Tipping Guides

[bowhuntermac]

Some of it is based on how well the hunter and the guide/outfitter get along.
I am an outfitter up here in Co. and have had guys tip me from one extreme to the other.
One guy shot holes all over creation, but not many animals, and gave me a Browning rifle as tip. He was having a ball, we got along, great stories, and at the end of the hunt when he went back with a smaller animal than what he came for, we both knew it was his fault and noone said anything, but he and I had fun.

Another guy, a very wealthy guy, came up this year and blew it 4 times on bulls in a five day hunt, to include gut shooting one the last hunting day. Day 1, he missed a monster 6x6 at 80 yards in broad daylight shooting off a solid rest. THen proceeded to miss him again at 200, still off a solid rest, after I basically had to make him stop crying and would not shoot the bull for him. THe next day we got into elk again and captain dumbass had left the magazine for his rifle in camp and it was a controlled round feed so we could not even use it as a single shot. Day 3, we got into some screaming bulls and I set him up in an overlook about 100 yards from where I told him they would come out and told him to STAY PUT NO MATTER WHAT. I slipped through the timber to get above them so that the thermals would carry my scent to them and push the bulls across the small meadow. As I got just above them, the elk came ripping up the mountain to me and dman near ran me over. Genius rich boy had decided tht he knew better than someone who plays this game for a living and had tried to come up and across the meadow to where they were and shoot one. As soon as he stepped in the clearing, the elk made him from the edge of the timber and hauled *** straight up hill and smack into me. Day 4 he sulked and stayed in camp. Day 5 I made Scotty take him out and he proceeded to put a bad hit on a 340-350 bull...at 60 yards...and got ****** when we couldnt find it even after spending an entire day in the rain and sleet looking.
He left when we got back to camp without a bye, go eff yourself, tip, etc. as it was all OUR fault he went home empty handed. He even had the balls to call wanting to know how much time we spent going back up to look for "his bull".

Sometimes, no matter what we do as guides, no matter how hard we work, it just doesnt click, or you get that one *** hole who doesnt care about the hunt.

I promise all my hunters the same thing, and delivery EVERY time:
You book a fully guided hunt with me, Scotty, or Steve (my two main guides) we WILL put you on whatver it is you came to kill, but the killing is up to you. Some people just do not get that. If you miss a buck, bull, or goat, or do not follow simple directions, or simply cannot keep up on the mountain, that is on YOU. We WILL do our part EVERY time.

Most hunters appreciate this fact, but the ones who miss, fake ankle sprains so they dont have to climb and would rather stay in camp and ***** (actually had this happen - all of us are first aid and CPR certified and Steve is an EMT he and looked at his ankle and figured the only thing wrong with it was vaginitis), or just have a crappy attitude thinking they know more than guys who could do this in the dark always make for an unpleasant camp. It hurts the hunt for other clients if there is a lot of stress in the air, it puts a lot of pressure on the guide (even if we think you are a ******bag we are going to do our part), and in general makes for a crappy experience for all involved.

My phone keeps ringing and I forgot where I was going with this...

[BIG IRON]

HerWHO HAS TO BE REGISTED AS A GUIDE OR OUTFITTER?
Individuals that need to be a registered outfitter or guide are those people who
accept some type of compensation for outfitting or guiding big game hunters in a
big game management unit on public land, or are not the “agent” of a landowner.
A guide is defined by Game Commission regulation as:
Any person employed or contracted by a registered outfitter to furnish
personal services for the purpose of hunting or taking game animals
except a ‘guide’ does not include a person who only cooks, cuts wood,
wrangles horses, or escorts clients between camp and vehicle, retrieves
downed game, or otherwise solely provides services not directly related
to hunting or taking of game animals.

Do you see the verbage that reads "some type of compensation"? Getting so called free hunts is called a type of compensation, compensation does not have to be money. Your agreement should be in writing as to what you are charging and what you are furnishing. If i was going on a guided hunt I want a guide who is legal and spells out the details on tips before hand. If the ranch is outfitting do what the ranch says, if the outfitter says tip the guides 20 percent do that if they are ok, if they hurl dont tip, if the ranch or outfitter says no tipping allowed dont tip, thats all i have.

Why is this such a big deal to you? Guy makes a deal with outfitter/landowner that has some nice perks involved to be able to take his kid hunting. I'm happy for him and wish I could find a deal like that.

[BIG IRON]

Some of it is based on how well the hunter and the guide/outfitter get along.
I am an outfitter up here in Co. and have had guys tip me from one extreme to the other.
One guy shot holes all over creation, but not many animals, and gave me a Browning rifle as tip. He was having a ball, we got along, great stories, and at the end of the hunt when he went back with a smaller animal than what he came for, we both knew it was his fault and noone said anything, but he and I had fun.

Another guy, a very wealthy guy, came up this year and blew it 4 times on bulls in a five day hunt, to include gut shooting one the last hunting day. Day 1, he missed a monster 6x6 at 80 yards in broad daylight shooting off a solid rest. THen proceeded to miss him again at 200, still off a solid rest, after I basically had to make him stop crying and would not shoot the bull for him. THe next day we got into elk again and captain dumbass had left the magazine for his rifle in camp and it was a controlled round feed so we could not even use it as a single shot. Day 3, we got into some screaming bulls and I set him up in an overlook about 100 yards from where I told him they would come out and told him to STAY PUT NO MATTER WHAT. I slipped through the timber to get above them so that the thermals would carry my scent to them and push the bulls across the small meadow. As I got just above them, the elk came ripping up the mountain to me and dman near ran me over. Genius rich boy had decided tht he knew better than someone who plays this game for a living and had tried to come up and across the meadow to where they were and shoot one. As soon as he stepped in the clearing, the elk made him from the edge of the timber and hauled *** straight up hill and smack into me. Day 4 he sulked and stayed in camp. Day 5 I made Scotty take him out and he proceeded to put a bad hit on a 340-350 bull...at 60 yards...and got ****** when we couldnt find it even after spending an entire day in the rain and sleet looking.
He left when we got back to camp without a bye, go eff yourself, tip, etc. as it was all OUR fault he went home empty handed. He even had the balls to call wanting to know how much time we spent going back up to look for "his bull".

Sometimes, no matter what we do as guides, no matter how hard we work, it just doesnt click, or you get that one *** hole who doesnt care about the hunt.

I promise all my hunters the same thing, and delivery EVERY time:
You book a fully guided hunt with me, Scotty, or Steve (my two main guides) we WILL put you on whatver it is you came to kill, but the killing is up to you. Some people just do not get that. If you miss a buck, bull, or goat, or do not follow simple directions, or simply cannot keep up on the mountain, that is on YOU. We WILL do our part EVERY time.

Most hunters appreciate this fact, but the ones who miss, fake ankle sprains so they dont have to climb and would rather stay in camp and ***** (actually had this happen - all of us are first aid and CPR certified and Steve is an EMT he and looked at his ankle and figured the only thing wrong with it was vaginitis), or just have a crappy attitude thinking they know more than guys who could do this in the dark always make for an unpleasant camp. It hurts the hunt for other clients if there is a lot of stress in the air, it puts a lot of pressure on the guide (even if we think you are a ******bag we are going to do our part), and in general makes for a crappy experience for all involved.

My phone keeps ringing and I forgot where I was going with this...

I have heard stories of guys buying a new rifle to go on a corp. hunt and tipping the rifle when they left. Cool deal, did you site it in before shooting it?

[muddy]

a friend of mine decided a few years back that he wanted to be an outfitter, so he leased a couple of ranches, about 8,000 acres. he asked if i would help him on the first year for tips? so i worked 4 trophy hunts the first year for tips, the economy was good most of the hunters we had were developers and builders and tipped well. every year after i have been paid 10% of the package plus tips, now most of the hunters seem to be employed in the energy industry, the economy is a little tighter now, and even though, through managment the deer are better, the tips have decreased. most of these hunts are paid for by the energy companies, and the only money the hunter spends is the tip. a $100.00 tip for a 3 day trophy hunt which ends with the hunter harvesting a trophy is a sad joke, drop it and give the man 10% if he gave you 100%.

[Russ]

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

I don't know what kind of guide you were but every outfitt I have worked for has paid there "real" guides.
Its a little different I guess for some one that just helps on the weeknds and gets paid in hunts from a rancher but I don't think thats being a REAL guide.

A real guide spends countless hours scouting, filling feeders, fixing fences, ect... and who the heck would do all that for just being paid in hunts? I know my family could not survive on just hunts. That being said, I would definately say to every one "tip your guides"!!!!
You never know what there situation is and if they do a good job take care of them like you would want to be taken care of.

Also, Do not tip in goods!!! Knives, bino's, guns, tickets to the football game do not pay the bills for a guide. They are very much appreciated but when it comes down to it a real guide depends on money just like most people to survive!

[Russ]

This is what I was thinking. I hope you relly are a guide.

I never understood tipping. The guides set the prices and never guarantee a shot. Take elk hunting for example. $3500 per person for a 7 day hunt(and there are 2 hunters). Why in the world would I ever assume this guy is charging me the bare minimum so he can just barely live, while poaching a deer to feed his family(had to add this after reading the last thread LOL)?

Now fishing guides may be different depending on how they are set up. One guy owns the boat, and then the guide gets paid "X" amount. So you tip the deckhand if they helped a lot, and guide if they went above and beyond.

I just think it's like everything else in America now. People are just so spoiled and think they deserve everything. Even the worst people who only sometimes show up for work act like they are great employees.

This is where you are thinking wrong. Most guides don't make the pricing. The outfitter does. Thats like saying the waiter prices the menu items so why should I tip! Come on man think a little.

[Bassbucker]

ratterrier.... by your comments i have come to the conclusion that the licensed guides in san francisco california are not that good. why else would you travel all the way to the great state of TEXAS to hunt. how ever as a TEXAN i am glad that you traveled this far to spend all of the money that you have spent. hope the hog on your scooter did not spoil on your trip back to san fran sisko. thanks for your supporting the hard working folks here in TEXAS!!!

[bmac]

I tip based on there service and there attitude, but it is usually 20+%

[hogmess]

ratterrier.... by your comments i have come to the conclusion that the licensed guides in san francisco california are not that good. why else would you travel all the way to the great state of TEXAS to hunt. how ever as a TEXAN i am glad that you traveled this far to spend all of the money that you have spent. hope the hog on your scooter did not spoil on your trip back to san fran sisko. thanks for your supporting the hard working folks here in TEXAS!!!

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!

[Phi Phi Hunter]

Wow I have just become a better tipper by reading some of these posts! I do like knowing what TIPS truly stands for. When I go to a bar or restaraunt and get good or bad service, the tip reflects that. I don't tip on the taste of the food or if my bloody mary had too much tobasco, but if I don't see my wait staff and have to ask for a refill or ask where my salad is that will be reflected. They get paid by the establishment, but it's like sales the harder you work the more money you make, it's like a commission!

Waiters and guides can't control the weather or what someone else is doing, but if they make the effort to give you the best experience give them some monetary thanks!

[bowhuntermac]

Waiters and guides can't control the weather or what someone else is doing, but if they make the effort to give you the best experience give them some monetary thanks!

This!

Myself and the guides who work for me will slap work our butts into the ground, and we are fortunate in that 3 years on guided hunts, everybody has had an opportuinty for what they came for. Some couldnt close the deal, but they came they saw, they hunted.

[temple droptine]

I don't know what kind of guide you were but every outfitt I have worked for has paid there "real" guides.
Its a little different I guess for some one that just helps on the weeknds and gets paid in hunts from a rancher but I don't think thats being a REAL guide.

A real guide spends countless hours scouting, filling feeders, fixing fences, ect... and who the heck would do all that for just being paid in hunts? I know my family could not survive on just hunts. That being said, I would definately say to every one "tip your guides"!!!!
You never know what there situation is and if they do a good job take care of them like you would want to be taken care of.

Also, Do not tip in goods!!! Knives, bino's, guns, tickets to the football game do not pay the bills for a guide. They are very much appreciated but when it comes down to it a real guide depends on money just like most people to survive!

Head guide, and Chief guide on all places I have worked are employee's of the ranch (Ranchhand's). The guides are contracted out (for lack of better verbage). We are compensated by tips from clients, and room and board. Do we get a hunt at the owners expense.....Sure!! Is this the source of income my family survives on, heck no! Do I spend countless hours on blind, looking at photos, watching video from other guides, and owners, you betcha (it pays off in the end). Do I spend time mending fences, filling feeders, building blinds, repairing the blinds, bunk house, lodges...Dang right. Am I compensated at times for the labor I put in on those weekends (sometimes 5 days long) for sure! Who wouldn't expect that. What we are discussing on this thread is being paid as a guide working for an outfitter. In that capacity, I work for tips only. I have been doing this for a while, as has my whole family. The only time any of us have been paid is when we were an employee of the ranch.
So, with that being said. I am happy for you that you have found a paying guide service to work for. If it is your main means of income, I can honestly say you work your tail end off to provide for your family, and the tips you should receive are in monetary compensation. But, you do know that you can sale guns, bino's, knives and such to make those turn into cold hard cash? Don't turn them away.

-crb

[temple droptine]

This is where you are thinking wrong. Most guides don't make the pricing. The outfitter does. Thats like saying the waiter prices the menu items so why should I tip! Come on man think a little.

Thank you for clearing that up for him.

-crb

[LuckyShot]

I have been guiding for the past four years, and on average I recieve 8 - 20%. Regaurdless I have fun with my hunters. Some Hunters tip $100 a day and other use a % of the hunt. Unless you have guided you really do not know how much work a guide actually puts into a hunt. I send countless weekends just scouting and patterning deer so that my hunter has the best opertunity to take a trophy of a life time. But I will say that it is not all about the kill some of the best hunts I have guided on nothing was taken. Generally my hunter know that there is no garuntee that they will take something, but needless to say I work my tail off to get them a chance. Rule of thumb tip between 8 - 20% based on service not the kill.

[temple droptine]

I have been guiding for the past four years, and on average I recieve 8 - 20%. Regaurdless I have fun with my hunters. Some Hunters tip $100 a day and other use a % of the hunt. Unless you have guided you really do not know how much work a guide actually puts into a hunt. I send countless weekends just scouting and patterning deer so that my hunter has the best opertunity to take a trophy of a life time. But I will say that it is not all about the kill some of the best hunts I have guided on nothing was taken. Generally my hunter know that there is no garuntee that they will take something, but needless to say I work my tail off to get them a chance. Rule of thumb tip between 8 - 20% based on service not the kill.

I agree whole heartedly with everything you just said!
-crb