Guide Tip Etiquette

[Coondog]

Pa Ridge Runner... <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

NEVER give a gift as a tip! While you may think it nice to offer him a knife there is nothing he wants more than $$, how many knives is he offered in a season?[/b]

I totally disagree with that.. While they would probably prefer to have cash, a lot of them like the gifts just as well. I have seen some of the guides on this site post how much they like getting a gift. My cousing guides a lot of hog hunts and gets knives, guns, etc. and he absolutely loves getting them. The way he sees it, they are charging plenty for the hunt, the knife is icing on the cake... Besides, I would much rather have a high quality hunting knife than a $20 bill anyday....

 

[Pa Ridge Runner]

Coondog: if you wish to dispute me fine go ahead. But at least if you are using a quote use the full text, not bits and pieces.
I guided most my life in Ak fishing trips freshwater and all types of hunts. Sure I have a few nice gifts like a pair of Zeiss binos, a Gore Tex rain suit,etc. But I also got plenty of Wally World knives, cheap spotting scopes and the likes. None of which put food in the frig for the kids or paid the loan on my boat.
Quote this if you want: There are also many clients that the guide won't accept a tip of any amount from it is a pleasure to spend time outdoors with them. AS well there are also many that are a true pain in the a$$, and the guide and outfitter can't wait till they leave . Most of those are of the mindset that they can just pay more to have more fun.
I had a more than a few "sports" on $10,000 sheep hunts offer me $1000 to climb up that !@#$%^ mountain an shoot me 40" Dall.
I've also had MEN that I knew darn well were on a trip they had to borrow the $ to make. And in all likelihood would never get to go on again. That I was glad to see make a great shot on a mediocore ram. At hunts end I just smiled when they offered me a $50 bill. Then took them to town and bought them dinner and a few beers with it.
Tipping of any sort boils down to be a personal issue, not one to be debated.

 

[EL CAZADOR]

So who is on the list to not tip?

We're supposed to tip: servers, baristas at Starbucks, pizza delivery guy, deckhands and cooks, the list goes on.

Should I tip the cashier at Nordies? Do I get a tip when the books are reconciled at the end of the month? You know what, I'm going to start tipping my mailman because he's alway placing the mail nice and neat in the box (oh wait, we already are supposed to be giving them a Christmas gift every year!). Here's one, if you get a fast pump at the gas station, go ahead and tip the bozo behind the 3 inch glass plate.

Besides servers, I'm thoroughly convinced that TIPPING was merely a scheme developed by those who didn't make a wage worth a darn. Why can't employers pay there employees a decent wage to begin with!

Why should you pay $4k for a guided elk hunt and THEN have to tip on top of that? Isn't that what the $4k was for? Or was the $4k for the experience? BS!!

 

[Pa Ridge Runner]

EL C. , the 4K was for the chance to sleep in a tent with snow on the roof atop a pile os straw, a no fire camp cause of the drought, fried food 3 meals a day for a week, waiting for horses that wandered off when turned out to pasture overnight, a guide that hunted in a dirty western style shirt and jeans while you wore your $250 Scentlock suit, AND the outfitters new 4x4,new stock trailer,new motorhome,trips to conventions,his freebie give away hunts,etc.
The tips were for the guides,cooks,horse wranglers that the outfitter dug up the day you arrived cause the last ones relaized the outfitter's promise of min. wage and tips was never going to happen on one of his hunts and quit after 1 trip.

 

[Speckmisser]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

The tips were for the guides,cooks,horse wranglers that the outfitter dug up the day you arrived cause the last ones relaized the outfitter's promise of min. wage and tips was never going to happen on one of his hunts and quit after 1 trip.[/b]

Amen and well put!

I haven't been on a whole pile of guided hunts, but I've talked to enough guides and helpers to know that they're not rolling in cash... especially not the trickle-down from that $4K you dropped on the hunt.

If you've met most of these people, you see real quick that they're mostly salt-of-the-earth folks who just happen to have a love of the outdoors and a good set of skills. They don't usually get paid much, and many times they're lured to the job solely by the promise of what they can make on tips. The ones who stay with it are usually those who simply love what they're doing despite the fact that the money never really materializes.

That's not to say, of course, that all the owner-operators and outfitters are fat cats, rolling in wealth at the expense of the hired help. You're not likely to find too many of them who are able to rely on the job as a single income... even when you do pay 4 or 5K to go on their hunts.

Tipping is merely a means of compensation for service employees. Whether it's waiters, guides, or shoe-shine boys, it's what they rely on. Their employers pay them low wages because the tips are supposed to make up the difference.

I'll go a little further too.

For those who believe tipping is BS, I'd suggest discussing that with the outfitter when you first plan the hunt. Ask what tipping is expected, and let the outfitter know your stance. While he may or may not do anything of the sort, I'd expect an honest man to let his employees know not to expect anything from you.

How that impacts your hunt, of course, is purely up in the air.

 

[bighorn67]

I take a guided fishing trip to a ranch in CO every summer. I get the same guide each time. He always provides lunch which is usually burgers, or if I'm lucky, elk steaks which he cooks on the grill. All of the trimmings are included as well. I'm sure that the lunch comes out of his pocket. I'm glad to return some of that to him. If the guide obviously goes above and beyond the call of duty I think they should be tipped.

Dave

 

[Coondog]

Wow Pa... maybe you should go back and roll out of the other side of the bed!! I am not debating you just disagreeing with generalized statement you made. Maybe you do not like gifts, but I was simply pointing out that some dont mind.. Search through some of the posts on here and you will hear it straight from the horses mouth.. At any rate, it seems I might have offended you and that was not the case.. Just stating my opinion and

(actual value may vary)...

 

[Pa Ridge Runner]

yeah maybe I need my afternoon nap! I am getting a little cranky. Think I'll mix a Windsor & Geritol and fall asleep in the hammock.

 

[Coondog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Think I'll mix a Windsor & Geritol and fall asleep in the hammock. [/b]

That is pretty funny!!

 

[yotegetter]

Speck - When I go to a guide is to hunt, not throw my cash around that I also work hard for and, what a coincidence, I'm also a fan of the outdoors. Be a little more realistic, who in the hell is going to tell the guide or server, "Sir or Ma'am, I'm not going to tip you today so go ahead and do the shittiest job possible. The money I'm paying for the service or food isn't worth squat"

Don't think so....

 

[Hogskin]

Haven't seen you around in awhile, Yotegetter, welcome back.

 

[Speckmisser]

Originally posted by yotegetter@Jun 16 2004, 08:18 PM
Be a little more realistic, who in the hell is going to tell the guide or server, "Sir or Ma'am, I'm not going to tip you today so go ahead and do the shittiest job possible. The money I'm paying for the service or food isn't worth squat"

Don't think so....

Yotegetter, that's exactly my point.

The fact that you (or anyone) wouldn't be willing to say up front, "I'm not tipping," shows that you know they're working for tips or they wouldn't be working. So when you go on a hunt and get that great service, then leave without tipping... well, I guess you can be proud of yourself for getting one over on those suckers. But to me, you stiffed the help.

As I said before, if the guide owns the operation, that's a different story. But if you're writing the check out to anyone besides the guide or the help, then they're working for your tips.

It's a built-in part of the industry. A lot of these people rely on it since their base pay is pretty low. Just as with waiters and waitresses, tips are considered part of their compensation, and are used as motivation to encourage service. But then, shoot, I know people who don't tip at restaurants either, and still get good meals. I think they're kinda jerks, but if it makes them happy...

The bottom line is, it's YOUR money. Do with it as you will. But in my opinion, if you can afford to go on a guided hunt (or eat at a nice restaurant), then you should be able to afford to give a little extra to the people who make the experience special.

 

[bigtusker]

The first person that comes to my place and hands me any money cut in half then tells me I'll get the other half if I earn it is gonna get the 1st half shoved up their arse and an escort to the county road.

 

[Bishop]

Originally posted by bigtusker@Jun 21 2004, 08:24 AM
The first person that comes to my place and hands me any money cut in half then tells me I'll get the other half if I earn it is gonna get the 1st half shoved up their arse and an escort to the county road.

Great point. Don't you just hate rude, condescending people.

 

[Arrowslinger]

Chopper, I feel sorry for that first SOB that tries it.

But you know someone will.

 

[bigtusker]

I've seen all kinds. Some guys I take hunting are just @$$h*^&$ in general. Others are great. I've had several guys from this forum on hunts and the majority are great people. I do semi-guided hunts, so I dont expect too many tips. It's those times when I stay out till midnight with my dog trying to find a hog that some guy gutshot, and we actually recover it, that a tip would be in order and much appreciated. It's hard for a working stiff like most of the guys on this site to pony up a big tip after they have saved their money all year just to go on a guided hunt, especially one of the high dollar mule deer or elk hunts. But a guide who is working for an outfitter, making little or nothing really appreciates the money. Just dont offend 'em by dropping $5 or $10 on the tip. Give what you can.

 

[boyntosj]

I think tipping is a personal choice and should be dictated by what the hunter can afford. I also agree that if the owner is the guide, I generally don't tip.

That said, I usually tip $100 per day-some of y'all may not consider that much, but that's all I can afford. I tip whether or not I have a succesful shot or even if I don't see anything. I primarily hunt turkeys and use a guide if I go out of state. Being a woman, I don't like just being dropped off in the woods alone for several hours in an unfamiliar place even if I DO have a gun or a bow. I have NEVER had a guide who did not do the best he could to find me a good shot. A guide can't make something be where it doesn't want to go-all he can do is put you where there ought to be something and HAS historically been there.

I live in South Carolina and have sole hunting access to about 8,000-10,000 acres of private land; if killing were my only goal, I can do plenty of that. I hunt for the experience and if someone does his best to make it enjoyable for me, well, I feel he deserves a tip. I also believe what goes around comes around.

Just my opinion.
Jen