Tipping for a drop camp hunt?

[Mustang06]

This fall my crew will be doing our first "drop camp" hunt. We have done DIY hunts in the past, but we wanted to try a horse back, pack in wilderness hunt. There will be 6 of us. The outfitter is providing the drop camp and pack-in/pack-out, a well as checking camp and packing out any elk we kill. They will not be guiding us during the actual hunt.

How would you handle tipping? Should all 6 guys tip the wranglers individually? Or should we just give the wranglers 1tip as a group?

Would you give them a tip for the pack-in...then another for the pack-out? Then another for any elk packing in the middle of the hunt?

Obviously the amount will be dependent upon many variables, but how would you handle it with a large group?

Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[Hilltop]

Just my opinion here- I don't believe a tip is always called for on these kind of trips. There is a pre-determined amount of work that you are being charged for. The outfitter sets these prices accordingly to cover the costs of this service. If you feel an employee of the outfitter goes above and beyond what is required, then maybe a tip would be in order. For example if the wrangler gives you some of his personal scouting information that leads you to some good hunting, you may want to tip him at the end of the hunt.

 

[CrossCreeks]

I agree with Hilltop and also if decided on a tip it would be from me not as group. I would probably tip only once. I have been through similiar instances where my guide called in his wrangler to pack the elk out. It was part of the deal and after the hunt I did tip the guide as he was the one paying the wrangler who only came in a pack the elk out. This is my opinon might want to hear what others say !

 

[gypsumreaper]

When I was drop camping for an outfitter he had it worked out to where we would bring the guys in and he would take them out, he knew that if he took them out that's when they would tip, personally I would have ur selves a set amount you would like to tip, and break it into thirds, give one tip to the guys in, 1 tip to whoever packs out ur elk and 1 tip for taking you out (if the packers are worth it). If they aren't worth it and don't want to tLk and be as helpful as possible cut their tip


If you get meat from the store then dont criticize me for having the courage to go out and kill my own meat

 

[Doe Nob]

I think for hunting/fishing services it is customary to tip 5-10%. Drop camp hunts a cheaper than fully guided, so you'd tip the same % but it'd be less. And pay the tip directly to your guide on a fully guided trip, not the outfitter.

In that situation I'd take 10% of the cost and split it among the number of wranglers on the way out and tip them at the end of the trip. Adjust the amount down if the services don't meet your expectation. Lets say the trip is $1600, and there's 2 wranglers I'd give each on $60-$80 @ the end of the hunt.


I've never been accused of being a crummy tipper though, I tip 20% at restaurants for exceptional service.

 

[mntnguide]

Drop camps are usually a pain in the a** for outfitters. Unless it is an outfitter in colorado that specialized in mainly drop camps, they are just hard to deal with. A good outfitter should be fully booked with their own clients and thus shouldn't need to be doing drops. That being said, If your packers are good with the stock and you, help you with giving you insight on where the animals have been, etc... I would sure expect a tip if it was myself packing you in/out. I personally have never ran drop camps thankfully, but know plenty of outfitters need to do them to bring in extra cash. We aren't even allowed to do them by law, here in western WY, because of the grizzlies and the fact we are up in the wilderness. . All in all it should come down to you and your group. If you feel the guys did a good job getting you in/out and all your game out in good fashion and helped make your hunt great..you should tip accordingly.

 

[Mustang06]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

It's a $1,500 drop camp. I was thinking that if the guys do a good job, they should get $30-$50 from each of us for the trip in, and again for the trip out.

If they do a great job and go above and beyond expectations...give us some good elk location advice...the $$ would go up.

Then i figured we would throw them another bone if they get the mules/horses into difficult spots to pack our elk out

 

[Squirrel tail]

I would defiantly tip most packers don't make that much and tips help put some gas in that tank. I know I appreciated a tip when I did them but if they did a bad job of it I wouldn't feel bad withholding the tip.

 

[gypsumreaper]

Ya when I was packing I wasn't making much, my tips were what I depended on but I also tried and be as friendly as possible to the hunters to make them feel as comfortable as possible


If you get meat from the store then dont criticize me for having the courage to go out and kill my own meat

 

[tim]

ask the outfitter?