YellowLab:

I have never been on a guided hunt, but I know fellows that guide for landowners for extra income. You might pay the landowner/outfitter $3,500 for a 7 day hunt, and the guide might get $150/day, each day you hunt. If you fill your tag early, the guide is paid less money, other outfits pay the guide a fixed rate regardless of whether you fill you tag or not. I would ask the guide how he is paid, and although I don' t think you should make up for the full slack of greedy landowners, I would give him more money if he worked hard but was getting paid less because he did a good job for me. Additionally, one guide might get a $500 tip and be ecstatic, another might get the same tip and be grumpy. I would say the guys I know that guide would say 10% of the outfitter fee is a good tip and 20% outstanding, but they do the cooking, game care etc.