Tipping

[Newbie Sheep Hunter]

I was listening to the Exo podcast today and they were discussing industry standards for tipping on guided hunts. They all generally agreed 10% was the standard (the guest is a guide/outfitter) but for more expensive hunts it can be less than that. The guest mentioned he is doing a guided Alaska brown bear hunt this year and that he won’t be tipping 10% for that hunt.

Sheep hunts are obviously “higher end” hunts, so I’m curious what people feel is an appropriate tip for sheep hunts - let’s assume the guide works hard, the hunt is a great experience, etc. - and what have people who have been on these hunts tipped.

I have my first sheep hunt booked in the Yukon and want to make sure I tip appropriately on the hunt.

Thanks!

 

[ReddingArcher]

I tipped right at 10% for my guide, I gave the wrangler who was going to be guiding some caribou hunters this year, my tricer tripod and sent him $1000 also. It’s how these guys make their living. I guess I can see how a more expensive hunt someone could tip less than 10% but I personally felt it was worth it.

 

[FAAFO]

I’d be interested to hear more responses. As a guide the last thing I want is gear, rifle or custom knives.

Since a lot of the clients become long time friends when they ask me down the road how the gun or knife is working out I’m completely honest that it was sold the min I got back to town. The next hunt they always bring cash!

 

[CHL]

Yeah, cash is king IMO for the guides, wranglers, etc. A lot of ‘em I’ve become good buddies with say typically, they’d rather not have the gear, binos, knives, etc., and instead prefer cash for sure. With that being said, my most expensive hunts have been Brown Bear and 4 sheep hunts, and I’ve always done a flat 10%.

 

[FAAFO]

Yeah, cash is king IMO for the guides, wranglers, etc. A lot of ‘em I’ve become good buddies with say typically, they’d rather not have the gear, binos, knives, etc., and instead prefer cash for sure. With that being said, my most expensive hunts have been Brown Bear and 4 sheep hunts, and I’ve always done a flat 10%.

Is that a flat 10% to be split between the guide and packer?

 

[CHL]

Yep. Never have had a packer though. Just 1 guide for every trip. However, on my Desert Sheep hunt, there was a guide, and then a few more guys that helped out. I spoke with the outfitter as a “one-off”, and we went down the list of the guys, and he actually said 10% might have been high. Based on my experience in the hunt, and his experience with all of his team, I split it all up based on who did what. But it was still a total of 10% overall.

 

[FAAFO]

I’ve never went into a hunt with a set % for a guide tip. Didn’t know people did that but it makes sense.

This thread has made me feel good about the size of tips I’ve received. Can honestly say I’ve never received 10%, always more. Try to go the extra effort though. The hunt they booked isn’t my dream, but it’s theirs so I want to make sure they have a good time.

*edit* just listened to the podcast. Disagree with a lot of what that guy says regarding tipping. I don’t know who he is but I feel like just because he can barely afford the brown bear hunt doesn’t mean he should short change his guide IF it turns out to be an amazing hunt. Just my biased opinion.

 

[huntingislife]

I recently tipped 15% on a hunt I did. I would have not done over 10 percent but he deserved the extra. I wasn't sure about tipping on it but he definitely earned it. If i was paying 50k for a grizzly or sheep hunt I don't think I would be tipping 10 percent. but then again if I had that money I don't think the extra few 1000 would make a difference?

 

[Del Gue]

Last time I hunted with an outfitter I had a different guide each day. That is how the outfitter likes to do things. I kind of liked it. I hunted with 5 different guides. They were all good guys, and they all worked hard to get me on some elk. I ended up killing my bull on the 5th day after passing up lots of smaller bulls. It was a great hunt and a good time at camp.
I was uncertain on how to tip in that situation. I ended up giving the outfitter about an 18% tip for him to divvy up with the guides and cooks.
In a normal situation I would have given my guide 10% and gave the cook a couple of hundred bucks.

 

[adamkolesar]

A great topic best discussed long before you're at the end of the hunt saying your farewells.
I agree with most that tipping needs to be an integral part of the hunt budget. The guide doesn't set the price and their daily pay from the outfitter is likely just base pay.
On a goat hunt a few years back, I had a guide and a packer to budget for. The guide got a bit over 10% and the packer just over 5%.
Cash is king, but ask the outfitter if his people do Zelle or Venmo. Sometimes that's preferred.

 

[alaska_bou]

I shake my head when I see more and more outfitters imposing higher tip suggestions on their clients, with some claiming 15-20% of the total hunt price is "normal." What you heard on the podcast is spot-on, imo. I generally think a 10% tip is good on any hunt, anywhere in the world. That said, I have tipped higher in many circumstances (especially when 10 or more people are involved in my hunt), and I have tipped less as a percentage on very expensive hunts. I work in the industry and I generally get quite a bit of outfitter feedback regarding what clients tip, and on a $40,000 sheep hunt, for example, most guys are tipping about $2,500 to the guide.

 

[FAAFO]

I’ve never seen an outfitter claim 15% tipping is normal. Almost every website says 10%.

It’s kinda like building code, the code is the standard we are all held to, but it is the minimum. That’s kinda what the 10% is in the guiding world.

I always hate the part of the hunt where the client gives the tip. It’s just awkward. So many of the hunts end up feeling like you just finished a hunt with a friend. And now he gives you money? Weird. But I know one thing; I’ve always got over 10% and it doesn’t matter if it’s an expensive hunt or not.

Your guide may not be worth the minimum of 10%. But he may be worth a lot more. Plan accordingly.

 

[idig4au]

Depends on the hunt, circumstances and overall experience. Will typically tip anywhere from 10% to 20%. North American hunts are obviously more as compared to some of the international hunts.

 

[Chase0109]

NA Hunt tipping is outside of my personal experience. I do all DIY in NA as I personally don’t see the value in going guided. Except if I ever draw an Utah bison tag, I’ll go guided on that lol.

One thing I’ve always wondered about this whole hunt price % of tip on North American hunts and why not tip a certain dollar amount per day per person instead?

I’ve done a couple DG hunts in Africa with a couple more booked. I generally plan $200-250 per day for the PH and a breakdown too long to list for each of the other team members. Ranging from trackers to game Scouts to cooks and camp staff.

Depending on hunt cost my total tip has ranged from 16% to 30% of the total Hunt price. That excludes travel or additional expenses that weren’t paid directly to the outfitter.

Wouldn’t it just be easier to figure a set day rate for the Guide, Wrangler, Cook, packer, etc.?
$100-200 per day guide
$25–30 per day cook
$25–30 per day wrangler
$50-100 per day packer

I get tipping more for more difficult hunts. But should you really plan to tip a stone sheep guide $10,000 versus doll sheep guide $4000 vs an elk guide $1000-1500 (based on rough 10% hunt cost).

The whole flat rate percent just seems weird. But what do I know

Chase

 

[FAAFO]

NA Hunt tipping is outside of my personal experience. I do all DIY in NA as I personally don’t see the value in going guided. Except if I ever draw an Utah bison tag, I’ll go guided on that lol.

One thing I’ve always wondered about this whole hunt price % of tip on North American hunts and why not tip a certain dollar amount per day per person instead?

I’ve done a couple DG hunts in Africa with a couple more booked. I generally plan $200-250 per day for the PH and a breakdown too long to list for each of the other team members. Ranging from trackers to game Scouts to cooks and camp staff.

Depending on hunt cost my total tip has ranged from 16% to 30% of the total Hunt price. That excludes travel or additional expenses that weren’t paid directly to the outfitter.

Wouldn’t it just be easier to figure a set day rate for the Guide, Wrangler, Cook, packer, etc.?
$100-200 per day guide
$25–30 per day cook
$25–30 per day wrangler
$50-100 per day packer

I get tipping more for more difficult hunts. But should you really plan to tip a stone sheep guide $10,000 versus doll sheep guide $4000 vs an elk guide $1000-1500 (based on rough 10% hunt cost).

The whole flat rate percent just seems weird. But what do I know

Chase

Valid points. In most tipping situations it’s based off cost of service. You go drop 100k on a fancy dinner wouldn’t a 10% tip seem low unless service sucked? There’s a reason why a lot of restaurants put a gratuity on parties of X number of people.

I wish tipping would go away and the cost would just be factored into the price of hunt, meal etc.

 

[cuerro viejo]

NA Hunt tipping is outside of my personal experience. I do all DIY in NA as I personally don’t see the value in going guided. Except if I ever draw an Utah bison tag, I’ll go guided on that lol.

One thing I’ve always wondered about this whole hunt price % of tip on North American hunts and why not tip a certain dollar amount per day per person instead?

I’ve done a couple DG hunts in Africa with a couple more booked. I generally plan $200-250 per day for the PH and a breakdown too long to list for each of the other team members. Ranging from trackers to game Scouts to cooks and camp staff.

Depending on hunt cost my total tip has ranged from 16% to 30% of the total Hunt price. That excludes travel or additional expenses that weren’t paid directly to the outfitter.

Wouldn’t it just be easier to figure a set day rate for the Guide, Wrangler, Cook, packer, etc.?
$100-200 per day guide
$25–30 per day cook
$25–30 per day wrangler
$50-100 per day packer

I get tipping more for more difficult hunts. But should you really plan to tip a stone sheep guide $10,000 versus doll sheep guide $4000 vs an elk guide $1000-1500 (based on rough 10% hunt cost).

The whole flat rate percent just seems weird. But what do I know

Chase

I don’t tip by day because the guide earned a lot of his tip scouting before I came. With a good guide that will be obvious

I’m 10-20% across the board, if I find an outfitter I really want to hunt again with and want priority it’s 20% between guide and camp. Guide getting largest chunk

 

[cuerro viejo]

Valid points. In most tipping situations it’s based off cost of service. You go drop 100k on a fancy dinner wouldn’t a 10% tip seem low unless service sucked? There’s a reason why a lot of restaurants put a gratuity on parties of X number of people.

I wish tipping would go away and the cost would just be factored into the price of hunt, meal etc.

Not a direct comparison, waiter day pay is not close to guide day pay. … significant difference

But people need to realize the most expensive hunts are also the lowest volume, take care of your guide if he took care of you , if you don’t kill out, he will be your biggest advocate for extra time or a discount or top of the list to return

 

[FAAFO]

Not a direct comparison, waiter day pay is not close to guide day pay. … significant difference

But people need to realize the most expensive hunts are also the lowest volume, take care of your guide if he took care of you , if you don’t kill out, he will be your biggest advocate for extra time or a discount or top of the list to return

I was comparing tipping in the service industry. But I think the pay is comparable between a waiter and guide. A waiter works 8 hours? A guide is with you 24/7. Waiter doesn’t have to cook the meal just serve you. Most hunts don’t have a cook, it’s your guide. Pretty sure a waiter makes more per hour vs effort.

Very few clients know how much their guide actually gets paid. And it varies wildly in every area. There is no “norm”.

 

[cuerro viejo]

I was comparing tipping in the service industry. But I think the pay is comparable between a waiter and guide. A waiter works 8 hours? A guide is with you 24/7. Waiter doesn’t have to cook the meal just serve you. Most hunts don’t have a cook, it’s your guide. Pretty sure a waiter makes more per hour vs effort.

Very few clients know how much their guide actually gets paid. And it varies wildly in every area. There is no “norm”.

Very Valid point, I break tip up amongst staff, so less staff more tip per individual

 

[IBen]

2k is a solid tip for most alaska hunt. 3k for above and beyond effort
1-1.5k for standard service.
If the Guide is booking his own hunts I think tip is less important but if he has a packer, or an assistant guide doing separate hunts tip is most likely 50% of his pay. Packer could very well only be working for tips