Tipping your guide

tjsum

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My brother has an elk hunt this fall that he is using a guide for and is wondering how much he should tip the guide? The main reason he is wondering is because my brother is bringing his own camp and food and the guide isn't providing any of that.
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-07-17 AT 10:56AM (MST)[p]I haven't been on many guided hunts (only 1 pig hunt), but I would do like in the restaurant business. You get shitty service = shitty to no tip. If the guide works his tail off, is a good hunter, and keeps a positive attitude succesful or not give the 10-15% gratuity.
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-07-17 AT 11:36AM (MST)[p]If your brother is bringing his own gear then that is his choice. I wouldn't factor that variable in when determining the tip for the guide. In my opinion good guides earn good tips by taking initiative throughout the hunt and go out of their way to educate and coach you. It's their playground an ultimately they know it just as good as you might know your local hunting grounds. I feel if a guide does that he's earned the tip at the end of the hunt and if he's entertaining that's even better.

Also never tip based off the outfitter or outfitting company, tip based off your guide. Sometimes you can get a really shitty outfitter who is getting all the money and you are lucky enough to get a good guide he employs. Sometimes bad management within these outfits basically stay afloat because they have solid dudes that are willing to guide and put up with the crap to hunt good ground or do what they are passionate about. You will see this mostly in the waterfowl industry but I do hear about it in big games industry too.
 
If he kills an elk give the guide $500.00.

If he doesn't kill an elk give the guide $400.00.

You don't want to be "that guy" that doesn't leave
a good tip.
 
10% is the typical starting point. adjusted from there based on the service received.

Your brother bringing his own gear and food would make the tip cheaper only in the fact that the total guide fee would be cheaper. Do not lower the percent because your bring your own stuff. Base it on the total price you pay which should be lower because of bringing your own food etc.

example.
Costs $10K with the guide providing camp equipment and food = $1K tip.

Costs $8K with the customer providing camp equipment and food = $800 tip.
 
I good point to remember is you are not limited by the 10%-15% reference either. Most guides are not rich, if they work their tails off and get you a great animal I feel you need to tip more. I think a lot depends on the price you pay for the hunt too, especially on cheaper hunts. I have tipped over 100% of what I paid on two separate occasions. That being said nothing like a good 20%-25% tip if it's earned, especially if you want to be invited back.
 
On the other hand, if a guide was really concerned about getting rich, they wouldn't have become guides.


A BULLET TRAIN! The only other thing besides a good guy with a gun, that will stop a bad guy with a gun ;-)
 
A 320" PISSCUTTER Or Less = Real Small Tip!

A 360"+ Bull = Big Tippage!

RAZZIN!

It's Huntin!

If He Gives His All & Knows what He's Doing He Gets a Decent Tip rather there's a Bull on the Ground or not!

There's Guys on Here every Fall Pre-Determining a Tip before their Hunt!

You'll only know that Answer come the end of the Hunt!

Unless You've previously used the same Guide!

Them Boys appreciate a Tip & They Sure the Hell Ain't Gettin Rich like Most think they are!









Back Me Off to 1,700 Yards,650 is a Little Close & I'm Not Comfortable with it!

A GUT SHOT at 1,700 Yards will Still Make Some Good BRAGGIN Rights so I Can Say I At Least Hit Him!


90087hankjr.jpg
 
In 25 years of guiding I would say 10% is a good tip. 15% is great anything above that is a pipe dream. If your guide is busting his ass for you. I believe you Should compensate him accordingly.
 
Its also worth noting that if you plan on hunting with the same outfitter again, your tip will be remembered. If its a crappy tip, none of the veteran guides will want you next time around. If its a generous tip, you'll probably have a guide busting his butt to get you a good animal...
 
10% of the overall price of the hunt is standard in my little experience.

Hunt 4k tip $400 and if he really works his tail off and is a pleasure to hunt with another 5% is not out of the question.
 

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