Hunting & Fishing how much do you tip your guide?

[Jayne]

How much do you tip your hunting guide?

A percentage of the cost? a flat rate? more or less for success vs. a nice walk in the woods? some amount per day spent in the field?



The hunt I'm going on is a 5 day guided horseback hunt for a cow elk (cheaper and better meat which is what I'm after, have no use for the trophy). Trip includes food, lodging, guide, horses, game care and getting it to a butcher.

 

[briscoetab]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

I haven't been on many guided hunts but I say it depends on what kind of hunting your talking about and how much actually guiding there is to the hunt. I wouldn't say it all depends on the success but maybe on the effort the guide put in to making it a successful hunt.

I went on a 3 day guided goose/sandhill crane hunt last year with 5 friends. The guides had to go scouting every evening after the hunt. They provided all the equipment, besides gun and ammo. They provided the layout blinds, superb decoy spreds and did all the calling. It was a great hunt and had alot of fun. I gave them $100 dollar tip, the hunt cost $500. I felt this was pretty good tip. If I had a little more money I may have upped it to $150. All of us tipped between 50 and 100 I think so I figured the guides did pretty good.

Now if they wouldn't have been doing all the work they did in the evening and proved it by getting us in good spots, I wouldn't have tipped over 50 or so.

If I was going on a guided deer hunt inside a high fence and all the guide did was score the deer and tell me how much it cost to shoot that deer, my tip wouldn't be very big. Probably 50 dollar max. The only reason I would go more is if I like the guide and it was some younger kid on a big ranch that isn't getting paid anything and is just doing it to get some experience to get a job where he could make a decent salary.

I don't really have a clear cut answer though, just depends on a lot of factors.

 

[jcfd2201]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

I guided for a number of years for elk and mt. lion. Tips for hunts are pretty much like tips for any other service and range from 10 to 15%. With the taking of a good trophy animal tips were normally higher. Like Briscoe said though there are many variables but the standard is 10 to 15% of price for the hunt with a higher percentage for great service or a trophy animal.

 

[HajjWhisperer]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

I've always tipped at least 10% of the price of the hunt on fully guided hunts. More or less would depend on his effort, the size of the animal, and his attitude. I've hunted with guys that go on many different guided hunts a year and the majority of them tip at least 10% as well.

 

[45.308]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

Tokes I have received are as follows:

Money
Gear
Food
Fuel

Most times just money and others a combination of them. Its nice to receive extra coin but once back to town to have your rigs filled up with gas, a good steak or binos / pack / tent is something extra to me. To me that means my client really enjoyed their adventure Vs money.

Depending on the service, lead guide, 2nd, apprentice, camp manager that either gets a toke of their own or their toke comes out of the lead guides toke.

The best toke to me is a personal recommendation from the client. Paid advertising is expensive and most times ineffective but a personal endorsement is golden. I asked for a review of me and mine and to be honest, and asked if they could be contacted by my future clients. To the person yes, most clients want to talk about their adventure. I would add clients comments to brochures and information packets, and web site.

Good luck and have fun

 

[mrfudd]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

My only guided hunts have been in Africa. The tips have varied based on the target species and who the guide is. I usually ended up dividing the cost by number of hunting days and tipped the equivalent of 1 day. The exception was hunting with the property owner. I tipped employees, but not the owner who served as the PH on one of my trips.

 

[OKbow87]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

10-15% is pretty standard. Just because you don't kill something doesn't mean you don't tip either. Unless of course your guide was a lazy sack the entire hunt. Gift cards to places like cabelas aren't a bad idea either, but most likely cash will be preferred.

 

[EXTREMEPREJUDICE]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

It depends if the guide works for (or is) the outfitter. If the guide is an employee, they are probably EXPECTING a good tip as it probably will make up most of their wages. If the guide is the outfitter, they HOPE for a good tip but have priced the hunt accordingly. While guided hunts are expensive, your guide and/or outfitter are NOT getting rich. I plan to give a 20% tip and work from that, depending on how hard the guide works for me. Sure, it's easier to tip when you have a successful hunt (kill) but in the end it's really all the same. If I can't afford a good tip, I can't afford the hunt.

 

[gutshot53]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

I base it totally on the experience!

 

[Jayne]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: EXTREMEPREJUDICE</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It depends if the guide works for (or is) the outfitter. </div></div>

I think they're one and the same.... but now that I think about it I'm not actually sure. The guy I've spoken to at the sportsmans show, and on the phone during the tag process and traded a dozen emails with has all be the owner. Never thought that he wouldn't be the one guiding me as he's never mentioned anyone else.

 

[EXTREMEPREJUDICE]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

Well, the best way to select one includes getting some references and then actually calling them to learn their experiences. Ask for the contact info for ALL the customers he/she had over the most recent year or two. That way you can call anyone on the list, not just the most favorable ones that would be given if you asked for a couple. Speaking to prior customers will allow you to ask any questions without fear of offending your guide. Since your hunt is already booked, just ask who the guide will be.....it's not an unfair question.

 

[CoCaDoRi]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

A guides wages aren't all that much. When you are the one being guided you'll have a better experience with the guide/hunt if you don't have a "what are you going to do for me" attitude. Also, it helps if your guide has the right attitude and isn't acting like you're just another hunter and it's a chore for him to guide you.

If you both can enter things with the right frame of mind and both work hard you should have a good experience. Over the years I'd say the average tip is about what the previous posters mentioned. Although I've seen some guides get zeroed out and others walk away with Custom rifles and High end optics.

I've found also that some of the people who can least afford it tip the most. That kind of falls back on the ones who have the pockets fulls of cash sometimes sit back and let others do all the work. I've also see the high rollers roll out the big tips $$$$ if the guide busted his ass and pulled out all the stops.

I'd without questions make it known to the outfitter that you are willing to work hard and pull your weight to make things successful. Therefore you want a guide that has the same attitude. If things mesh the tipping part won't be hard for you to figure out.

 

[Jayne]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

Thanks for all of the input, I'll keep it in mind and see how the trip turns out (and have cash ready at the end).

Sorry for the delayed response, I've got a new job which started this week and it's a lot more demanding of my time. Haven't had a chance to think much less check things out on the hide.

 

[Mod Adahy]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

I normally tip in the 20-30% range, although, if he busts his ass I will double that without a doubt. I have not had a single bad guide or ph at this time. Everyone of them pulled out all the stops and we made it worth their effort. Also, it is not unheard of to tip everyday. The next days guide or ph will work harder knowing that you are tipping at the end of the day instead of the end of the trip. We have had ph's fighting over taking us instead of any other hunters in camp because of that.

 

[500grains]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

Twenty percent of the cost of the hunt.

In the case of an African hunt, at least 100 per day for the PH plus another 100 to 300 each for every black guy involved (including the laundry guy and the guy from National Parks who is there to ensure legal compliance).

 

[Mod Adahy]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 500grains</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Twenty percent of the cost of the hunt.

In the case of an African hunt, at least 100 per day for the PH plus another 100 to 300 each for every black guy involved (including the laundry guy and the guy from National Parks who is there to ensure legal compliance). </div></div>

I agree on African hunts. Alot of times they like ammo also. When we go on african hunts, you can expect to double you trip with tips.

 

[jringading]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

15% to 20% is pretty standard. If he is useless then maybe 5% but if he is Grizzly Adams and busts his ass finding you a quality trophy you might want to go 25 to 30+. Just remember..... a tip is earned, not expected.

 

[jcfd2201]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

I have never received less than 15% of the price of the hunt with the most being about 25%. I have gotten some nice "gifts" too including the rifle the client bought and had shipped in before his arrival, he has done it numerous times with other guides.

 

[bmarc69]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

I've only been on one guided hunt. My guide got enough to buy the .22 mag bolt action he mentioned on the porch one night when everybody was sitting around BSing. The cook was excellent so I slipped a Ben in the silverware drawer when he wasn't looking. The sad part was when the outfitter told him who left the money, he got my address and sent me a thank you letter. He said he had to because he had been there 6 weeks with 4-6 hunters per week and I was the only one to leave a tip! Be sure to remember that the guide is not the only one making your trip what it is.

 

[CoCaDoRi]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The cook was excellent so I slipped a Ben in the silverware drawer when he wasn't looking.</div></div>

If you like the food you need to tip the cook... This is often overlooked by many on a guided hunt.

If you are in a wilderness setting the cook works his ass off. He's up hours be fore you are awoken and hours after you're tucked in.

Atta guy for bringing this up!

 

[JC Steel]

Re: how much do you tip your guide?

Tip is all about what your guide does for you.

When we were fortunate enough to draw our trophy bull take for elk, we hired a young man about 26 years old. He worked very hard. Running all over the hills if needed, found just the right bull for us, went way above and beyond at all times.

He pretty much did everything. cleaning, cutting, packing, hauling,

this guy was a straight brute! He deserved his $200 cash tip for finding us a 325 class bull.

Plus it was dads money, so I said $250 was about fair!! LOL