Tip for hunting guide

[jhunt333]

I've been on many hunts over the last 50 years and the standard for tipping your guide and the outfitters staff has always seemed to have many variables for me. In reading the latest articles on the subject it appears that the general consensus is that 15% to 20% of the hunt cost is the normal today.
I have a hard time with that having worked hard all my life i tend to tip on the amount of work and effort that was done, not a percentage of a hunt cost that you are paying the outfitter. Hunts today easily go for $6k to $20k
If your on a wilderness horseback hunt where the staff has worked very hard before you got there and then put in lots of work during your 10 day hunt, then your tip should be generous.
On a 3 day private high fence ranch hunt where the guide really is not working as hard I feel that the tip should be less.
With that in mind I feel that instead of a percentage of the hunt cost a fee per day is a better method for tipping.
On a longer 8 to 10 day hunt I tip the guide $100 to $200 per day and the cook and other staff a flat $200 or $100 for the hunt.
On the 3 day ranch hunt, I tip the guide $500 to $800 for the hunt depending on the work done and the cook and other staff the same $200 and $100.
Does this seem fair or am I not tipping enough.
Thanks for your input.

 

[wyosteve]

If you do a search, there have been a number of threads on this topic. No consensus is my take on it.

 

[jolemons]

Percent of hunt is reasonable in my opinion, rather than per day. Keep in mind that many guides and day jobs that they could be working rather than guiding. They choose to guide because they love the hunt, but also because of the income. They supply their own gear and usually cover their travel to get to the hunting destination, along with many other incidental expenses. I've never been tipped less than 10% and I've never tipped less than 10%.

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[cuerro viejo]

If you really want to come back, get first shot at cancellations etc, then get to as close to 20% that you can across the camp spectrum(guides, cooks, porters, etc), if you have been a donkey of a client wether it’s due to , physical fitness, shooting ability or attitude… tip 25%+

Everyone’s money is green, but the best outfits absolutely have a list of clients they prefer to book and won’t book. Great tips all the away around tend to help some over look your short comings

 

[jolemons]

Tipping Points: A Guide to Gratuities for Big Game Hunters

The Economics of Guiding: Why Tips MatterBy Steve Wagner “How much should I tip my guide?” is the most universally asked question among hunters booking an outfitted big game hunt.So says Greg Ray, founder of Outdoor Solutions, an Oklahoma-based booking agent for outfitters across the U.S. and...

www.boone-crockett.org

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[Laelkhunter]

Whatever tip you decide, I think it is most important to do it in cash. Place it directly in the hand of the person you want to tip. Don't leave it with the guide and tell him it's for the cook or vice versa. Most guides work very hard and put a tremendous amount of effort in giving you an awesome experience. His bills, Wife, kids etc do much better when the guide receives cash. Sure, they really show their appreciation when you give him a special knife or a pair of binoculars, but he can't pay the bills with those. He will certainly show extreme gratitude in your generosity when you give him other than cash but will probably head back to the bunkhouse and put your gifted knife or binos in the locker with all the other gifts he got from previous clients.
If the guide doesn't give 100% effort, then let the outfitter know and tip the guide accordingly. The guide, the outfitter, the cook, and camp help should get a tip also. This can add up, but it's nice to show your appreciation if you can afford it.

 

[Mark H. Young]

Guys,

I'm in agreement with J. A tip should reflect how hard the guide worked. The percentage of the hunt cost determining the tip amount is ridiculous. I book clients on a lot of African hunts. Beleive me the guide/PH doing a 10 day $30,000 cape buffalo hunt is going to put in every bit as much effort per day as the PH doing a 10 day elepahnt at $60,000. There's no reason the PH do int elephant hunt should get twice the tip.

I get asked about tips a lot and I'll throw out a number but always with the understanding that a tip is a gift not a requirement.

Mark

 

[Jswell]

I'm not a hunting guide, but am a full time mountain guide. Throughout the year, I guide a lot of 1-3 day trips and 3-4 trips lasting 7-12 days with price tags of $6-10,000. Some of these I'm doing all the camp things including cooking and melting water on glaciers in addiotn to the climbing. Other trips we may be hut based with food provided or dining out depending. On the more expensive trips 10-15% is average with a few tipping up to 30% and 20-30% on the 1-3 day trips. I know how hard I've had to work on a given trip and if it's a less successful trip with a lot of tent time, I'm not upset with a lower tip. If it's been a hard trip and I've worked hard most people recognize that and tip better. I think how hard a guide works and what they put in is worth considering vs a standard number or percent.

 

[bipock]

I went on my first guided elk hunt last year. Days 1-4, I had guide A. Day 5, I had guide B. Both worked hard, but IMO, guide B worked all day to put me on an elk and understood elk hunting. When it came time for tip, the 10% was split between the 2, each getting same amount.