Do you tip ranch owners?

[sdbowyer]

I know you tip guides, but what if you're dealing with a owner/guide.  Should he be tipped if you're allready paying him his fees?

 

[One Track]

Good question.  I  would probably offer him a tip. If he declined, I wouldn't force it on him. That's kinda like getting your car detailed by the guy that owns the detailing company. I dont' tip him.  I think the owner of the business shouldn't receive a tip.  He's keeping all the profit.  I always tip the hired help. There's probably a few who will disagree with me, like the detailing guy.

 

[Speckmisser]

This isn't necessarily relevant, but common tipping etiquette (ask Ms. Manners) is that you don't tip the owner of a business.  

On the other hand, if the rancher helped a lot or did most of the work (dragging, skinning, bushwhacking...etc.), I'd probably offer a tip just to show I appreciate the hard work.  Of course, me and Ms Manners never really got along anyway.  

 

[Rick]

I think a gift or sharing the game is usually appreciated.  If you're hunting a ranch regularly, then the gift is even more appropriate.

 

[RIFLEMAN]

I have never tipped a rancher monetarily, but I have done much of the following in order to gain and keep free permission:
*provided them with all kinds of butchered game, regardless of whether I harvested on their land or not.
*done fencing work for them.  A rancher's fenceline is always in need of repair
*been at their place at a moment's notice (within a day or so) to respond to problems with wildlife such as bears in the bee boxes, hogs in crops, and lions around their stock.
*brought horse and dog feed for them.

 

[Speckmisser]

Hey SD,

I guess I could've asked for clarification before...

Was the rancher a professional guide, or did he just let you hunt his property?  If you didn't pay to hunt in the first place, then a monetary tip might not be appropriate.  In that case, like some of the other guys suggest, sharing the game, a nice thank you note and gift would suffice.  

If, on the other hand, guiding is his business and you paid to be there, then a tip would be more appropriate, but it's up to you.

 

[sdbowyer]

Well what I ended up doing is paying the rancher just his fee.  He had a hand helping me out during the hunt and I tipped him for his efforts.  All seemed happy.