What is the going rate in regards to tipping a guide, camp cook and wrangler if the services are deserving of a tip at the end of a hunt?
Tipping a guide
- Thread starter Airborne1
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Hilltop
Veteran member
Oh boy...let the opinions fly. You will get responses back from zero to 20% depending on services received. In my opinion it is a personal decision that should be based on how hard each individual works to make your trip better. I don't base the tip off of animal harvest but that sure doesn't hurt the tip. I can tell you during all the years I have guided I have been very happy to receive anything decent.
mntnguide
Very Active Member
it definitely should be dependant on how hard the guide and entire camp work etc...i assume based on ur question you are talking about a backcountry horseback hunt? ...I averaged 16-18 hour days minimum all fall while guiding easily. .taking care of horses and clients all the same. .if you broke down my daily wage into hourly, it was pretty sad, tips are what most guides live off and they should be working hard to prove to you they are deserving. . if you go to a nice restaurant and the waiter takes good care of your party, it's pretty customary and expected to be around 20%..guides eat,sleep,and live with you for that hunt..if they have you where u need to be before daylight every day, hunt hard, and leave you thinking they couldn't have tried harder to make your hunt, then show them the same respect if you are able to. every person and financial situation is obviously different, but play it how you feel you were treated
okielite
Banned
Good advice so far. Keep in mind that knives, hats, camo, etc. dont' make car/house payments or put food on the table. Cash does.
I only guided one year when I had the opportunity. I learned a lot but would never do it again. The pay sucks, the hours are long, and some people can be a real PITA to take hunting when they expect you to be a babysitter.
I only guided one year when I had the opportunity. I learned a lot but would never do it again. The pay sucks, the hours are long, and some people can be a real PITA to take hunting when they expect you to be a babysitter.
sneakypete
Veteran member
My question is, I feel all of what my guide said is great, but if I'm in a camp and my guide should be the one getting the majority of the tip, wrangler/cook lesser amount. I guess what I'm saying is if on a $10,000 hunt do I take the 20% and give say half to the guide since he or she worked the hardest and split the remaining with the others? I'm asking this because I am going on a BC multi species hunt this fall and I need to know and reward my guide properly!
RICMIC
Veteran member
I think that 20% would be a huge tip, but not out of the question if you can afford it. On a 4.4K hunt, I allocated $500 for tips, but ended up giving all of that to the guide, $150 to the cook, and $100 to the packer/wrangler. You don't generally tip the outfitter unless he is your guide. The cook was my guides wife, and she actually made more the week we were there than he did. The number of hunters in camp affect that. Keep in mind, that your guide will often work harder on an unsuccessful hunt than one where you had a lucky first day. 15% on a 10K hunt is still a lot of moola. If I could ever connect on that 200" mule deer that keeps me awake at night, I would likely lay a good bankroll on the guide (after I kissed him and put his children in my will).
mntnguide
Very Active Member
i would just ask your guide while out hunting. . some outfits it is the guides responsibility to tip those employees out of what they receive. ..but in general most hunters want to do the tip themself just to show appreciation to each person. . in general if the cook does good.. $50-100 is pretty good per person in camp and $20-50 for a packer/wrangler...especially if they help come get any game for you and your guide
ssliger
Very Active Member
Did a guided hunt last year in Canada. The hunt itself cost around 7K. I tipped $600 to my guide and $100 to the cook.
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Doe Nob
Very Active Member
10% is kind of standard for guided hunts where they knock it out of the park. Zero is ok if they don't. I'd tip the cook $10-$20 a day if I liked his food. I'd tell the guide when giving him the money to take care of his help as he saw fit out of it. If I get an exceptional animal, I will consider more than 10%.
Some people say tip based on how hard the guide worked. Yes and no, I didnt' pay thousands of dollars and travel all that distance to not tag out. Results matter in my line of work, I think its ok to have a similar standard.
Some people say tip based on how hard the guide worked. Yes and no, I didnt' pay thousands of dollars and travel all that distance to not tag out. Results matter in my line of work, I think its ok to have a similar standard.
Hilltop
Veteran member
Doe,
I understand your line of thinking but I believe "results" are an opinion. Your paying for a service, not a dead animal. If we all were looking for an animal we could pay similar, or even cheaper in some cases, for the end result behind a high fence. As a guide I had several hunts where clients didn't harvest for reasons well out of my control. To me the hunt itself is the experience that you are paying for and harvesting is a bonus if it happens.
buckbull
Veteran member
- Jun 20, 2011
- 2,167
- 1,352
I've also heard the 10% number from several guys I have talked to that hunt primarily with guides. I also had one guy tell me he tips $100 per day for the guide, and $20 per day for the support staff like cooks and wranglers.
On the one guided trip I did I tipped the 10% of the $3500 cost of the hunt. Guided elk hunts have really went up in price since then.
On the one guided trip I did I tipped the 10% of the $3500 cost of the hunt. Guided elk hunts have really went up in price since then.
minn elk chaser
Active Member
- Jan 6, 2014
- 332
- 72
Most people have a hard time paying the price for a guided hunt. I think you have to let your decision be made only by the service you received and not worry about a percentage. When you factor in the cost of a tag and travel if sure eliminates allot of people. My first hunts were Colorado when a license was $100. and we brought all our food from home. We drove all night and shared the cost of gas between 3 people. Total cost of trip was about $200. and thought that was allot.
lostriverproductions
Active Member
I have guided for couple different outfitters. One of them wanted all the guides to put the tips they got into a pool and split evenly at end of season. He wanted a part of the tips as well. All he did was show up when the hunters arrived and collected his check. Most tips I got averaged 10-20% but the hunt prices ranged anywhere from $750-$5000. I always worked my hardest to make for a successful hunt. But sometimes weather sometimes puts a damper on things. But still worked my hardest to make for a great hunt. Made a lot of friends along the way some I still stay in contact with. Just reward the people you see fit.
ColoradoV
Very Active Member
- Oct 4, 2011
- 809
- 874
Well to be frank I can tell you that if you tip a guide any less than 10% even if you did not tag out - the guide will feel they screwed up, something went horribly wrong with the trip, or they will take you rightfully - for a dick.... If it is a hunt that involves livestock where the guides care for it - tip 15% min....
If you are the type to tip less than 10% at least be man enough to talk to the staff and let them know why.. As tipping less than 10% will make sure you are remembered very well by the staff.... If you had a great hunt even if you did not shot a monster hit that 20% mark for the guides and make sure you ask the owner if the tips are pooled as I think the pooling of tips is total BS and each guide should be rewarded for their efforts. Most places I worked if a client tipped 20% and asked the guide to take care of the cook/other help - that was reasonable..
Going on a guided experience is very expensive to say the least but the way to cut costs is not to short the guide on a tip.. Or if you are going to tip less than 10% - just let the guide know when you arrive and I am sure you will get the attention you deserve.... If you cant afford to plan on at least a 10% tip for the guide well the way I see it - you cant afford the guided hunt as the tip is as much a part of the experience as is the guide...
Another tip... Is to talk to the guides or bring it up around the campfire, dinner table or where ever. Let them know you plan on a 10% tip unless something goes horribly wrong and that you have tipped 20% in the past for a great hunt. The attention you receive will be reciprocated..
My 2 cents...
If you are the type to tip less than 10% at least be man enough to talk to the staff and let them know why.. As tipping less than 10% will make sure you are remembered very well by the staff.... If you had a great hunt even if you did not shot a monster hit that 20% mark for the guides and make sure you ask the owner if the tips are pooled as I think the pooling of tips is total BS and each guide should be rewarded for their efforts. Most places I worked if a client tipped 20% and asked the guide to take care of the cook/other help - that was reasonable..
Going on a guided experience is very expensive to say the least but the way to cut costs is not to short the guide on a tip.. Or if you are going to tip less than 10% - just let the guide know when you arrive and I am sure you will get the attention you deserve.... If you cant afford to plan on at least a 10% tip for the guide well the way I see it - you cant afford the guided hunt as the tip is as much a part of the experience as is the guide...
Another tip... Is to talk to the guides or bring it up around the campfire, dinner table or where ever. Let them know you plan on a 10% tip unless something goes horribly wrong and that you have tipped 20% in the past for a great hunt. The attention you receive will be reciprocated..
My 2 cents...
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mntnguide
Very Active Member
the best tips i usually have received have been from the hard working guys who have saved for that hunt for years and appreciate the whole experience. .the people who go on guided trips all the time usually already plan what they will give whether they harvest or not. .I've had plenty of clients not harvest and treat me very well based on the experience they had. .i agree with everything said above. .but
but if you go on a public land guided hunt and think the hunt is a let down if you don't harvest, you should go to a high fence. ..its called hunting not shopping for a reason, and there are plenty of times where it is out of a guides hands in terms of finding animals
but if you go on a public land guided hunt and think the hunt is a let down if you don't harvest, you should go to a high fence. ..its called hunting not shopping for a reason, and there are plenty of times where it is out of a guides hands in terms of finding animals
RICMIC
Veteran member
I have become good friends with the young man who guided me on several hunts. I spent some time with him this year snowmobiling and coyote hunting, during which he told me some of his "worst client" stories. He never did bring up tips, but I know that is a big part of his annual income. I would have to guess that many guides have to actually leave a paying job to guide for a couple months, and if they make up the lost income they are lucky. On my last guided elk hunt, we got shut down by early snows, and went 2 for 6. Everyone in camp had an opportunity to score and all the guides worked their asses off. We all ended up tipping the same, score or no score. The outfitter was in camp and helped guide my brother to a good 6x6, and he told me to tip his crew and not him. One more reason to keep going back.
I've guided many a hunter as well as have been guided.
A deer antelope hunt I usually get between $3-700, but the gifts are what I remember. Leica binoculars, Spotting scope, Knife.
Elk hunts that require alot more skill and work we usually get $500-$1000
Here are the worst case stories I have:
The one time I had an unsuccessful hunt with an outfitter, the guide busted his butt for us, we put over 95 miles on our boots that week. He got me on 1 elk and I flat out missed with my bow. I still tipped him $650, and a custom knife.
I once guided for a shady outfitter in an area with few elk, I hunted my butt off for the client. I still received a $600 tip with orders NOT to share with the horrible cook, or outfitter. and words of affermation - "your a 5 star guide working in a 1 star operation"
Best tip I ever received was from an old farmer in Ohio, He handed me an envelope. On it wrote, Thank you for fulfilling my lifelong dream, you gave me the hunt I drempt and saved up for since I came back from the war in 1964. Your welcome to come hunt whitetail on my property with your boy anytime free of charge. In the envelope was $100. *This tip changed the way I guided clients forever.
A deer antelope hunt I usually get between $3-700, but the gifts are what I remember. Leica binoculars, Spotting scope, Knife.
Elk hunts that require alot more skill and work we usually get $500-$1000
Here are the worst case stories I have:
The one time I had an unsuccessful hunt with an outfitter, the guide busted his butt for us, we put over 95 miles on our boots that week. He got me on 1 elk and I flat out missed with my bow. I still tipped him $650, and a custom knife.
I once guided for a shady outfitter in an area with few elk, I hunted my butt off for the client. I still received a $600 tip with orders NOT to share with the horrible cook, or outfitter. and words of affermation - "your a 5 star guide working in a 1 star operation"
Best tip I ever received was from an old farmer in Ohio, He handed me an envelope. On it wrote, Thank you for fulfilling my lifelong dream, you gave me the hunt I drempt and saved up for since I came back from the war in 1964. Your welcome to come hunt whitetail on my property with your boy anytime free of charge. In the envelope was $100. *This tip changed the way I guided clients forever.
I do a guided hunt ever year. I usually go 15% because I get the same guide most years and the guy does a good job. If you're not much of a tipper, don't hunt with the same outfitter more than once. They'll be wise to you the next time and you'll get a half azzed effort or the crappy guide.
I hunted with a guide last year. Right in his contract papers and suggestions on what to bring he asks that we tip 10% of the total cost of our trip. We provided housing and meals for the guides. I think 20% is way to much. Good tip is 10% and a great tip is 15%. I asked my guide about tips, worst was some jerky and the other was a very large amount that he wouldn't say. He said " I do it because I like to do guide, it's not about the money".