickels.
if you are not grateful ,do not tip!
this applies to everything from waiters/waitresses restaurants, hotel bel boys, bar maids/tenders, to hunting guides .
I once had a waitress follow me out the door , mad because I left her a penny tip. I told her she wasn't even worth the penny . I just left it so she would know I didn't forget.
this whole Idea of tipping being mandatory is as ridiculous as trophies for participating. if you are not satisfied , DO NOT TIP!
if you are satisfied, tip. if you are immensely satisfied ,tip well! it ain't rocket science.
here's a tip...….. don't take any wooden nickels.
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
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$5000 for a mule deer hunt in Wyoming
$3000 Antelope hunt in Wyoming
$3000/Hunter for drop camp in Colorado
And they want a tip too? lol
$3000 Antelope hunt in Wyoming
$3000/Hunter for drop camp in Colorado
And they want a tip too? lol
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Just came back from an Alaskan trip in which my wife and I did 3 fishing trips with the same boat skipper. He went out of his way helping my wife. (My wife has had 2 knee & 2 hip replacements) as she sometimes has problems with balance and certain types of movements. He even loaned my wife some rain gear which was his wife's, he though she would be more comfortable in. He along with the deckhand got generous tips.
Sometimes you have to go against what you normally would do if the circumstances warrant it.
Sometimes you have to go against what you normally would do if the circumstances warrant it.
Winchester
Veteran member
I've been on a couple of guided hunts (so I definitely don't have very much experience with guides) but both times the guide went well out of his way to make my hunt successful and enjoyable. I gave a generous tip each time. It seemed like the right thing to do.
Hilltop
Veteran member
I have experienced this from all angles as I owned my own outfitting business for several years. I also guided for several other outfitters through the rocky mountains in my early 20s and I have paid for a couple of hunts. I wouldn't let titles change how you view service. If your guided does a great job, a tip would be very much appreciated. Keep in mind, depending on what expenses are incurred on a given year, owners sometimes actually earn less than top guides. I do believe tips should only be given for good service though in any industry. If someone isn't good at their job, why encourage them to remain in the industry.
Yell Co AR Hunter
Very Active Member
Tips in general upset me. A restaurant I go to often has a card swiper when you pay out. The tip options are 20%, 25%, 30% unless you slide it backwards. It makes a rather loud buzz if you do slide it to a lower tip amount. My job requires a license and I get commission pay in the 8% to 14% range. I have to pay all expense to run my business. I would think 10% of a $60.00 to $100.00 ticket for a waitress working 6 tables would be good pay.
Slugz
Veteran member
Just my 2 sense here and it relates to elk hunting in big mountains with riding/pack stock. The guides do it for the excitement and challenge of getting someone new to the woods an elk. Not for the money at all. Most, not all, go out of their way to make it enjoyable. They work crazy hard up 2 hours before any hunter and asleep an hour after the last hunter is in bed. Little extras like condiments you like, favorite meal made for you, home made desert made for you.....etc etc. Now fold in how hard it is to get someone into killing range of an elk and getting the meat out. High mountain guides have my utmost respect. Most I have met were god fearing great men and leaders i would hold on par with some of my military brothers. As KD said if you are grateful, then pay the man or woman.
I've been on a few guided hunts and a lot of chartered fishing tips. Not afraid to tip for good service.
When I was a youth, we were on a head boat fishing for cod off MASS. Dad got the biggest cod and had me bring it in for the pool money. Then he made me split the pool money between the mates and myself. Was about $100 each way. Pissed me off to give one of the guys the tip cause he had been a jerk to me earlier in the day. If that happened today, that dude would not see a penny of a tip.
Another trip was a deer hunting trip and the guides were lying to us - 2 folks didn't get their stories straight and they contradicted considerably. This was the trip where I realized that guides and outfitters are not necessarily out to help you get a trophy. I've seen it several times since - in my own and others' experiences.
Tip the extra work, service, and attitude. Divy it up 3 ways if you want. The guide does the work you wouldn't want to do (fire wood, lugging stuff, set up camp, etc.), tries how hard to put you on game?, and does it with a smile on his face.
I'd rather not go on a hunt than deal with a guide having an attitude problem. Same goes for me - I'm there to enjoy the experience, do as I'm told, and smile - all without having an attitude issue.
When I was a youth, we were on a head boat fishing for cod off MASS. Dad got the biggest cod and had me bring it in for the pool money. Then he made me split the pool money between the mates and myself. Was about $100 each way. Pissed me off to give one of the guys the tip cause he had been a jerk to me earlier in the day. If that happened today, that dude would not see a penny of a tip.
Another trip was a deer hunting trip and the guides were lying to us - 2 folks didn't get their stories straight and they contradicted considerably. This was the trip where I realized that guides and outfitters are not necessarily out to help you get a trophy. I've seen it several times since - in my own and others' experiences.
Tip the extra work, service, and attitude. Divy it up 3 ways if you want. The guide does the work you wouldn't want to do (fire wood, lugging stuff, set up camp, etc.), tries how hard to put you on game?, and does it with a smile on his face.
I'd rather not go on a hunt than deal with a guide having an attitude problem. Same goes for me - I'm there to enjoy the experience, do as I'm told, and smile - all without having an attitude issue.
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
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For whats its worth our group gave the deck hand $300 between 6 of us for the deep seas fishing trip we went on last weekend ($50/Each)
Also for what its worth I dont make 300$ in a single day. Let alone $300 CASH...
Does he make that god money on every trip? Does he make that money year round? I dont know. But I do know hes the one who picked that industry to work in.
Hell maybe I am the one who is screwing up and should be working for cash money applying for Obamacare because I dont have hardly any claimable income.
Also for what its worth I dont make 300$ in a single day. Let alone $300 CASH...
Does he make that god money on every trip? Does he make that money year round? I dont know. But I do know hes the one who picked that industry to work in.
Hell maybe I am the one who is screwing up and should be working for cash money applying for Obamacare because I dont have hardly any claimable income.
I have been fortunate enough to hunt in Africa on several occasions, out west and in Canada. Tipping is always a question when hunting with friends. For a reference on hunts I have always used 10% of the day fee's or fee charged by the outfitter (not license, travel etc) as a baseline and adjust accordingly. If guide goes way above and beyond I don't mind tipping more or if service is less that satisfactory tip less.
JimP
Administrator
On a African hunting forum that I am on there is a 23 page thread going on about tipping.
The interesting thing is that you have the European way of tipping =00% and then the American way of tipping 15-30%
The interesting thing is that you have the European way of tipping =00% and then the American way of tipping 15-30%
ColoradoV
Very Active Member
- Oct 4, 2011
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Here is my 2cents and I have guided hunting, fly fishing, backpacking, snowmobile, ski, rafting, kayak, and pry a few I forgot. Worked for others for 11 years (9 as a fly fish guide) then was a owner for 15 years. Many times the guides put in huge hours and kinda count on tips. 10% the price of the trip is the norm.
As far as if the owner is taking you out I would get a owner's tip (bottle of reasonable bourbon/scotch/vodka, book about history of the area, few real good steaks delivered sometime after you leave, gift cert to the steak house in town so he can take the wife out) or the like. If he is the owner take a look at something they could use (gloves, hat, beanie, or the like) and send them one. They will appreciate it and take it as gospel that guides will flat out (right or wrong) remember you BY the way you tip. Honestly its actually all we talk about when customers leave.. Many many or every single time if you every plan to come back I would tip like you will return and your next trip will reflect your previous expenditure. When I was guiding fly fishing trips flat out if a return group did not tip me the first time I was always busy or had another group the next time they showed up. Just works that way.
Now if you find out what type of single malt or some good steaks the owner likes and have it sent around the holiday with a nice note and pic (not of the animal you killed or fish you caught) but something from the trip that stood out otherwise. Well the next time you sign up for a trip you will get the "friend" treatment well beyond 80 bucks for some whiskey...
I hear that folks get frustrated at tipping i understand that but also guides get real tired of holding hands and dealing with unreal expectations of lazy or hard to deal with clients. Believe me return guests who tip well (again right or wrong) get the best guides and the best trips period.
As far as if the owner is taking you out I would get a owner's tip (bottle of reasonable bourbon/scotch/vodka, book about history of the area, few real good steaks delivered sometime after you leave, gift cert to the steak house in town so he can take the wife out) or the like. If he is the owner take a look at something they could use (gloves, hat, beanie, or the like) and send them one. They will appreciate it and take it as gospel that guides will flat out (right or wrong) remember you BY the way you tip. Honestly its actually all we talk about when customers leave.. Many many or every single time if you every plan to come back I would tip like you will return and your next trip will reflect your previous expenditure. When I was guiding fly fishing trips flat out if a return group did not tip me the first time I was always busy or had another group the next time they showed up. Just works that way.
Now if you find out what type of single malt or some good steaks the owner likes and have it sent around the holiday with a nice note and pic (not of the animal you killed or fish you caught) but something from the trip that stood out otherwise. Well the next time you sign up for a trip you will get the "friend" treatment well beyond 80 bucks for some whiskey...
I hear that folks get frustrated at tipping i understand that but also guides get real tired of holding hands and dealing with unreal expectations of lazy or hard to deal with clients. Believe me return guests who tip well (again right or wrong) get the best guides and the best trips period.
Winchester
Veteran member
Yell Co AR Hunter
Very Active Member
I may get hammered for this but it is how I feel. ColoradoV I find it very offensive that a owner would give preference to someone that buys a extra gift over a repeat client. The dang owner sets the price he charges. If he likes $80.00 whiskey allow for that life style in his pricing. A gift is for the land owner that lets you hunt on their place for free or a small charge. I am not saying I will not tip a hard working guide fare, but I dang sure an't tipping the owner. If I find out the owner is giving special treatment to another client due to some kinda of extra payment that is the last time that owner will see any of my money.
I've only gone guided twice. Once I shot a 200" muley on a ranch where they had never killed one over 172" before. It was extremely lucky on an inexpensive hunt, not a hunt where that was a reasonable expectation. I tipped the guide and owner as well as I could at the time. It was a pretty generous tip for the hunt, but I felt like I should do more taking such an exceptional animal. They asked me if I'd be willing to have a replica made for their lodge if they paid for it, and I told them I'd take care of it and the expense. Passing through the area the following year on my way to hunt elk I dropped off a replica set of antlers for their lodge. One of their moms did taxidermy so I dropped off the replica unpainted for her to mount like they wanted it done. That was what they wanted to have me do at their expense originally. I figure that's a once in a lifetime buck for me and the taxidermist having the mold is an insurance policy too. If my house burns down or my mount gets stolen he still has the mold of my buck.
The other hunt I went guided on was my moose hunt. Not truly guided I guess but I went through a transporter. I tipped the pilots for taking our meat out and the owner's wife for the meals she prepared and her work helping us at the lodge. What she shared with him was her choice, I just tipped her well and left it at that. I did a little quick math and my tips totaled about 18% of the hunt. Lots of people at their outfit were involved and I gave out at least $100 to each of them. I booked my hunt in 2015 with the old owner and the new owners are charging around $3k more for the hunt. They did honor the price we booked at which was great of them. I don't blame them a bit for raising their rate, they can't keep up with demand at the new price, but going today tips would be a smaller percentage. I don't know if my finances will ever allow that trip again, I'm darn glad I went when I did.
I'm no expert on guided hunts or tips, just sharing what I did. I don't know if it was right or not.
The other hunt I went guided on was my moose hunt. Not truly guided I guess but I went through a transporter. I tipped the pilots for taking our meat out and the owner's wife for the meals she prepared and her work helping us at the lodge. What she shared with him was her choice, I just tipped her well and left it at that. I did a little quick math and my tips totaled about 18% of the hunt. Lots of people at their outfit were involved and I gave out at least $100 to each of them. I booked my hunt in 2015 with the old owner and the new owners are charging around $3k more for the hunt. They did honor the price we booked at which was great of them. I don't blame them a bit for raising their rate, they can't keep up with demand at the new price, but going today tips would be a smaller percentage. I don't know if my finances will ever allow that trip again, I'm darn glad I went when I did.
I'm no expert on guided hunts or tips, just sharing what I did. I don't know if it was right or not.
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Its all up to you and no pressure to do it. However, I feel obliged when a guide or captain or owner goes beyond the deal to make it happen or if they exceed my expectations. I have seen captains pick up and run 20 miles away from home port with an hour left in a trip. They added time and considerable expense to their day with only the hope to catch not the guarantee they should be rewarded that should not be expected.