Gratuity on Hunts?

[DRT]

Like a prolonged drought,?

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[Bruiser]

weird industry and expectations. I always tip a fishing guide cause hes putting me on the fish. now is this hunt hi fence vs low fence. i would tip if it was low fence but high fence not ive been on some of those ranches lol

[M16]

i would tip if it was low fence but high fence not ive been on some of those ranches lol

You should expand your horizons. Not all high fence places pen raise and bottle feed their deer. Or kick them out of a trailer. Hunting pressure makes a much bigger difference than the height of the exterior fence.

[outlook8]

For the guide, 20% minimum if they work hard; doesn't matter if they own the outfit or not. Doesn't matter if the hunt is successful or not.

Plus, tip the cook ~$50/day and any other helpers accordingly assuming they do their job and work hard. Recently I did a pack hunt, and I tipped the pack girl a couple hundred for packing me out a couple days early.

Also, especially with some of these younger guys, I make a point to discuss the tipping with them. Are the tips pooled? What's considered a 'good' tip? They generally don't expect much for their hard work, and it's nice to reward them.

Maybe I over tip, but maybe my tipping and general good attitude is why I get invited back for specials and discounted hunts.

[cehorn]

I think it should be in the fee I pay for the hunt and the guide should be paid by outfitter/ranch owner.
However, it isn’t so if I am going to book a hunt I’m going to tip 10-20%. However, if the hunt is 10k plus I doubt I’m tipping 20%. Like said earlier the amount of work for a 140” whitetail and 170” isn’t much difference in guide work.


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This is pretty much where I'm at as well. To put a different perspective on it, a weekend hunt will likely be 2 days or 16 hours. Yes I know the guide will likely work more than 16 hours in those 2 days. But in 2 days I typically work more than 16 hours as well for a salary. I make decent money which is say $75 per hour. 75x16=$1200. So whether the animal taken is a $2k animal, a $10k animal or a $50k animal, I don't know if I should be on the hook for a $150k a year rate or more for the guide. That $1500 tip should be good independent on the animal or animal's price, again that is over $150k a year rate. I'm by no means saying I'm better than any guide or any other profession for that matter but I'm not sure a guide should be paid on or above the level of a doctor, lawyer, engineer, etc. with professional licenses that can lead to huge lawsuits, etc.

[Bruiser]

hi fence or low fence which do you tip more or at all

l

[TX GW]

I usually do 10-15% to the guide and tip the cook or others that made the hunt enjoyable. You can always check with the owner or manager what is appropriate, and put the tip directly in the hands of the person you want it to go to, they will appreciate it greatly.

[bullets13]

You have never owned a ranch obviously. Unless land is given to someone or they're already rich the land almost never makes a profit.

Please do the math and show me how I can buy enough land to sell hunts on and walk away with land plus a pile of money. Maybe I've been doing it all wrong the last 8 years We do everything we can think of to bring in income to make the ranch lose less money. Sold hunts, cabin is BnB, run cattle etc.


What? That's like saying a bass fishing guide that helps you land a 6 pound bass is the same as one that helps you land a 12 pounder.

Bucks don't magically grow on every ranch. There are a hundred things that happen from Jan once season ends all the way until hunting begins.

Point remains: if you weren’t making money off the hunts, you wouldn’t do them. I wasn’t trying to imply that ranch owners are getting rich off of hunts, but if it wasn’t financially beneficial, you wouldn’t go to the trouble of selling them. I do see how that could be interpreted from how I worded my post. If you sell several hundred thousands worth of hunts a year, that’s a pile of profit. I get that it may not make the ranch profitable, but it in itself is still a very profitable endeavor.

As to your comment about the size of the bass: in reference to the amount of work going into bigger deer, that would fall on the ranch owner, right? The expense and everything else? Point being that the guide, especially in the less challenging hunts, is doing a similar amount of work regardless of the score of the deer, which leads to a debate as to whether the tip should be significantly larger just because the horns are bigger. Obviously the hunt itself will cost more due to all the things that the ranch owner is doing to grow them, and the ranch owner will make more money for bigger bucks.

[KX500]

It's a fine line isn't it?

Outfitters have to advertise a good price, to get you to think 'I can afford that' and get you to call and book. Then, if you don't figure out this (somewhat) hidden cost, you suck and then they'll do what they can to never take your business again - unless maybe they happen to have an opening....

I get it, but have always hated the 'unwritten rules' and stuff that requires reading between the lines.

But since that it was is required here, I'll take a few of these things a bit further.

If I'm a great client (respectful, safe, does whatever guide says, etc) but don't tip or undertip-not welcome back. Doesn't matter how much you got right, got the critical thing wrong.

If I'm among the worst clients (opposite of al the above) but tip well and more importantly spend a lot of money - absolutely welcome back! Doesn't matter how much you got wrong, got the critical thing right.

And there is always the possibility that some of these outfitters that are saying this guy or that guy ain't coming back - heck, maybe they don't want to. Whatever you're selling, others are too. But then this is known since the price advertised isn't what the clients are expected to pay.

One thing I know: 1) Average almost always works. And another thing I'm pretty sure of - I'm pretty forgettable.

So, no I'm not going to try to wow anybody with some way above average tip, because there are probably 10 others who have out tipped that (whatever it was).

I killed a nice Axis buck on one of my last trips to Texas. Almost every thing about hunt was really good. Guide got a 10% tip even though I don't think I really got more than 6 hours of his time. No real problems with the guide exactly, but he did regale me with some of the stories of wealthy clients that come (frequently) and spend lots of money. Met the owner and he had many more stories of how basically nobody comes here and only kills one animal. Maybe I read too much between the lines, but it very much seemed like I was not the kind of client they were looking for because I didn't spend enough money!

Can't say for sure, but maybe they wouldn't want me back, unless of course ,they had an opening....

[Texans42]

This is pretty much where I'm at as well. To put a different perspective on it, a weekend hunt will likely be 2 days or 16 hours. Yes I know the guide will likely work more than 16 hours in those 2 days. But in 2 days I typically work more than 16 hours as well for a salary. I make decent money which is say $75 per hour. 75x16=$1200. So whether the animal taken is a $2k animal, a $10k animal or a $50k animal, I don't know if I should be on the hook for a $150k a year rate or more for the guide. That $1500 tip should be good independent on the animal or animal's price, again that is over $150k a year rate. I'm by no means saying I'm better than any guide or any other profession for that matter but I'm not sure a guide should be paid on or above the level of a doctor, lawyer, engineer, etc. with professional licenses that can lead to huge lawsuits, etc.

You are comparing yearly salary to seasonal work. That’s how you end up not staffed or understaffed as a business owner. Regardless what you think his skill level is entitled to YOU booked the hunt, you know the costs a head of time.

There will always be difference in opinions. There is also a huge difference in outfitters and hunt types. Big difference between an Archery Elk hunt and a TX WT hunt.

Again if you want to go back take care of the guides. This gets to be a bigger deal on the higher end hunts/outfitters.

Don’t treat anyone in camp like the help, remember your money maybe green but it’s your sincerity that’s being judged. The Better the outfitter, the less he needs you or your money.

[cehorn]

You are comparing yearly salary to seasonal work. That’s how you end up not staffed or understaffed as a business owner. Regardless what you think his skill level is entitled to YOU booked the hunt, you know the costs a head of time.

There will always be difference in opinions. There is also a huge difference in outfitters and hunt types. Big difference between an Archery Elk hunt and a TX WT hunt.

Again if you want to go back take care of the guides. This gets to be a bigger deal on the higher end hunts/outfitters.

Don’t treat anyone in camp like the help, remember your money maybe green but it’s your sincerity that’s being judged. The Better the outfitter, the less he needs you or your money.

That is the whole point of the thread. You don't know the costs ahead of time because tipping guide, cook, whoever else may be associated. It is a crappy business model whether it is hunting or restaurant industry in which the people that don't understand/agree/whatever else are made to be the ******* and the person whose fault it is outfitter/ranch owner is the victim. Well the guide ends up being the victim which sucks for them. The crappy thing is it is always the server that gets the shaft which again is a result of a horrible business model based on deception. The deception I'm talking about is the statement made earlier that the outfitter can't advertise an all inclusive price because people would book with someone else. So, the outfitter plays games to get people's business?

I agree wholeheartedly with treating anyone like help. I can't sit back and watch anyone work without pitching in whether it is loading corn before a hunt, putting it out before a hunt, loading the animal, cleaning the animal, etc. I would/will always help with any and all of that

[Texans42]

That is the whole point of the thread. You don't know the costs ahead of time because tipping guide, cook, whoever else may be associated. It is a crappy business model whether it is hunting or restaurant industry in which the people that don't understand/agree/whatever else are made to be the ******* and the person whose fault it is outfitter/ranch owner is the victim. Well the guide ends up being the victim which sucks for them. The crappy thing is it is always the server that gets the shaft which again is a result of a horrible business model based on deception. The deception I'm talking about is the statement made earlier that the outfitter can't advertise an all inclusive price because people would book with someone else. So, the outfitter plays games to get people's business?

I agree wholeheartedly with treating anyone like help. I can't sit back and watch anyone work without pitching in whether it is loading corn before a hunt, putting it out before a hunt, loading the animal, cleaning the animal, etc. I would/will always help with any and all of that

I don’t really understand the confusion. I’ve assumed it’s second nature whether it’s a restaurant or Hunt, that I know the cost is going to adjust up 15-20% for a tip. Just like when you Valet or at the bar. Do you want to stand inline or does the bartender see you and you are being waved forward?

I think the issue is someone goes to dinner gets a 100 bill it’s easy to add another $20. Book a 10k hunt and all the sudden don’t want to spend another 1500-2k,

It’s pretty cut and dry theme on this thread. If you want priority to come back, take care of the guides and staff. If you don’t then, tip what would you expect yourself to be tipped for same service.

I’m not an outfitter so I don’t care, I’m simply relaying how I stay a priority client with outfitters I book with and get referrals and references from to book with other outfitters for different type hunts.

[jnd1959]

Bottom line, if I'm tipping, I control what I pay directly to the guide and the guide knows it. If I enjoyed the hunt and want to be a return customer, tip decently, don't be a jerk and listen to the guide. If I'm paying a flat fee then what are my guides motivations. If they're just taking me to a stand it's not a big deal. But if you think he's going to hike the extra three miles in to put me on a 280 elk when he can put me on a 250 when I stiffed him last time then you don't understand human nature.

You'd still get people tipping in some fashion even on a flat fee hunt.

I think the defining difference is whether you view it as a one time transaction or an ongoing relationship. I anticipate that all my guided trips are about a relationship. Therefore I plan for tips and tip what the service is worth.

[Deer Tracks]

Gratuity on Hunts?

You are comparing yearly salary to seasonal work. That’s how you end up not staffed or understaffed as a business owner. Regardless what you think his skill level is entitled to YOU booked the hunt, you know the costs a head of time.

There will always be difference in opinions. There is also a huge difference in outfitters and hunt types. Big difference between an Archery Elk hunt and a TX WT hunt.

Again if you want to go back take care of the guides. This gets to be a bigger deal on the higher end hunts/outfitters.

Don’t treat anyone in camp like the help, remember your money maybe green but it’s your sincerity that’s being judged. The Better the outfitter, the less he needs you or your money.

This guy gets it - well said.

I will add for those of you saying you don’t believe in tipping even 8-10% for a $10,000+ animal….
You shot a world class animal…that your guide put you on. You wouldn’t have it without them.
If the guide worked hard for you and you had the experience of a lifetime, and took the trophy of a lifetime, why would you not reward them with bonus money?
Trophy hunting is a 100% luxury. If you afford a $20,000 whitetail or $100,000 record book bighorn you can afford to tip your guide a couple thousand on top of that.


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[cehorn]

Trophy hunting is a 100% luxury. If you afford a $20,000 whitetail or $100,000 record book bighorn you can afford to tip your guide a couple thousand on top of that.


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So which is it a couple grand or 10-20%? I don't know that I have seen anyone have a problem with $1k-$2k, but a $10-20k tip seems like a lot for a weekend. But why not just charge $24k for the hunt (instead of $20k) and have the outfitter give $4k to the guide vs playing the whole 10%, 20%, $1k, $4k game? Seems like it would eliminate a lot of butt hurt all the way around. You as a guide know what you are getting and work accordingly and anyone as the customer writes one check and they are done.