RE: tipping your guide
Being an outfitter and a guide, I've got to agree with what everyone is basicaly saying here.
You know who can and can't afford a tip. The guides do not care if they don't get a tip from the ones who they know can't afford it. They are happy just showing them a good time and hopefully starting a good friendship is sometimes the best tip anyone can get.
10% is usually a good rule of thumb if you can afford it.
Here is something to remember when tipping.
Fishing or hunting.... The outfitter or lodge is paid for everything offered. It is his job to ensure that you are in a good area for fishing or hunting. He does all the "grunt work" and research to make sure this happens so that you get what you paid for and hopefully come back.
Some people will tip a guide lots for "the trophy" that he or she may get, but in reality you already paid the outfitter for that oppertunity to get "the trophy" and that is what a good outfitter or lodge will provide.
The guide is there to provide you with service. This is what you should be tipping on wheather you got the trophy or not. It is not his responsibility to get you the trophy but it is his responsibility to ensure you have a good time. He is being paid to do this as his job, but the things to look at is...
Is he making sure you are satisfied with your trip?
is he going beond what a normal guide will do?
when you forget you're rain coat he might tell you to stay there while he goes all the way back for it, or just lends you his.
He might move to numerouse spots to ensure everything works out a little better.
He might take you fishing or for a ride once you're hunt is over somewhere so that you still have a busy day just to keep you happy.
Bottom line is when you see you're guide going the extra mile to ensure you have a good time (which any guide I've ever known does this) let him know that you notice it and that you apreciate it with an affordable tip. A small one if you can't afford it and a large one if you can.
don't not come on a trip just because you can't afford a tip. Come and start saving to come again another time.
The guides know if you can't afford it and they know they've done a good job when they find out you're trying to save up some more money to come back again.
happy hunting,
shoot straight
Mark