Supplied Drop Camp Tipping Etiquette?

[35WhelenAI]

90 mile pack out is a heck of a long ways! I appreciate what you're saying, wasn't trying to come across like I did. The distances you just shared I must have missed in the earlier post. I'd be doing the same thing as you all are for that hunt.

 

[manitou1]

There’s alot more to it than that. Most outfitters have resupply, many also give you coordinates of the area, I provide feeding areas, wallows, bedding areas, historical harvest locations, pack out from a horse accessible spot, hauling to processor or taxidermist, cool storage. Camos gave wood stoves, propane camp chef cook stoves, disposables (paper towels, plates, tp, propane) cots, pads, chairs, cooking supplies, latrine, split wood. Ya there’s no guide on camp but bet those packers know about where the elk are or should be. Your success is based on you, I’ve had guys send me coordinates on elk and I’ve gave them their best possible option to access them. Drop camps are typically DIY with outfitters support.

If we figured 20% for 4 hunters based on a $2000 hunt that’s $1600, 2 packers in, 2 packers out, 1 packer for resupply. The way I figure those tips is by how many times each person went to camp so $320/trip, if one guy goes in, resupply and out, he would get $960, the other guy would get $640. That is a hell of a tip, most guys are going to tip around 10% and if they harvest that guy might tip more. Like I said before there isn’t an industry standard like there is for waitstaff, 10% still gives those guys a heck of a bonus, which is what a tip is a bonus.

I don’t know about other outfitters but typically a client or group of clients isn’t an hour conversation and ur done. And yes that’s on the owner typically, but in average 10-12 hours a season on the phone with drop camp clients.


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Thanks for the clarification.
I obviously never did a drop camp hunt, but it niw intrigues me.
Appreciated.

 

[EastHumboldt]

My wife has spent many years working jobs where tipping is an important part of her income. I’ve worked nights as a musician in restaurants and bars… same deal. In both cases the amount of money paid by the hour is poor compensation, and decent tips push it into the realm of ok compensation. So I try to be good tipper even if I will never see that person again, unless they do something to deserve getting stiffed.

I have done a drop camp almost every year for the last 7-8 years. We provide all our own gear and food. We go pretty light so usually only one wrangler. We tip the wrangler $100-150 on arrrival at camp, and same on the journey out. Same for an animal retrieval. Maybe a little more if we’re all excited about getting a bull. Many outfitters and their staff put in time working on trails, and that will become more prevalent with federal staffing cuts. They also do a ton of other things that affect your trip when you aren’t around.

 

[OkiechasingElk]

Doing my first Horseback Drop Camp hunt 1st of week of Archery Season in Idaho. This will be my 5th Elk Hunting trip out west in 4 years. I've done it in a off-grid cabin, truck camped w/ all the amenities & SxS, and I've packed in for a few nights. They all provide their own experiences and advantages/disadvantages.

Very excited for the drop camp experience. Not just the horseback experience and getting further back (outfitter permitted hunting area) but also talking to everyone I meet while there from the Outfitter, to the wranglers, to the packers trying to get as much knowledge as I can on the way in. That knowledge is part of the experience.

I'm a tipper. Not for transaction at the Convenience Store. But I'll tip 30-50% for great service and 10% for poor service at a restaurant and in cash when I can. So I'll certainly tip along the way. Not worried about percentages. If I've got a guy dedicated to getting my gear in and setting me up in camp. I'll take care of him. If he goes out of his way to share knowledge of the area with me, it'll be even better. If it's a group effort, I'll ask the outfitter to divvy it up. If I harvest an Elk, I'll certainly take care of the packer helping me get it off the mountain. If he dives down in to some hell hole to help me get the meat up to the horse. He gets a lions share. The more effort the more I'll tip.

So it's subjective, I'll be prepared to tip high for anyone who goes way above and beyond. Or I'll tip them just enough if I'm just part of the process to them. I paid roughly $3k for the Outfitter/drop camp portion plus tag. I'll likely bring upwards of $1k available for tips for when/if they are needed.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

At $3700/hunter there is no way they are getting tips. I am usually a pretty generous tipper when I go out to eat, but at that price they are making a killing. I own horses and pack my own camp in for elk hunts, so I know the effort it takes to do this. Taking two guys plus some gear on a horseback ride doesn’t deserve a tip. They aren’t guiding, they aren’t scouting, it is a back country cab service.

 

[Ramem7mm]

Couple weeks ago I was in San Diego for a baseball tournament and everywhere we went to eat or buy something the card readers automatically had the "Add XX% tip to the total", and most of the time it was just regular customer service not like they did anything special. I couldn't believe it and most of the time I clicked custom and changed to zero %.

However tipping is definitely warranted for good service and if you have a good experience with the wrangler's packing you in then I would definitely tip them I did a hunt just like that last year and we tipped our guys.