Canadian or US dollars

[BigGameBob]

Do guides and camp staff prefer to be paid tips in US $ or Canadian $?
I have been on a couple hunts in Canada and get mixed messages. Some say to tip in Canadian $ so they dont have to mess with exchanging US $. Others I guess prefer US $ thinking they are going to get more $ becuase of the exchange rate.

 

[noKnees]

I would like to hear this as well. I have done both. Of course its a little more work on my end to get the CDN cash, but is it better for the guide assuming the hunter is making allowance for the exchange rate.


The nice thing about CDN for them is that they can spend directly. If its US they can just deposit in a bank.. but I wonder if a Canadian deposits $2K Us in a bank is there reporting? do they end up paying taxes?

 

[BigGameBob]

In my experience converting money either way costs the holder a pretty steep exchange fee. This fee applies bith ways. For instance, I heard the local airport (Dulles near Washington) had the lowest fees compared to other comerical services in the area. They charged me something like 18% to convert US $ to Canadian. Plus, I took more than I needed just to make sure I could cover something unexpected. When I went to convert the Canadian $ back to US $, I got charged 18% again to convert that back to US $
Alao, with many banks, at least mine here in the US, if you give them Canadian $ they may or may not take it and if they do they dont credit your account right away.
Also, you cant use Canadian $ anywhere in the US.

I also think some Canadian outfitters game you asking for US thinking you won't consider the exchange rate. For example, you don't see any US businesses listing prices in Canadian $ but every Canadian outfitter I have seen lists their prices in US dollars, even though they sre a Canadian business operating in Canada.
You don't see other countries listing prices in US $. Why does Canada do it?
There obviously a lot to unwrap here.

 

[WCB]

I also think some Canadian outfitters game you asking for US thinking you won't consider the exchange rate. For example, you don't see any US businesses listing prices in Canadian $ but every Canadian outfitter I have seen lists their prices in US dollars, even though they sre a Canadian business operating in Canada.
You don't see other countries listing prices in US $. Why does Canada do it?
There obviously a lot to unwrap here.

Probably because the Americans are Canadian Outfitters #1 client?

 

[bozeman]

How does Venmo or PayPal handle this?

 

[BigGameBob]

Also of note is if you cross the US or Canadian border with over $10k, either way, you need to declare it and explain why you are carrying that amount of money. If you dont declare it, they feds will likely take all of it and charge you with a federal crime. And if you have an extra $50 in a back pocket, that counts too. And the exchange rate makes this hard to plan.

Say you bring $7k US to Canada. Depending on the exchange rate, coming into Canada this could put you over the $10K Canadian threshold.
A lot of hunters are asked to tip 5 to 10% of the price of the hunt. Some sheep hunts are going for $90k US. And even if not hunting sheep, go after moose and then add on other animals with trophy fees which arent cheap, it adds up. Even if you spread that amount across a guide, a packer, a wrangler, a cook and other staff, $10k doesn't go far. And out that $10k, are there other expenses may need to pay, like expediting fees, taxidermy, or other stuff? Even less to go around if it is only $7k US staying under the $10k Canadian limit. And writing them checks are hard to cash and entail the guide paying fees. This $10k threshold was set decades ago when $10k was substantially more money than it is now. And there is nothing being considered to change it.
So the situation is, the safest and best way for a hunter from the US to go to Canada is not to take more than $7k US and limit everything to that. That way you avoid steep exchange fees and dont have to fill out federal forms explaining yourself, risk losing it or getting charged with a crime. Keep at least $1k for incidentals, say expediting fees, bar tabs etc. That leaves you a bit over $5k US. You then give that to the outfitter and he can spread it out across the guide and staff as he knows what everyone does and a person behind the scenes gets a chance to be rewarded too. Often times people critical to the opwration get ignored. Either way it doesn't leave much for the guide or packer who busted their hind ends for you, but no one gets left out. And with the outfitter getting $90k, he should be the one making sure the guides are compensated well. What are the thoughts on that?