Tipping: guide is owner?

[niceg3s]

I've always been unsure....when guide is also owner, they collect the hunt fee. Is it customary to tip still? I've always considered tips as a way to supplement income in a service job, but not when they are also the one collecting the total revenue from the service. Thoughts? Ex. I don't tip my barber, who owns his own shop. I do tip a server getting $2.85/hr.

For bird guides, I keep a wad of $20 for hunts. I base the tips on the hunt quality and the guide knows about that wad, especially if I have been there before. If you got 4 guys, minimum is $100 for birds if you got a decent group of birds. If some guy can't shoot, it's not the guide or dogs fault. If the dog ain't shagging birds or holding points, that hurts the tip.

For turkey or big game, if walk home with something it's $100, if I walk home with a trophy $200+. If I wallk home empty, and it's my fault, he still gets a decent tip. If he never calls or trails any shooters, that's going to hurt the tip. The cost of the hunt figures in. Bigger hunts mean bigger tips. The numbers I give were what I did at the last quail/whitetail hunt I went on. About a $1500 hunt.

[niceg3s]

All prices should be built into what you are buying. Even restaurants. Owners should pay employees more. The only tip they should receive is feedback on if the service is good or bad. If its bad, then the waiter will know to change or they will be fired. The owner will also know when I dont return. Tips should only be for exceptional extra services provided.

You'd like Japan. It's an insult to tip, and they won't accept it anywhere you go.

[Gladesgator]

I was a fishing and duck hunting guide in FL for forty years and now am the owner/and sole guide on my deer and exotic ranch.
I have had only a couple of folks not tip me, for all those trips. I never expect a tip from anyone but I always do my best to put people on fish or game and I think that always came across to the clients.

If, the owner has one hunt and the choice of a non-tipper or a tipper, good chance the hunt will go to the tipper. That is just human nature, like it or not.

[Brad75]

I've been guiding for almost 13 years now full time and a tip is nice but, I understand that not all folks can afford a tip or much of a tip. I don't expect a tip for my hunters, most become really good friends and it just seems wrong. Most know that I will not accept a tip so they bring me gifts. Tips are a big part of my income that I can count on steadily. I like guiding and meeting new folks and making new friends, hanging around the camp fire and having a beer or a drink telling stories. It is as much about the experience for the guide as it is for the hunter. At least that is the way it should be! Most folks save up for a year or two just to go on a hunt. That being said, most of the time it is 5% to the house and 10%-15% to the guide. If you have a good hunt and your guide bust his rear end for you, successful or not, I always tip. Now, if I get crappy service, and the hunt was not as advertised, I will not tip nor will I go back.