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?

 

[noKnees]

For declaring currency at the border it doesn't matter if its USD, CDN or a mix. Its just one form. I do it every year as the balance of the hunt cost/and tip is always over the limit. I always tell them I need to declare currency ( just like I tell them I have rifles to declare). and have the form filled out in advance. I keep the cash precounted in envelopes. Typically I have an envelope for the balance of the current years hunt, and envelope for the guide/cook tip, an envelope for the deposit for future bookings and and envelope with some cash for general spending. Some of this is CDN and some USD They haven't ever counted it just peeked at it in the envelopes They haven't ever asked me if there was other money like in my wallet ( or change in my console).

I also don't think there is much of a cost to ordering CDN currency. I an a B of A customer and I can order up to $10K and have it delivered to the bank down the street for pick up. B of A doesn't charge for this that I can tell. After the hunt I can just go to the teller window and turn in my CDN currency and have the exchange amount deposited into my account. Sure its an extra thing to take care of, but its not costly or particularly difficult.


As for USD or CDN, it depends. This year I have two moose hunts one in Ontario and they deal all with CDN and one in Newfoundland and the outfitter deals in USD, but I tip the guide in CDN.


Added, My moose hunts are no where near the cost of sheep hunt. No way I would carry $50K or more around.

 

[BigGameBob]

Great info!
Thank you!

 

[Pk_in_Dallas]

All Canadian outfitters price their hunts in USD. In fact, I’ve never seen any Canadian outfitter accept Canadian dollars because there’s a huge difference in value.

I’ve been going there almost every year for the past 10 years.

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[mtnbiker208]

if you need canadian money, just go to your bank a couple of weeks ahead of time and order it. pretty simple and easy to do.

 

[B Harrison]

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.

No one in Canada that I ever met preferred the Canada dollar to the US dollar.
It was like $.27 more value with the US Dollar.

No idea what the rate is now, you may run into some political opinions, but money is what guides want.
Guide life is expensive.


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[B Harrison]

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.

I would find a new bank, our local NCState Employees Credit union ( it’s a very large credit union.) does exchange orders for free.


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