Free: Contests & Raffles.
I have been on all sides of it. Outfitter/guide/client the value of the hunt also comes into play in my mind. It’s so random with a lot of people. I try to think around 10% on most big game stuff is pretty solid for a good trip. Lesser trips like say a hog hunt or management hunt etc. A solid trip will see 20% or better.I’ve got from 0 dollars to 100% value of the hunt. It’s a crazy swing. You get people that say for example will never leave a tip at a restaurant. Those type don’t do well tipping regardless and think it’s part of what they already paid for. Then you get the guys who work hard for the money tend to be solid tippers in any area. Then you get high rollers. They go both ways! Some of them are the cheapest you will ever have and others blow tips out of the water. I hunted with a outfit that has some huge wealthy clients. My hunt was bought through sci. The value was 5500.00 I paid 2750. The guide was a solid guy and I gave him 500.00 his reaction was like I ripped him off. It was horrible and that was the only bad part of my hunt! 500 is a lot of money to me and I work several jobs to have money to hunt without taking away from my family’s needs. I talked to the owner about this and he said they are spoiled they hunt a lot of ceo type guys and the kid had got a 10k tip that year already. That’s right 10k So just some perspectives. Another thing is small gifts are always cool and appreciated but a lot of guides don’t make much in the base and make a lot of the money from tips. So keep that in mind. I have been given knives and been happy to accept it as it’s a kind gesture. Some people don’t know the tip procedure and it’s a real rough guide line and that’s why these threads pop up every year.
Quote from: MountainWalk on March 05, 2021, 05:55:12 PMWhen I was guiding, a couple hundred was pretty common. And if it wasn't quite that much, no big deal.. After a week with these guys, you got a good sense of what they could afford. Seems like Joe Blue collar always tipped better than the guys who were more affluent. Never could nail down why. Don't forget your wrangler and cook. They work hard too. Unless the guide was a total bum, no kill shouldn't mean no tip. Please, don't give your guide your knife for a tip. It's insulting! Sorry but the attitude of a knife as a tip is insulting should not be if that’s all they have that’s all they have
When I was guiding, a couple hundred was pretty common. And if it wasn't quite that much, no big deal.. After a week with these guys, you got a good sense of what they could afford. Seems like Joe Blue collar always tipped better than the guys who were more affluent. Never could nail down why. Don't forget your wrangler and cook. They work hard too. Unless the guide was a total bum, no kill shouldn't mean no tip. Please, don't give your guide your knife for a tip. It's insulting!
Quote from: huntnfmly on March 05, 2021, 06:02:56 PMQuote from: MountainWalk on March 05, 2021, 05:55:12 PMWhen I was guiding, a couple hundred was pretty common. And if it wasn't quite that much, no big deal.. After a week with these guys, you got a good sense of what they could afford. Seems like Joe Blue collar always tipped better than the guys who were more affluent. Never could nail down why. Don't forget your wrangler and cook. They work hard too. Unless the guide was a total bum, no kill shouldn't mean no tip. Please, don't give your guide your knife for a tip. It's insulting! Sorry but the attitude of a knife as a tip is insulting should not be if that’s all they have that’s all they haveThe last thing a professional guide wants or needs would be what someone else thinks is a good knife. That’s like me taking someone fishing and they give me one of those red and white round plastic bobbers to use for fishing. G thanks now I have to throw this away or find someone else who wants it.
Quote from: dilleytech on March 07, 2021, 07:23:21 AMQuote from: huntnfmly on March 05, 2021, 06:02:56 PMQuote from: MountainWalk on March 05, 2021, 05:55:12 PMWhen I was guiding, a couple hundred was pretty common. And if it wasn't quite that much, no big deal.. After a week with these guys, you got a good sense of what they could afford. Seems like Joe Blue collar always tipped better than the guys who were more affluent. Never could nail down why. Don't forget your wrangler and cook. They work hard too. Unless the guide was a total bum, no kill shouldn't mean no tip. Please, don't give your guide your knife for a tip. It's insulting! Sorry but the attitude of a knife as a tip is insulting should not be if that’s all they have that’s all they haveThe last thing a professional guide wants or needs would be what someone else thinks is a good knife. That’s like me taking someone fishing and they give me one of those red and white round plastic bobbers to use for fishing. G thanks now I have to throw this away or find someone else who wants it. Terrible attitude for a guide to haveMaybe that red and white bobber is all they have to show their appreciation If you’re only in it for the tip get out of the guiding business and I know most guides are in it because the love doing it
If there in it for the money......they picked the wrong career!!! LOLOLOLOL Sorry, had to!! There are a lot more lucrative careers out there where they don't have to be cold, wet, hungry, sleep deprived, etc. My experience is they do it for the lifestyle....which is all the more reason to tip well, it at least allows them a few extra bucks to buy nice gear. Maybe I am wrong, and maybe a guide wants to chime in on yearly salary ranges but my guess is they are not doing for the money.
Quote from: huntnfmly on March 07, 2021, 07:43:18 AMQuote from: dilleytech on March 07, 2021, 07:23:21 AMQuote from: huntnfmly on March 05, 2021, 06:02:56 PMQuote from: MountainWalk on March 05, 2021, 05:55:12 PMWhen I was guiding, a couple hundred was pretty common. And if it wasn't quite that much, no big deal.. After a week with these guys, you got a good sense of what they could afford. Seems like Joe Blue collar always tipped better than the guys who were more affluent. Never could nail down why. Don't forget your wrangler and cook. They work hard too. Unless the guide was a total bum, no kill shouldn't mean no tip. Please, don't give your guide your knife for a tip. It's insulting! Sorry but the attitude of a knife as a tip is insulting should not be if that’s all they have that’s all they haveThe last thing a professional guide wants or needs would be what someone else thinks is a good knife. That’s like me taking someone fishing and they give me one of those red and white round plastic bobbers to use for fishing. G thanks now I have to throw this away or find someone else who wants it. Terrible attitude for a guide to haveMaybe that red and white bobber is all they have to show their appreciation If you’re only in it for the tip get out of the guiding business and I know most guides are in it because the love doing itBig game guides I have talked to all do it for the money. I have a few friends who have guided deer hunts. They got paid like 150$ a day. For guiding people who spend 7k for the hunt. Tips are huge. The guidings generally not fun and really stressful. Most people who pay for guided hunts don’t really know or understand hunting or how to shoot. At least when it comes to a Wyoming deer hunt.
I haven't been able to take a guided hunt, but when I am able to I will go prepared to tip well. I've been on a few guided fishing trips and with the good ones you learn as much in one trip as you could in a year or more on your own. For me a successful trip doesn't necessarily mean a cooler full of fish or a punched tag, although that's a great outcome to have. I think you're paying for the knowledge and preparation to put you in position for success. With big game animals that means a lot of work after success as well. If my guide is prepared, willing to put in the work and wants to help me succeed that's all I expect and will take care of them as best I can