How Much Do You Tip Your Guide?

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gotthefever

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LAST EDITED ON Dec-21-08 AT 05:36PM (MST)[p]Need some help here. Over the years I have struggled at the end of a guided hunt with how much to tip the guide, not the outfitter, the guide. I am headed out on another hunt soon and thought I would get your advice so I am not left guessing again. I know a lot of it is personal discretion but what I am after is a "Rule of Thumb," if there is one, on what you tip your guide for doing a good job and working hard for you. Obviously if they go above the call of duty or perform below expectations you can adjust accordingly. So what is the standard or "Rule of Thumb" on tipping your guide?

Jake
 
One Million Dollars
austin_powers_mike_myers_as_dr_evil.jpg




Stay classy Utah!
 
That was funny! Sonora is actually where I am headed. From your MM name I am guessing that you may have some very good advice regarding tipping when hunting south of the border. I cant afford a million so what would be your next best starting point?
 
Thought I would chime in on this one. I do not guide therefore I guess I am not talking from my experiences but I hear all sorts of stories from my guide and outfitter friends and I have to first off agree with the 10% of the cost of the hunt. That seems to be the standard or I have also heard $100 per day is standard, more if they earn it and vice a versa.

Anyways one thing I would like to add is DO NOT tip your guide with hunting gear it will probably end up on ebay by the weekend. Your guide does not need another hunting knife or camoflauge. He is a guide he already has his own. These are awesome gifts to get in conjuction with a tip but by themselves leave these guys frustrated. A new knife does not pay the bills cash money does.
I once had a guy tell me his hunter gave him all of his brand new for this hunt camoflauge, none of it even fit the dude he didn't know what to do with it.

Hope this does not affend anyone just thought I would pass on a little of what I see and hear on my side of the fence.

Jordan
 
Here's a question that came to mind.

First off, I've always heard 10% of hunt price is the standard, and that's what I did. They say you tip regardless of the outcome, and that makes good sense. But if you're going to tip regardless of the outcome, why 10% of the hunt costs? Do the guides that guide you on a $8,000 hunt work harder and hunt harder than the guides that charge $3,500? That's a $450 differnce in tip when the guides on both hunts could have potentially worked just as hard on both hunts. How does this make sense? I guess this works the same at a restaurant or something, but hunting costs have more zero's so it's a little broader.

I say use 10% to give you a ballpark figure and adjust accordingly from there based on other factors.
 
IS IT AN LE PISSCUTTER HUNT???

OR???

IS IT AN LE TROPHY HUNT???

"I'M NOT COMPLAINING,I'M TELLING IT THE WAY IT IS,SOME OF YOU MAY NOT LIKE IT,THATS O.K.,SOMETIMES THE TRUTH HURTS & YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT IT,OR YOU FIND OUT WHAT THE FACTS ARE,STAND UP & VOICE YOUR OWN OPINION,THIS IS STILL AMERICA THE LAST TIME I CHECKED"!!!

493c3bb236d04499.jpg


REMEMBER!!!

THERE'S ONLY ONE bobcat!!!
 
According to LESGO54, something is better than nothing......seems one of the MM guys never tipped a dine on a TROPHY WHITETAIL HUNT recently in Tenn.

Gee, wonder WHO that would have been? Should have been at least a 20% I would think.

Brian
 
LAST EDITED ON Dec-22-08 AT 10:44PM (MST)[p]Muleymaddness,

Great point! If 10% is the rule then it seems a bit unfair as a guide's tip is heavily dependent upon what the outfitter charges for the hunt i.e an outfitter charges 10K for the hunt the guide would be tipped 1K versus an outfitter charging 7K the guide would be tipped $300 less irrespective of the number of days spent in the field. Seems like Balz's idea of a fixed amount per day is more fair and accurate versus paying a percentage of the cost of the hunt.

Jake
 
HEY kilo!!!

MAYBE RANS WAS JUST GETTIN EVEN FROM THE FISHING TRIP IN KONA???

JUST RAZZIN YOU GUYS!!!

RANS HAD PRE-WARNED lesgo ABOUT TIPPAGE!!!

WHEN lesgo GOT TO HAWAII HE WAS MORE INTERESTED IN TITTAGE!!!

"I'M NOT COMPLAINING,I'M TELLING IT THE WAY IT IS,SOME OF YOU MAY NOT LIKE IT,THATS O.K.,SOMETIMES THE TRUTH HURTS & YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT IT,OR YOU FIND OUT WHAT THE FACTS ARE,STAND UP & VOICE YOUR OWN OPINION,THIS IS STILL AMERICA THE LAST TIME I CHECKED"!!!

493c3bb236d04499.jpg


REMEMBER!!!

THERE'S ONLY ONE bobcat!!!
 
what I want to know is how long

did you search for the photo before replying? or did you happen to have it on your comp
 
Muley,
As an Outfitter and a Guide, its doesnt matter how much you paid for the hunt, as YOU didnt have to buy it to begin with.
I mean, 10% rule should apply, even if you think it was an over priced hunt, as you booked it, and the guides SHOULD do their best regardless of how much you paid for it.
ALSO, DO NOT tell them you will mail it to them! We had a guy do that to my guide, never followed thru with it.

I have received knives, GPS......I agree with one other post, DO NOT tip your guide with equipment, as Most guides dont make much money, they rely on tips.
With that said, they should EARN it! I have guided successful hunters and never got paid a dime! I have gotten great tips from all sorts of people. I also suggest tipping the wrangler and cooks, if applicable. Tips for the wranglers/cooks is not 10%, just show your gratitude. Good Luck in 2009
 
just curious what an average income of a guide out here in the west would be? i know they really do it for the love of hunting and the outdoors and not the money. but, you would think that as much as most hunts cost, an outfitter could pay quite well. or maybe i dont know what im talking about since i know nothing of the industry. i dont tip anything. since i am my own guide, i feel that could be seen as a conflict of interest:)
 
Wages depend on the type of hunt and their experience. Most hunting guides start out at $100 a day plus their tips. I pay some of my guides +$1,000 a week to run a camp with out me there. Also, some of my trophy hunts I have a few "guides" that all they do is go out and glass for big bulls and big bucks. This kind of guiding, they usually make a big bonus if they turn up a monster trophy. Well, this is how I do it, nothing is set in stone. Some of my outfitter buddies in Canana cant get a guide unless they are paid @ $250 a day. So, just a lil insight on this topic.

Bob Staples
Blue Mountain Adventures
 
>Don't forget the cook!!


+1 - So often overlooked and most cooks around hunting camp work their butts off.
 
>>Don't forget the cook!!
>
>
>+1 - So often overlooked and
>most cooks around hunting camp
>work their butts off.


just for the pure fact you don't want spittle in your mashed potatoes......
 
I've guided some and make $150 a day. I have to use all my own equiptment including my own vehicle. Im guaranteed a miniumum of 3 days. Preseason scouting is fun but it still costs time and money. There are several days of scouting and hiking. A morning here and evening there. Hunters need to realize there getting way more then a 5 day hunt out of the average guide.

All that being said and with this past season fuel being 4+ dollars a gallon. I DEPEND on tips. Theres been hunts I've been on that costed me to guide from damage to equipment etc etc.

I do guide for LOVE OF THE GAME. But when it comes down to bottom line I have a family to feed and this is a job.

As far as a set tip I would say 100 dollars a day minimum. Thanks for listening
 
just from my experience a guide is tipped $100 bucks a day plus if the hunter gets something the guide has to clean cape and quarter said animal which depending on animal can run from 150-300 dollars. gifts are nice but as stated they dont pay the bills. just as a rule i go by if i take someone on a deer hunt and they tag out its 150 for me to clean cape and quarter the animal and the tip of $100 bucks a day.if its an elk i charge more.

bbh
 
I guided two hunters in Colorado's Sangre De Cristos for high country deer in 2000. Their hunt cost was $4000 each which included two guides and everything else, including scouting by the outfitter (he found several 180+ bucks, which in 2000, wasn't too bad for Colorado.)
We spent the whole hunt (5 days) looking for a buck that would justify the 6 points they spent on the hunt. We killed one great 26" wide 180 net buck and got the other guy a shot at a 180 class 28" buck of which he missed at 100 yards.
My tip? $150.
I've never guided since and hope not to. Not just because of the tip, but I hate to have to work that hard for anyone who thinks the outcome is completely dependent on the guide. They picked the area, not the outfitter. They hired him after they drew. If they would have given me an $800 tip, I might have stayed interested enough to blow several weeks of my vacation a year helping other hunters. For a $150, I'll stay home and save myself the stress.
They spent their whole lives making money while the rest of us lived in comparably poorer parts of the country but learned to hunt deer. Then they draw and don't have a clue how to find a good buck in a new unit so they call us, the locals. Then, because they don't kill 30" wide 200" gross deer, they jip the guide. These guys aren't the norm, but aren't the exception either.
If you've trusted the outfitter enough to book the hunt, don't take your frustration out on the guide. Virtually no area is going to live up to the dreamed up hunts inexperienced hunters come up with (if you're hiring an outfitter, you must be inexperienced at least compared to the outfitter/guides?.)
If your hunt is $8000, then it must be a pretty special species or area, so I say the 10% rule would still apply, plus or minus some for poor or exceptional effort by the guide.

The Christian
 
I guide for Southwest Hunting Adventures and Travis pays me $300.00 a day. If he books me a five day hunt and I kill on the first day I still get $1500.00. As far as tips go I had a hunter tell me he would tip me a $1000.00 if he killed a 200" or better buck and he would tip me $500.00 for a 180+. I ask what happens if he missed a 200+ buck, he relied "I never miss". At the end of five days he missed six bucks all were over 180" and went home empty handed. He tipped me pocket knife. The entire hunt he told me of all the car dealerships he owned and how much money he was worth and all I got was a lousy pocket knife because he didn't kill.
 
If you do your home work you don't need a guide, unless you got money to be lazy or to busy. If so tip the guide the percentage you can't do like scout. It does take time and money to get you guys ready. If you can't tip what he is worth than do a self guided hunt, other wise don't ask dumb questions.
 
>If you do your home work
>you don't need a guide,
>unless you got money to
>be lazy or to busy.


Ever hunt sheep, goat or brown bear in Alaska? Didn't think so.
 
>I guided two hunters in Colorado's
>Sangre De Cristos for high
>country deer in 2000.
>Their hunt cost was $4000
>each which included two guides
>and everything else....

Usually hunt on my own but have used services for a few hunts over the years.

I agree with Christian about tipping 10% if you are hiring someone to help you have a better hunting experience. A bit more if a great effort by the guide and a bit less if not quite a solid effort. If your perception is the guide is not making an effort or is unqualified for the hunt conditions, raise this issue immediately. If the conditions do not match what you were told to expect (animals, camp, food, # of hunters...) then raise that issue immediately as well. No need putting up with what might be fraud.

I do not see the wisdom is paying by the size of the animal harvested unless you are hunting a game farm where there is a book of photos and you pick out the animal to shoot. In the wild you have no guarantees. Even Spider bull evaded a small army for weeks.

I am okay for there to be extra fees when you kill an animal if the initial fee does not cover caping or extraction of the animal. But, see no reason the fees vary depending on quality of the animal.

Just my opinion.
 
"If you do your home work you don't need a guide, unless you got money to be lazy or to busy."

What a slap in the face and an insult to every hunter that has ever used the services of a guide, you obviously are a self righteous and ignorant about the world of hunting trophy big game.










48288e6577d023b6.jpg
 
+1 slamdunk

I hunt self-guided due to funds, but absolutely see the value in hiring a GOOD outfitter/guide. No matter how great of a hunter a guy is and how much research he does, he can't beat the experience & knowledge of an area that a good outfitter/guide can offer- especially the first year in a unit. If it's a hard to draw unit, all the more value an outfitter can offer as you'll likely never learn to hunt the unit.
I would hire an outfitter for many of my hunts if I had the extra cash.

The Christian
 
Thanks Christian.
The other issue is sometimes you HAVE to have a guide in certain areas and or private properties.

To say one is "lazy" because he hires the assistance of a guide is assanine.







48288e6577d023b6.jpg
 
here are my thoughts on this issue, I am asked quite often how much do I tip the guide ?

here are several things to keep in mind ?

1)They could probelly do something else to make more money but they love it and they do it out of a love for the industry.

2)Wether you shoot someting or not is not your guides job.It is to provide opportunity.Now that doesn't even mean that want you want is available.This is more the function of the Outfitter.Also I have seen guys pass good animals and then leave mad ...(also at themselves) but still resulted in no or little tip.

3) the guides tip should be measured by his effort and the little extra things that he or she doesn't have to do.

4)The Cook and wranglers should also be tipped. Cooks are usally tipped $50-$100 for a weeks of good meals.This also comes down to ...Did the cook take a personal interest in your likes and dislikes ? Our cooks even bake birthday cakes and special requests.

5)Europeans almost never tip.When we pick them up at the airport the guides are always disapointed knowing that they will be very demanding ,and no opportunity for a tip.(this is not always the case but most of the time in my experience)

6)You don't have have to tip,although it is your way of showing your heartfelt apprecation,but I have even taken money out of my pocket when I see a young guide try really hard and gets no sign of apprecaition and tell the guide that hunter left me the tip to give to him.

7)Standard tips are 5-10 of the hunt cost.

8)This is probelly the most important. If you ever plan to go back to that camp,you should tip.If you are known as a cheap scate and you come back.Your guide will probelly not be thrilled to be stuck with you.If you are great tipper , they will fight over you and perform for you.

9)The biggest tip of all. Don't be a ass to your guide.This is worth more than money. No amount of money will make me let a negative hunter retern to our outfit. Money isn't everything.A good guide and Outfitter will already feel presure without hearing about it ...

Mark Werner
BC Guide Outfitters

4)
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-05-09 AT 10:10AM (MST)[p]If an outfitter is good with good guides and area, AND, he has the statistics to prove it, maybe he should do as some good restaurants do and include the tip in the price of the hunt.
If the hunter knew that up front, he might not book with that outfitter, but like bcguideoutfitters said, there is more important things in life than money when it comes to cheap/selfish clients.
Those mostly cheap European hunters would have to tip or they could stay home and play polo.
This would help the outfitter in attracting and retaining top guides. The outfitter suffers if the guides aren't happy. In the long run, the hunters would win with mandatory tipping because guides would stay with an outfitter longer and they would be way better guides for that area.
This would only work with top-notch outfitters but there are plenty of those around.

The Christian
 
I have guided hunting, rafting, snowmobile, bc skiing/snowboarding, kayaking, mtn bike, and camping trips over the past 15 years. Durring that time I have worked among hundreds of different guides.

The 10% cost of trip seems to be the standard expectaion among guides. A bit more or less depending on individual conditions.

Another tip is to bring up a good bottle of scotch or another item that will be appreciated. If you return for a 2nd trip remember what your guide liked and bring them some..
 
if tips were required in the price of the hunt, i see two obvious negatives.

1. some hunters would become a$$holes to their guides and probably become extremely demanding...by god youre gonna earn that prepaid tip one way or another.

2. some guides would probably become lazy as hell. why put out 110% if you know for sure youre gonna get a fat tip no matter what.

im sure both above situations already exist somewhere.

as a person who will never pay for a guide ( i have absolutely nothing against them, just not my thing), how many guides see hunters gutting, skinning and packing their own game? even if i did pay, i could not sit back and let someone else do this for me. i would feel like a complete scumbag. even if that is in the price of the hunt. screw that. thats part of the experience and part of becoming a hunter. if you cant gut and skin and animal, you dont deserve to be on the mountain!! id be ashamed to roll back into camp not covered in blood.
 
Don't get me wrong, I don't factor in the price of a tip into the hunt.I just take money out of my pocket and tip the guide as if the cheap scate hunter gave it to me.I want to do this to keep my people happy. Now if the guide doesn't deserve a tip,he shouldn't get a red pennie.But if that happens more than once,he may be looking for another job.

About the hunter helping out ...Why you pay a guide is to hire their knowledge of the area,species and use of their infastructure. There is no way anyone who has not been hunting in my area for 20 year would even know where to find the trail heads or where to go.Also there is the cabins or spike camp all set up and ready to roll.Then there is knowing when the animals are there. You couldn't replicate the quality of hunt your self,and thats one reason why guys book guided hunts.

The other reason is,that some business men weren't raised in the bush and don't have the skills that you and I were raised with.That doesn't mean they don't deserve to be there.These clients love to jump in and learn and help.We need all the sportsmen hunting we can to retain our hunting freedom.This elitism is what I see from alot of BC residents. If a client stands with his hands in his pockets,it will be a long time getting that animal out.It will cost him in the end in time.

Thats great that you may never hire a guide,but there are places that you will never hunt,species that you will never kill and friends and adventures that you will never have.I sell guided hunts and I also buy them as a client,and a good Outfitter and guide are worth their price in gold! I tip well too!
 
BC Guide,

Those are two great posts and great pieces of advice for any hunter who will be hunting with an outfitter / guided hunt. I get the feeling that unfortunately, more times than not, the guides are the ones getting the short end of the stick. The advice from those of you have posted is much appreciated.

Fever
 
thats great if they have never field dressed and are willing to jump right in there to help out. its the ones that dont that should be ashamed. as for not seeing certain places, and not killing certain species due to me not hiring out a hunt is okay by me. i dont dwell on things like that. hell, it doesnt even cross my mind. i personally enjoy the fact that what i harvest, i didn completely on my own or with help from friends that i have know my entire life. i do that year after year and LOVE it:) because i choose not to hunt with a guide doesnt make me better than someone that does, its just what i prefer. but i fully agree with you, we need more hunters. guided or not.
 

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