How much to Tip ??????
 

I am going on a mule deer / whitetail deer hunt up in Alberta canada and the Owneris going to guide me now i usually tip the guide 10% if they were good and the cook and so on.

How much should i tip the owner?

Thanks.

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

Nothing seeing you are paying him for the hunt.

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

Well if the owner is a guide himself then i would tip the owner the common 10%.

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

I went on a lope hunt a few years ago for $1200and tipped $125 and when I found out the guide had to pay for his own gas I filled his tank.

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

I wouldn't tip the owner since he is getting paid for the hunt. If he provideds a great time and works hard I would consider giving him a 10% tip as a generous gesture of gratitude. If I get good service and the guide isn't the owner I usually tip 10 to 20%.

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

I have hunted with outfitter before and since the owner is guiding me i will probably give him a tip as long the hunt was as good as it was 4 years ago.

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

I am an outfitter and a guide. As much as it may suck -- I do judge a hunter by the tip he leaves me. No matter if the guide is the owner or not he is still your guide. If you stiff him on a tip your chances of a good return trip will be much less likely. I have a real problem with guys who obviously have plenty of money and stiff their guide. I am the outfitter and only half owner. All of the money given to the outfit goes into the outfit bank account. If I get a tip it is mine. Now I do not plan my season around the tips I expect, but I do judge the hunter by his ability and capability of giving a tip. There are times when a thank you is tip enough. I have one client who pays for his hunts by collecting cans. Honest. I would feel extremely privileged if I got a $10 tip from him. In fact I have refused a tip from him on a couple of occasions. At the same time I had a client from Staten Island bragging about all his money. He stiffed the guide. He tried to rebook and I told him I was full. Life is too short to cater to jerks who do not appreciate a hard effort by his guide -- be it guide/outfitter or owner. The guy who took you through your hunt is your guide and should be treated as such. Just this year I had a father and two sons come hunting with me. The father was obviously a hard working self made man. I really liked him a lot. His two sons were not bad guys but were obviously young men of means and privilege. I received a modest but adequate tip from the father and not one penny from either of the two sons. They wanted things from me such as pictures and information. I don't believe I feel inclined to help them. Unfortunately that is how I feel and right or wrong it is human nature.
So you can take that from a guy who has been there.

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

I think a tip is expected and the right thing to do. I have a question for the outfitters on this board: do you price your hunts with the mindset that the hunter will tip, or do you price them regardless of a tip. So, do you price a $4000 hunt at $4000 or at $3600, knowing that hunter will likely tip $300-500?

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

Hey Inester:
When we price our hunts it is all about accounting and a profit percentage first. In our case the profit percentage turned out to make the hunt cost too much. We try hard to be competetive with our prices. While I believe we are one of the best as far as trophy quality, quality of hunt and a success rate of 100%, I still try to set my prices in the middle of the price range for hunts in our area. So I guess to answer your question... tip is not figured into the price of the hunt in any way.
A tip should be given only if you feel your guide (owner or not) gave you an effort worthy of a tip. In a perfect world the tip would be based strictly on effort of the guide. However a tagged animal really makes a difference of the tip. I know the desire to tag a good trophy can very much sway the tip or at least the size of the tip. Sometimes the hunter cannot afford a 10% or 15% tip. If that is the case, tell your guide you would like to give him more but cannot afford to but you really appreciate his effort. A guide is always broke and would rather starve and hunt that have a real job with a desk or a computer to work at. Contrary to popular belief, guiding and outfitting is a labor of love because it very rarely can put groceries on the table for more than a couple months a year. If I was a full time outfitter, I would have to charge at least $1,000 more per hunt just to make a living. While I feel our hunts are worth that much (comparetively speaking) the high prices have to stop somewhere. At this point we are trying to do our part to keep the cost down as much as we can. One more thing about spending your hard earned money on a hunt with a guide or outfitter... call as many references as you can to make sure you are not getting screwed. That is your responsibility. If you get a bad hunt and didn't check the references... you can only blame yourself. CHECK REFERENCES.
Bugleward

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

Thanks for the reply, turkeyward. A good friend of mine worked his way through college guiding hunts on the King Ranch in South Texas. He guided some big names like Fuzzy Zoeller and Tommy Lee Jones. The amount of work he had to put in was ridiculous. Guides are severely underpaid.

To me, I have a set tip in mind before the hunt. If a guide lives up to expectations, he'll get that tip or maybe more. If he pisses me off or shirks a task, the tip goes down slightly.

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

Thanks Turkeyward for explanning that. I was wondering the same thing once inester mention that.

What is the name of your outfitting Bus.?

What do you hunt for?

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

I am a partner in ANTELOPE OUTFITTERS http://www.antelopeoutfitters.com/

Bugleward

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

i know guides don't make much money, and most, if not all, have other employment throughout the year. the elk guide i had last year was a high school biology teacher. the year before that was a ranch employee. i usually give 10%. i'd also tip the owner if he was my guide.

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

I guessI am confused about this expectancy of a tip and the feeling that it is owed to them!!!
gra·tu·i·ty

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/grəˈtuɪti, -ˈtyu-/Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[gruh-too-i-tee, -tyoo-]Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -ties.



1.
a gift of money, over and above payment due for service, as to a waiter or bellhop; tip.



2.
something given without claim or demand. [/align]
Everyone expects a tip nowadays **** theres even a tip jar in the local kwiky mart...give me a break here!!! If I used a outfitter and got crappy service and a mediocere hunt there would be NO tip..just because I might make good money is no reason for me to leave a bigger tip!!!! I feel that the tip expectation is getting way out of hand, if U have a job and get paid for it then be happy with whatU get !! and IF someone give U an extra little somthing then be extatic with that!!!! It is not your god given right to get a tip!!!!! and turkeyward what is the name of your business I want to make sure I never give U any of my money!!

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

finnbear:
The really cool part of this thread is that most decent intelligent people will easily peel the minor amount of bs in your post and be able to tell just what kind of jerk you are. I read another one of your posts that says if a friend shows you a honey hole then its fair game for you. You are exactly the kind of guy that all hunters have heard stories about. Weather or not you are paying for your hunt you always expect more than what you should. You are, I'm convinced, the kind of guy who would watch a $5 bill fall out of a kid's pocket in a Walmart or whatever... and step on it till you are sure no one is watching and then you would put it in your pocket. There are good, generous and decent people in the world and then are jerks like you. No matter what you are involved with you will always be a taker and you will answer for that. I am a true believer in God and in the reward and punishment system set forth in our religion. There is poetic justice in store for you. That is how I can feel there is nothing here for me to say to try to fix you. God will fix your attitude. Eventually. God bless you finnbear, cuz I am sure you have burned a lot of bridges and hurt a lot of folks in your wake. Good luck to you sir.

Bugleward

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

"if U have a job and get paid for it then be happy with whatU get !!"

finnbear, perhaps you should spend a month or two trying to survive as a waiter or waitress making 3 dollars or less an hour and needing tips to survive. Wake up Mr. Vanwinkle times have changed and if you are educated you should be able to figure out what type of job needs tips to make up for the poor wages paid. If not, well I guess U would respond just as you did.

No,I have never worked in the service industry.

turkeyward, excellent response and if I ever feel the need to chase a goat or two you will be the guy I call.

Paul

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

completely agree. when you get a guide who goes over the top in terms of getting into tough areas, hunts long and hard-- and pleasure to be with, that goes a long way with me. And, if you connect with game and fill your tags, just name your first born after him. just kidding. But to me, thats worth a ton.

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

turkeyward ;
Don't give up yer day job cause U sure aint gonna make it as a shrink!!!!!LOL!!! it's obvious that U know nothing about me or my values it is just U and your holier than tho values passing judgment on me!!kinda goes against the good book that U value so much!!!!

surf62;
been there done that worked for place paid $1.00 hr. I expected no tip, I did my job and collected my pay!!!
you people that are offended by my refusal to render a tip just because you feel that it is owed you tough!!!
tips are earned not not expected!!!!!!!

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

I've never used a guide for hunting, but I do scuba dive and it is pretty similar. I generally give a 10% to 20% tip depending on the service provided. If they are friendly and enjoyable to be around,they get toward the higher end of that. If they are grumpy and not so fun they get toward the lower end of that. I've dived with an outfit in Fiji where the owner was our dive guide and that was really enjoyable and he got a tip just like any dive guide would have.

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

Hey Finnbear:
I will give you this -- I do not know you and I am not a shrink. I will also agree that a tip is not guarenteed nor is it or should it be expected for a poor performance. However it is important to have the expectation of a tip if the performance is good or even better than that. I am however someone who is careful not be a holier than thou kind of guy. There are a lot of outfitters who act that way and to me that is unnecessary and unacceptable. What I will say is, I try to be a better person than you appear to be. I have read your other posts and you are certainly a taker with probably zero compassion for the challenges of others. I would guess your favorite response to someone with challenges is something like, "Tough... deal with it." Granted there are times when that is a good statement to make. You feeling a honey hole shown to you by a friend is now fair game to you and your previous points here, speaks volumes of your type of personality. If a fellow hunter or friend shows you his honey hole, that should be an absolutely sacred secret. You should never go there unless you are with that friend or you ask his permission EVEN IF IT IS ON PUBLIC GROUND. Any friend who would burn up a honey hole is not a friend. There just are some things that are not acceptable. I am sure I will not fix your ways and I am sure you think I am just some jerk with some unearned disdain for you and only you. I try to live every day in the field as though I was being filmed for a TV show to show anyone what it's like to be a good person who hunts or enjoys the outdoors. If you can say you would be proud to be filmed and show anyone what you do afield then I have mistakenly judged you wrong.

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

Like I say U don't know me for squat....I have stated and offered here on this forum to take people to my (honeyholes) with the full understanding thatI would expect them to use them!!! becauseI can assure U that if I found it someone else was there before me and after so it is NOT mine!!!!!!! I have even taken a person from these forums and shown him the canyon where I have taken 11 elk and countless deer from, plus invited him to the hospitality of my elk camp!!!
so climb down off of yer high horse and start to smell the coffee!!! I need not defend myself against your attacks!! and attacks they have been!! you are the one that says you expect a tip...I just said tip is earned and wheather a man is wealthy or poor has nothing to do with the size of the tip!!!!! you are the one who took offense to that remark!!
Hell when I was guiding on the Yakima river I charged a fee and that fee covered my expenses and wages..if i got a tip great...if not I was payed a fair price for my boat,strong back and knowledge of the river!!!!!

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

Hey guys:
I'm done with this nut.
Any way some good questions. Questions that are asked a lot and I try to answer it to best of my knowledge. Provided you don't have some sort of aversion to sanity like our friend finnbear. You should do OK with what I have suggested.
There may be some other points of view out there but what I have said here is pretty much what goes on out here in my part of the west. I would be happy to help if I can.

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

If outfitters paid guides a reasonable amount of money, tipping wouldn't be necessary at all. Seems to me the oufitters have plenty of money to lease up ranches and vast tracks of land, ought to be able to throw some of that cash to the men who actually make the operation work. I know a heck of a lot of guides out here who have been stiffed or short changed by outfitters. I guided a season for an outfit I was looking at purchasing, once involved, I ran out of it quick, I want nothing to do with that business anymore, or the special favors the western states bestow.[:@]

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

turkeyward;
for such an upstanding and religious god fearin man U sure are quick to hand out insults and call folks names just because they dissagree with U andrefuse to kiss yer ass and take yer word as the gospel!!! U have done nothing but insult me and call me names when all I did was make the statment that a tipis NOT required if service is poor it is only paid as a gift and or for exceptional service!!!

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

I have only ever hunted with one outfitter. I hunted fall Black bear in Alberta, where a good friend was guiding. I went up with the stipulation that I would help with running the bear baits, skinning, etc (everything that their guides did). I didn't want to sit in the lodge and wait til afternoon to hunt. Up before 6 am, loading bait, running to bait stations, filling, loading , running, filling, running, etc. I worked my tail end off keeping 36 stations open. Now I have another buddy that guides hunts in Texas, riding all day long and glassing, walking for miles, glassing, etc. It's a lot of work. Anyone who thinks it's easy should try it. Yes you should tip according to your experience, and how hard they tried to get you your trophy. But it boils down to hunting, if it was easy to get a trophy, they''d call it killin not hunting.

finnbear - whether you intend it or not, you have come across as a complete jack***. I can't believe that anyone would think that they have rights to a spot that their friend took them too. Remind me never to invite you to a honeyhole. You come across with the attitude that you are entitled to something, keep that up and you won't have any friends. Good friends are to be appreciated, not taken advantage of. Best of luck to you.

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

I guess I am just a ignant ole bastard....becauseI fail to see the sanctity of someones (honeyhole) likeI say if U found it someone else did too!! if it's on public land then it is for everyone to use!! and further more if ya don't want anyone to use it don't show it to folks!!!!! I've ran into people like U out in the woods before claiming this is their canyon or their hillside and I need to find anouther place to hunt..and on public ground ne less!!!! this holier than thu attitude is just funnier than hell coming from so called grown ups!!!! U folks here passing judgment are no better than U say I am!!!!! so shame on U

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

It's called respect, respect to your friend and his effort to find a honeyhole. Granted public land is far different than seeking and aquiring permission, finding a honeyhole then having a friend try and go behind your back and gain permission. Public land is exactly that but if I have permission to hunt and am allowed to bring a friend, I bring the "friend" with the expectation that he/ she isn't going to try and pull the rug out from under me. I have had this happen and it's lower than snake belly. They wouldn't even have known about it without the effort I put into it. I may not own the land I hunt but it is treated like it is, one property I hauled 3 truck loads of garbage out where people dumped it roadside. Again it's called respect, respect for the landowner, for your friends, for the effort and appreciation for taking them to one of your better spots. You are the one with the attitude, most call it the "entitlement" attitude, you feel that you are owed something that you haven't earned. I don't know you but your attitude lends me to believe that I am better off for not. Have a good day.

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

I guess I'm just thick in the head!! I keep talking about public land and yer whining about private land...I hunt no private land...there is too much public land where I'm from!!! and I have no place in any post in this forum said that I am entitled to hunt anyplace but public land and I don't care if it's where some outfitter is working or someone thinks it is their honey hole if it's public land I'm entitled to hunt it!!! and I'm gladI don't know U either!! I could not stand being around someone as narrow minded and judgmental as U are!!!

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

Turkeyward respectfully bowed out...so what the hell, I'll attempt to take over for him. (in my own low keyed manner).

finnbear, you appear to be a turd and should go lay in the back yard with the rest of them!!!

There is nothing wrong with giving a good tip for good service. One of my best friends was an Orvis endorsed flyfishing guide, and his tips were great, because of his results and his good attitude. Even with way above average tips it was hard for him to make a living. He had to quit and get a real job and it broke his heart.
I was just offered a job as a guide at one of Colorado's most expensive elk and mule deer ranches. It was a year round job because of the upland game hunts provided. I knowI could make a pretty good living there as a single man, but I didn't feel I could support my family or I would have taken the job.

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

luckydog...... U twit where did I say I would leave NO tip my comment wastips should not be required nor should your wealth or lack of, be a determing factor insize ofsaid tip!! I never saidI would not tip at all I said I would tuip if the service deserved it!!! U folks need to go back to 2nd grade and learn U're reading comprehention!!!

I guessI am confused about this expectancy of a tip and the feeling that it is owed to them!!!
gra·tu·i·ty

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/grəˈtuɪti, -ˈtyu-/Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[gruh-too-i-tee, -tyoo-]Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -ties.



1.
a gift of money, over and above payment due for service, as to a waiter or bellhop; tip.



2.
something given without claim or demand.
[/align]
Everyone expects a tip nowadays **** theres even a tip jar in the local kwiky mart...give me a break here!!! If I used a outfitter and got crappy service and a mediocere hunt there would be NO tip..just because I might make good money is no reason for me to leave a bigger tip!!!! I feel that the tip expectation is getting way out of hand, if U have a job and get paid for it then be happy with whatU get !! and IF someone give U an extra little somthing then be extatic with that!!!! It is not your god given right to get a tip!!!!! and turkeyward what is the name of your business I want to make sure I never give U any of my money!!


I have reread this post many times and fail to see what has gotten everyone all up set...all I said was if I got CRAPPY SERVICE there WOULD be NO TIP......which is pretty much what U said!!!!!! which was (There is nothing wrong with giving a good tip for good service) we both said the same thing but I said crappy service U said good service!!!!
I satand by my original post I will NOT give a tip just bercause someone thinks it is their right to get one talk about an entitlement attitude!!!!!!

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

d

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

Turd...tard...what's the difference?:eek:

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

I read thru Finnbears post and I agree with him 100%. He is saying that tips are EARNED, not expected. I can't believe that you people can't even read what a post means. I tip 20% when we eat out, if the service sucks, I tip nothing, plain and simple. You don't get a tip just by showing up, thats what yor wage is for, you get a tip forexcellent service.Unfortunately, many business rely on their customrs to compensate for their lack of decent pay, and I'm sick of that too. Before you get on here and hammer a poster, at least take the time to read and understand their post.[:@]

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

It's not always what you say but how you say it. Go back and reread his first post, he was being a total turd! Not called for. I have no problem with the wording of your post and neither would anyone else. You might feel the same way but you relay it differently.

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

U are right about folks not comprehending what they read mulie!! thanx for the heads up but I don't want U geting into hot water with these folks that seem to not be able to get their point across with out insulting some one or calling them names!!!! I fail to see what they are all hotted up about they have not once rebutted what I have said with a coherant statement , but have only been able to respond with insults!!! angain thanx for taking the time to read my post!!!!!

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

Finnbear:
First of all I am truly sorry this got out of hand. But truly the tone in your first post on this thread was an attack on me. At the end of your post you wrote you would like to know my company name so you could be sure to not do business with me. That is an absolute outright attack on a personal level. Your tone was absolutely offensive to me and others on this site. The attack was unnecessary and was not in the same tone as the thread up to the time you posted. You took a widely questioned and congenially answered exchange / discussion and turned it into a volley of destructive and angry rebuttals in one unnecessary attack. Your post is precisely how not to get respect in the world today. I do agree that a poor job or a poor effort does not deserve a tip. I will also repeat what I said before your attack on me... if one cannot afford a tip but you had a good hunt worthy of a tip then tell your guide you had a good hunt and would love to leave a tip but cannot afford one. He will understand. By the time the hunt is over he will have formed at least a minimal relationship with you and should know by then that you really cannot afford one and while he may be disappointed, he should understand.
Again I truly am sorry this turned out this way. I was trying to help out someone who had a genuine question that I have encountered several times in the past.
If I could make a suggestion to those of you using this forum, if you feel the need to post a negative opinion please take a minute or two and think about the direction your post will take the thread. Momma always said -- if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

Bugleward

by the way there was a statement about paying poor wages. Depending on length of service and experience, we pay as much as $300 a day to our guides that includes everything. How many of you people pay your employees that much or how many of you make that much? This is a temporary and non-educated job. Those are huge numbers. Also there was mention of outfitter having lots of money... I put in well over 2,000 hours a year in outfitting. My profit has averaged about $3,000 a year. The guides and landowners make far more money than I do. Please before you make those harsh judgements you should do some research. True there are some folks out there making a lot of money outfitting. Those are really few and far between. Thanks for listening.

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

Very well expressed turkeyward! Obviously your a gentleman.

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

Here's to ya Turkeyward!

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

well in all fairness this is what I took offense to......

I am an outfitter and a guide. As much as it may suck -- I do judge a hunter by the tip he leaves me. No matter if the guide is the owner or not he is still your guide. If you stiff him on a tip your chances of a good return trip will be much less likely. I have a real problem with guys who obviously have plenty of money and stiff their guide.

The way it is worded it comes across as U deserve a tip and are entitled to one no matter what!!! and that is what I object to, andI would not do business with a company that has that attitude!! I whole heartedly agree that folks should think before they post

RE: How much to Tip ??????
 

Finnbear:
Thanks for the softening of the tone. I believe we both feel like we could have been more gentlemanly with our words. You may not be as bad a guy as I first thought. If you would take a closer look at my post you spoke of and read it carefully, I really was trying to give an isight into the inner workings of the business from my point of view to help answer the guy's question. I will tell you I am a bit embarassed by how I judge folks on their tip. If I was speaking to the public I would just a soon not even talk about the truth. But that is the truth and for the most part every guide I know pretty much feels the same way. We have an expectation of a tip because we really try hard to do the best things for our hunters/clients. I also have some reservations about talking about the rich guys who leave either a poor tip or even stiff the guide. All of the bad tippers are well off guys. Now not all the well off guys are bad tippers. In fact the best tips come from well off guys but almost always it's the self made man. That's how the statement comes from bad tippers. Again, sorry for the statement but it is the truth as I have experienced it. That is the reason for the statement on my brochure about, "If you want a wine and cheese tray for brunch, you need to look elsewhere for your outfitter." Unfortunately for my bank account my motives for outfitting really are more noble than some might think. I could charge more but don't. I could get bigger but don't. Mostly because I really do try to do it right and for the right reasons. I got into outfitting because I knew I could do better than the outfitters I have hunted with. I figured the hunting world would appreciate a guy who really tries to do it right from the hunter's perspective. Now Finnbear you may think I am trying to be holier than thou here but that's not it. I really do try to do things right for the right reasons. My rush to judge you was from a defensive posture, I apologize. Maybe we could get together some day. Who knows maybe you could show me one of your honey holes... lol Sorry my friend but I hope you understand my not showing you any of my honey holes... lol

Best wishes -- god bless
Bugleward.