Tipping Guides

[stinkbelly]

I had a goose guide who took us to a spot his outfitter leased. He had us put all the decoys out and then he just laid in the ditch next to us smoking. He never called. I was hoping to learn something during that hunt. We set up a couple of hundred yards away from the roost and would pass shoot at anything that he thought was low enough. It was a pretty bad hunt. My dad made us all tip $20 each. The hunt was $165 each. I would have had no problem not tipping him a penny because I paid the $165 tresspass and decoy fee to the outfitter and the guide was there for some unknown reason.

I was on a guided fly fishing trip where the guide kept saying he works for tips and that the money for the trip only goes to the outfitter and he sees none of it. When we were paying the outfitter, he said the same thing that his guides work for tips. They were trying to make us pay them because we felt bad. It felt like a scam to me.

[temple droptine]

Most guides on day leases work for tips only. They should never expect a tip, they should on the other hand work their tail end off to earn one. I have received annywhere from a big thank you from a disabled boy's parents that had saved up just enough to get him an animal while he still could (that is by far the best tip I ever received, and the picture to hang on the wall). And I have received guns, knives, and bino's from rich pieces of crud from New York that had no clue about hunting (yeah they were nice, but no meaning to it).
To answer your question, the guides are performing a service, and are compensated with room and board at a bunk house from the outfitter. They should be tipped what they earned %10 - %15 is normal. If they drive you to your stand, are hungover and fall asleep - they are not a guide they are your drunk hunting buddy. If they talk to you before the hunt, figure out what you are looking for, have done their homework on the parcel of land, and can successfully put you in the situation to take your animal. Then take care of the animal from start to finish (clean, skin, cape, quarter and sometimes process) Then they in my eyes have gone above and beyond - and should have earned a bit more. But, be careful, those types have been known to get you drunk and take your money at night on a card table (just saying "I call"). Hope this info helps.

-crb

[a3dhunter]

I have guided on several occasions and have never EXPECTED a tip. I have been tipped anywhere from $50 - $500 and a nice skinning knife for a 3 day hunt. I can honestly say that I would not have been dissapointed if I had not gotten a tip any of the times I have guided. Some folks save up every dime just to afford the hunt, I SURE don't expect them to spend more money tipping me for doing my job. JMO

I don't think anybody should be expecting a tip, if the guide goes above and beyond, then he has earned above and beyond and deserves a tip. If he is just doing his job, then he is getting paid to do what he was supposed to do.

I have worked many jobs where the pay wasn't that great (typical complaint of guides) and I sure wasn't getting to do something I loved (which guides typically are)and I never expected a tip. I did get them and I appreciated them, but a good guide should never expect a tip.

I think the tip should also take into account the wealth of the individual giving the tip.........example:
The guy who scrapes everything together for that once a year hunt gives a $40 tip.......
vs.
the guy who goes on 10 guided hunts a year that tips $50-75.

I would argue the first guy tipped above his means, where the second guy just threw away the money that did not matter to him.

[Codie]

I don't think anybody should be expecting a tip, if the guide goes above and beyond, then he has earned above and beyond and deserves a tip. If he is just doing his job, then he is getting paid to do what he was supposed to do.

I have worked many jobs where the pay wasn't that great (typical complaint of guides) and I sure wasn't getting to do something I loved (which guides typically are)and I never expected a tip. I did get them and I appreciated them, but a good guide should never expect a tip.

I think the tip should also take into account the wealth of the individual giving the tip.........example:
The guy who scrapes everything together for that once a year hunt gives a $40 tip.......
vs.
the guy who goes on 10 guided hunts a year that tips $50-75.

I would argue the first guy tipped above his means, where the second guy just threw away the money that did not matter to him.

agreed

[Chance Love]

Well, here goes...

Guiding hunts is a service oriented business. Very similar to going out to eat at a nice restaurant. The waiter gets paid a salary or hourly wage, and as long as he does his job he will expect a tip, usually at least 15%. If he does his job poorly, then obviously a smaller tip or no tip at all. If he does a really great job then possibly a higher tip. Point is, the tip is and should be expected. It really surprises me when other guides on here say they do not expect a tip. When I act as the outfitter, no, I do not expect a tip at all and usually turn them down. When I have guided for other ranches or outfitters, yes, the tip is expected. A guides pay is generally pretty low (much like a waiter's pay), so they should expect a tip for "just doing their job" as some have stated. It is understood that tips are just a part of it. That is, as long as they actually DO their job. And like I mentioned earlier most of the work is probably done before the hunter ever sets foot on the ranch. I have guided with A LOT of different people, with several different outfitters, and a lot of different ranches. Never once did anyone say they do not ever expect a tip.

Ok, y'all can beat me up now.

[BIG IRON]

Not to muddy the water any but what if the guide is the outfitter and is charging a kill fee on trophy animals?

[stinkbelly]

I can see how a guide expects a tip, but they are not required. Just like when you go out to eat. You are paying above the required price (tipping) because you want to not because you are required to.

[slayer]

As I have only been on a few guided hunts, i can tell you both times the guides went above and beyond the call of duty. I was blown away by their desire to see me or my boys succeed. I tipped above the norm on both, because of this. When the guide is great, i feel you should let them know by showing them the $!

[Guest1]

...what if the guide is the outfitter...?

I just want to know about a shorter version of Corey's question.

[Randy]

If the guide is the outfitter as well I still tip and maybe even more than typical.

Because they know the ranch, know the stands, know the animanls and know where they are going to put you on the next trip.

[Aggiebow88]

What about a fishing guide?

[DJames]

What about a fishing guide?

The same as above goes for me, if he works his tail of I will tip accordingly. If he just drives the boat, well, tip accordingly.

[Codie]

Well, here goes...

Guiding hunts is a service oriented business. Very similar to going out to eat at a nice restaurant. The waiter gets paid a salary or hourly wage, and as long as he does his job he will expect a tip, usually at least 15%. If he does his job poorly, then obviously a smaller tip or no tip at all. If he does a really great job then possibly a higher tip. Point is, the tip is and should be expected. It really surprises me when other guides on here say they do not expect a tip. When I act as the outfitter, no, I do not expect a tip at all and usually turn them down. When I have guided for other ranches or outfitters, yes, the tip is expected. A guides pay is generally pretty low (much like a waiter's pay), so they should expect a tip for "just doing their job" as some have stated. It is understood that tips are just a part of it. That is, as long as they actually DO their job. And like I mentioned earlier most of the work is probably done before the hunter ever sets foot on the ranch. I have guided with A LOT of different people, with several different outfitters, and a lot of different ranches. Never once did anyone say they do not ever expect a tip.

Ok, y'all can beat me up now.

I have not guided as many people as you (more than likely) but you can now say that you know someone who guides each and every season and does NOT expect a tip. I did not say that they were not appreciated, but if someone walks away with a 150" buck that I put them on and does not leave a red cent to me, I am not going to think worse of the guy. To me tipping is an option to the hunter, not a requirement or "part of it". I promise you I don't get paid ANYTHING like a waiter by the ranches that I guide for. If they were paying me what a waiter made, then I would be at home with my wife and son instead of beeing out in the woods trying to get a deer for someone else.

[temple droptine]

I have not guided as many people as you (more than likely) but you can now say that you know someone who guides each and every season and does NOT expect a tip. I did not say that they were not appreciated, but if someone walks away with a 150" buck that I put them on and does not leave a red cent to me, I am not going to think worse of the guy. To me tipping is an option to the hunter, not a requirement or "part of it". I promise you I don't get paid ANYTHING like a waiter by the ranches that I guide for. If they were paying me what a waiter made, then I would be at home with my wife and son instead of beeing out in the woods trying to get a deer for someone else.

He can say he knows 2. I do not get paid by the ranch I guide for, other than meals, and a place to rest my head. Yes, my son will get a hunt or 2 each year, and I will typically cull some stuff off. But no money changes hands by the ranch owner/outfitter to me.
I do this because 1) I lost my place to hunt 2) I thouroughly enjoy being in the outdoors. I truly enjoy youth weekends, and any hunts with "special needs" hunters. I have never expected a tip from a single client, and never will. I have never been stiffed by someone either, you have to expect it to be stiffed. Some tip better than others, but it weighs no difference to me when they return. They are still my number one concern for their days with me, and they are treated like royalty, even if they are nothing more than a royal pain in the tailend (professional athletes fit this bill very well).
To me a tip should be earned, never expected.

-crb

[ratterrier]

He can say he knows 2. I do not get paid by the ranch I guide for, other than meals, and a place to rest my head. Yes, my son will get a hunt or 2 each year, and I will typically cull some stuff off. But no money changes hands by the ranch owner/outfitter to me.
I do this because 1) I lost my place to hunt 2) I thouroughly enjoy being in the outdoors. I truly enjoy youth weekends, and any hunts with "special needs" hunters. I have never expected a tip from a single client, and never will. I have never been stiffed by someone either, you have to expect it to be stiffed. Some tip better than others, but it weighs no difference to me when they return. They are still my number one concern for their days with me, and they are treated like royalty, even if they are nothing more than a royal pain in the tailend (professional athletes fit this bill very well).
To me a tip should be earned, never expected.

-crb

You got paid the value of the 2 hunts your son gets and the stuff you get to hunt for free, so when somebody tips you after a hunt you are actually double dipping, the ranch is paying you in kind hunts and you are getting paid by hunters too. If it works great, but I can see a problem with a ranch finding out they are trading you hunts for guiding and finding out you are getting tips too, guess it depends on the ranch and the guide arrangment and if it works for you thats kewl, but I could see it becoming a problem if it got out of balance. When you said no matter they are still royalty with me I figured you are the right kind of guide and a good example. I dont see you late to show up to set somebody out or running out of gas during hunting or no flashlight or tracking dog to find wounded game or not helping pack out and having the right kind of knife to skin their game and load it on a pack animal. Keep up the good work and dont let some bad hunter destroy your attitude ever with empty pockets!lol