Gratuity/Tips for guided hunting

[asd9055]

I just threw up in the back of my mouth now! Hahahahahaha

Its not a tip if its a pay to play in their case

 

[Culpeper]

Then they say stupid stuff like, despite the extremely high cost we already charged you just to hunt, we can't afford to pay the guide enough, so ya you take care of that by handing them a big wad of cash. By the way that wad of cash is way more than the average working person makes per day, and they will also not declare it on their income tax forms, so its free money.
When someone is paying $10,000 to $50,000 for a hunt, depending on what they are hunting, time, etc. They can easily pay living wages out of that if they want to.
It's just a few greedy people who are keeping way too much for themselves, like the company owner.

I read some ridiculous comments in this thread, like one guy saying that its a 7 hour round trip drive every day from the place they sleep, to where they hunt, so his gas costs are high. Why are you staying somewhere 3.5 hours from where you hunt? Those poor customers who paid a small fortune to hunt, don't want to ride around 7 hours a day in a pickup. Get them accommodations somewhere much closer, or even build some small cabins as accommodations. Any guide doing that to their customers should be paying the customers for wasting their time, not the other way around.
Its easy to build some little cabins, they would pay for themselves in 4 weeks at the crazy prices charged for a hunt.
A lot of these so called dream hunting trips, sound more like a bad nightmare.
Or even just pull a travel trailer up there, and stay in it for the 2 to 4 nights, and then drive out. Travel trailers are relatively cheap, and wouldn't even have to buy it brand new. There are 5 year old ones for sale all the time, almost like new, because they were barely used in those 5 years. Heck put a wood fired hot tub out there for evening relaxation, a small kitchen under a lean to roof, it would be awesome!

You really depend on your cheap wealthy boss that owns five hotels to support not only you but your own opinions and in this post you talk about the greedy company owner. Like somebody already stated I don't know if you're just cheap or ignorant. You have yet to state one independent fact.

 

[Culpeper]

I love how some people are now embracing the socialist European model when it comes to tipping to prove their point. Like complaining about getting hanged with a new rope.

 

[jamie eaton]

I sure love the comments of the people that "will never pay to go on a hunt " ! Why are you even sharing your thoughts ? Let's start a thread about what gun we would take with us on a trip to the moon . Oh wait I'm never gonna make it there so why even debate it . I went on my hunt , paid my money , gave my tip . Also had the time of my life on likely the only guided hunt I will experience . It was a hunt out west that will likely be the last trip out of the state my father and I will ever have the chance to make . That was the only reason I splurged on such an expense !

 

[jamie eaton]

When I check back in later , I want to see this up to 25 pages !

 

[Small Lady]

You really depend on your cheap wealthy boss that owns five hotels to support not only you but your own opinions and in this post you talk about the greedy company owner. Like somebody already stated I don't know if you're just cheap or ignorant. You have yet to state one independent fact.

Cheap? LOL

He pays well, so his employees don't have to beg for tips to survive, like a crappy business owner would.
Maybe get your facts straight before posting, and looking foolish.

 

[69precision]

I love how some people are now embracing the socialist European model when it comes to tipping to prove their point. Like complaining about getting hanged with a new rope.

If You own a business with employees, it's on you to pay them fairly. That is not socialism. I think the part that miffs people the most is the inconsistency. Waitstaff and hunting guides must be tipped or I'm a cheap ***. But nobody tips a plumber or electrician or welder, all of whom actually provide truly critical services. I could do pretty well if I ran a plumbing company and paid my master plumbers $10 an hour and said "you must tip them 20% of the total bill so they can make a living wage".
Then there is the question of the amount. Why should the waitress at a swanky restaurant get an $80 tip vs the waitress at Denny's gets $8?

 

[birddog 68]

I've reviewed some of the discussions regarding Gratuity/Tips for guided hunting trips on this forum. Most seem over a year old and are varied in conclusions. Just returned from a 4-day hunt in Wyoming for elk and questioned if I was tipping properly. Should it be based on the cost of the hunt? Is there a usual/expected amount per day regardless of price? If you tag-out early, should it be less (or perhaps more!)? What if there are multiple guides for the group (i.e one-on-one versus one guide for 2 or three hunters) - does each hunter tip (perhaps a smaller $) or does the group pool the total? How much to you tip the cook/wrangler (certainly, not as much as the guide)? Can this tip be pooled amount from all? If determined by % of the total cost of the hunt, is that % amount distributed to all the crew or to each of your guides? If that's the case, the cook might do best? Like others, I also detest this very American habit which is spiraling out of control. I'd be happy just to pay the outfitter more and have him pay his crew better.

Reading this thread you will see why there's no such thing as a % tip that fits every person and hunt. Some feel the need to over tip and others don't feel like they need to but most are in between. I'm sure it usually equals out by the end of the season for the guide.
Short story… we were in the checkout at a Walmart and a 20 something yo with more piercings than a pin cushion and tattoos on his face was running the checkout and was telling us how much he was busting his a** for $17 hr and wanted to put a tip jar but wasn't allowed. He said he would pick up any money we happened to drop! I didn't drop a penny.
Meanwhile a 70 yo woman doing checkout in the next lane was running customers through twice as fast and doing it cheerfully!
If someone feels entitled to a tip they are usually not very confident you will be happy in the services they are giving.

 

[Small Lady]

As a side note of interest, where I live it's illegal to pay anyone less than $16.75 per hour, be it a server, cook, guide, delivery driver, or something else. Also it's mandatory to pay OT at 1.5 times their wage after 8 hours per day, up to 11 hours in their work day, and then double time after 11 hours.
So in BC Canada there is no such thing as a guide, cook, or server making $3 / hour as some here suggested.

 

[257Tony]

Then they say stupid stuff like, despite the extremely high cost we already charged you just to hunt, we can't afford to pay the guide enough, so ya you take care of that by handing them a big wad of cash. By the way that wad of cash is way more than the average working person makes per day, and they will also not declare it on their income tax forms, so its free money.
When someone is paying $10,000 to $50,000 for a hunt, depending on what they are hunting, time, etc. They can easily pay living wages out of that if they want to.
It's just a few greedy people who are keeping way too much for themselves, like the company owner.

I read some ridiculous comments in this thread, like one guy saying that its a 7 hour round trip drive every day from the place they sleep, to where they hunt, so his gas costs are high. Why are you staying somewhere 3.5 hours from where you hunt? Those poor customers who paid a small fortune to hunt, don't want to ride around 7 hours a day in a pickup. Get them accommodations somewhere much closer, or even build some small cabins as accommodations. Any guide doing that to their customers should be paying the customers for wasting their time, not the other way around.
Its easy to build some little cabins, they would pay for themselves in 4 weeks at the crazy prices charged for a hunt.
A lot of these so called dream hunting trips, sound more like a bad nightmare.
Or even just pull a travel trailer up there, and stay in it for the 2 to 4 nights, and then drive out. Travel trailers are relatively cheap, and wouldn't even have to buy it brand new. There are 5 year old ones for sale all the time, almost like new, because they were barely used in those 5 years. Heck put a wood fired hot tub out there for evening relaxation, a small kitchen under a lean to roof, it would be awesome!

You lost me at "Travel trailers are fairly cheap" Around here, a 5 year old TT is still 20k on the cheap end.

I just need to remember all these awesome things about running a business when I get my own company going.
Under pay my staff, and get the customers to tip them.
Make no promises about product being received, they may get it, maybe not, but no refunds.
Food and accommodations don't need to be good, an egg and toast will do, they still better tip though or else.
Make sure to regularly bring up tipping, and talk about the really big tippers, make them sound important.

Wish they would have taught this stuff in business classes, stupid university.

You've never ran a business, and you're here to tell all the outfitters they're doing it wrong. Glad you've got it all figured out already

 

[Laelkhunter]

Why don't we just put the cost of business in the price and get away from tip culture?

Seems like an antiquated tradition that has gotten out of hand. It used to be you tipped when you got above average service; now everyone demands it.

Only problem with that is all of the money goes to the outfitter up front. That doesn't mean it will trickle down to the guide, cook, etc. I pay each individual according to their effort to make the hunt a great experience. That includes all employees working in camp. I tip the guide even if I don't kill.
Also, the guide does appreciate all those nifty knives, etc you give him, but cash is king. He pays bills with the cash-he might act gracious when you gift him a knife or other piece of equipment but when he gets home he probably tosses it into a box with all the other items he has received from other well meaning hunters.

 

[Culpeper]

Cheap? LOL

He pays well, so his employees don't have to beg for tips to survive, like a crappy business owner would.
Maybe get your facts straight before posting, and looking foolish.

I was referring to you not your "boss". But she or him seems to be your benchmark for justification.

 

[fordy]

Gday
A interesting thread & responses that from a aussie I really don't understand the tip system as we don't have one

My personal belief is one should incorporate it in the price or @least be upfront on what's expected as to me that @ the end or during the trip would basically sour the whole thing

Ive hunted in PNG , various Africa countries New Zealand , Canada & of course aussie & never tipped money but before I ever embarked on the trip I would find out as much as I could about the people I was to hunt with & take gifts from my area to give as my appreciation of being able to have the privilege to hunt in their neck of the woods ( I still live by my nanas words of it's not the Value of these gifts its the thought behind it ) from bouncy balls for kids to custom made spotlights that were around a months wage for me
& been well received I think but I'm not one to expect my guide to do all the work or skinners as I always helped to cape or cook , wash dishes gather firewood you name it if I could help I would & still do today when I get the chance to hunt

This to me was just common sense as helps keep the guide fresh as possible & that allowed more time to get out & keep looking for which I've been extremely blessed to share those times with incredible people & life long friendships made & some even considered family now

The critter to me is secondary especially the older I get but you have to have a sustainable industry & what I'm seeing is a division of rich & poor & so much is placed on the score not the journey

Jm2cw
Cheers

 

[Culpeper]

As a side note of interest, where I live it's illegal to pay anyone less than $16.75 per hour, be it a server, cook, guide, delivery driver, or something else. Also it's mandatory to pay OT at 1.5 times their wage after 8 hours per day, up to 11 hours in their work day, and then double time after 11 hours.
So in BC Canada there is no such thing as a guide, cook, or server making $3 / hour as some here suggested.
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Shouldn't you be posting in French as well as English?