for those of you who have used full service outfitters-- guides, wranglers, cooks, etc. any pros/cons re tipping of the hands...end of the hunt is I guess more traditional. but in some cases I have heard of partial tipping up front-- any experiences w this-- obviously the bigger tips come at the end, based on service levels, etc. anyone w perspectives please share... thanks.

Tipping would be at the end of a "successful" hunt. I gave my guide the teeth from my Elk. He was very happy with that. I gave the wrangler and the cook that packed my Elk out and took it to the butcher shop for me a couple of bucks. They were pleased.
Depends on how the hunt goes.

T

I have never heard of doing that?Is there a particular reason or am I just missing the meaning?

there are certain teet in a elk that are ivory and worth a several dollars

Ivory=Dollars.

T

I'm not sure why you would want to tip someone ahead of time? As I understand it, TIPS stands for "To Insure Proper Service" right.... A good reputable guide should be taking you to the best spots regaurdless of a up front tip...

I would wait to see how the hunt goes. If the guide works his tail off, does a good job, is courtous, etc. then I would tip him regaurdless. Obviously more if successful.

It would suck to give the guy $100 up front (or whatever)and then he's a total slacker the whole hunt - wouldn't want to reward that!!

thanks in weighing in, have heard different approaches. makes sense to just wait entirely, till the week is over-- If they try hard and deliver service, its one number-- if its truly agreat hunt, successful in many ways-- wouldbe a different number. Lets hope the other option is out of the question...

ya I don't see the point to tipping before the hunt, I suppose a nice tip may make a guy want to work harder for you, but I've never heard of that, and I could htink, it may actually have the opposite affect in the real world, a guy working for his tip should i think work a bit harder than the guy who already has a good tip in hand. Also I could see guys getting the wrong impression, liek this jerk's throwing his money around.

I have been on 3 guided hunts and always tipped at the end. Giving elk ivorys as a tip is kind of lame since they aren't worth more than a few dollars..