What is going on with tipping culture in the hunting industry?

[Sabre]

What is going on with tipping culture in the hunting industry?

I have always been a person who has tipped well, typically quite a bit higher than what I have seen from others, this is true from restaurants to hunting. I generally enjoy tipping well.

However, recently I have noticed a trend with outfitters of “recommending” a tipping percentage. A lot of times the tipping percentage starts at around 20% as the low end.

I have especially noticed it for North American hunts or outfits in other countries owned by US residents.

The recommendation from the outfitter often goes something like this: “I often get asked how much to tip your guide, I would recommend 18-25% for an average hunt and 30% or greater for a spectacular hunt or if you get a spectacular trophy animal”. I have even seen some where they have outright said that if you tip below 15-20% they will expect that you won’t be booking with them again. Which of course, reading between the lines is saying you will be fired as a client if you don’t tip at least 15%.

Of course there is almost always a blurb in there about how your tip should not depend on success and you should still tip very well even if you don’t have success. This is always a bit of a paradox considering they also point out that you should definitely tip more if you get an animal, especially a good trophy animal. I am still trying to figure out how that works…..

All of this comes at the same time as guided hunting prices doubling and tripling in price within a very short time. The price of the hunt doubling or tripling like that already doubles or triples the average tip, but now the hunter is being told that around 20% is basement level tipping on top of their hunt.

This means that if a person books a 5 day $10,000 mule deer hunt. Their base tip, whether successful or not, should be around $2,000. So, they expect AT LEAST $400/day tip. And if you are successful you should bump that up to at least $3,000; $500/day tip.

As a person that already tends to tip well, reading that type of stuff makes me feel like good tips aren’t even appreciated, they are just expected. If that is the case, then just put the cost into the price of the trip and be done with it.

 

[SCHUNTER73]

It is interesting for sure. Seems to go along with the culture these days. The whole “if you can afford to be here, you can afford the tip” seems to be the expectation.

 

[PARA45]

On my first safari, a young PH non-verbal was apparent that it took by surprise. I was not obviously happy with his reaction but brushed it off. I couldn't do much. Maybe it was that I paid him with Cashier's Checks and not cash, I don't know. My second safari, the PH owner, was very appreciative of his tip and the tip to the staff. I guess some expect too much.

 

[BourbonTrail]

I think most tips have crept up after Covid. I noticed at restaurants they started recommending 18-25% tips on some of the bills. It used to be 10-20%.

I think it comes from a desire to elevate wages to match inflation, but at the customer discretion. Most people are over paying inflated prices, but tips have an emotional factor that often strikes at the generosity chord. I could be wrong, but that’s how it seems.

 

[Elkeater]

So i have no idea what is going on really. I will say that I try to tip as best I can. I’m not rich and it does take effort to save up for some of these trips. When we went to RSA last year I specifically allocated tip money including about $100/day for our PH. I think I ended up tipping him about $150/ day because he did so good. Now I didn’t feel like it was expected that we tip and I felt that the PH and everyone else was grateful for the tips.

To have someone tell me they are expecting a %20 tip on hunt is not ok with me. I don’t mind tipping 15-20% if someone puts in some effort to make my hunt great. But if they need tips because they aren’t charging enough to pay the guide or PH then they need to just charge more for the hunt up front. Tips are for people who go above the minimum not an expectation in my opinion.

 

[Doug3006]

An outfit that even hinted that I wouldn’t be welcome back unless I tipped a certain percentage wouldn’t have to worry about my return. I wouldn’t hunt with them in the first place. Seriously, I can’t imagine a more off-putting policy. I’ve looked at many, many outfits in my hunting career and haven’t seen such. Hope I never do.

BTW….I am a generous tipper.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Nooooooooooo! Not another thread on tipping

 

[375Fox]

I know you wrote it in the post but I really wish you titled this North America. I don’t see anything wrong with tipping in Africa you book 10 days or 14 days you hunt all those days. Tipping is more a daily figure than a percentage. North American tipping however really bothers me. I likely only have 1 tag. If I kill my animal on day 1 hunt is over but the same tip is expected. I think that’s wrong. I think it’s got really out of hand. I prefer hunting in Europe and Africa. Hunt costs and Flexibility are the primary reasons, but tipping definitely plays a part in the decision as well.

 

[Doug3006]

Well, I guess we could flip the thread to discuss the suitability of the .243 Winchester for plains game.

 

[Sabre]

Nooooooooooo! Not another thread on tipping

This isn't what I frequently see, which is the "how much should I tip", thread. But is about a newer recent trend about a sharp increase in expected tips and attitudes toward it.

Also, it always cracks me up how some people always have to complain if they have ever seen a similar thread before. I believe about 98% of the new threads posted are things I have seen before on the site. I don't feel the need to comment on every one of them about how it's been done before.

 

[Sabre]

I know you wrote it in the post but I really wish you titled this North America. I don’t see anything wrong with tipping in Africa you book 10 days or 14 days you hunt all those days. Tipping is more a daily figure than a percentage. North American tipping however really bothers me. I likely only have 1 tag. If I kill my animal on day 1 hunt is over but the same tip is expected. I think that’s wrong. I think it’s got really out of hand. I prefer hunting in Europe and Africa. Hunt costs and Flexibility are the primary reasons, but tipping definitely plays a part in the decision as well.

I agree with what you are saying, and do feel like it is primarily more of an issue in North America. However, I recently saw a similar type of tipping recommendation on an African outfitter website. I was somewhat surprised by it, and then I saw that the owner or someone involved in the organization of all the hunts seemed to be an American. So, I am guessing that's where it came from.

 

[Safari Dave]

U.S. tipping culture has absolutely gotten out of control.

I own a fishing guide service.



If you tip one our our guides $50/day/person after being given suburb service, any of the guides would be completely appreciative. (if they don't give superb service, don't tip them!)


I hate being shown a screen prompting me to give a dang 20% tip to someone who just takes my order at a fast food restaurant!

As the OWNER of a guide service, I expect NO tip.


If a client chooses to give me a tip and the end of the day, I really appreciate it, but I have NO expectation of it.

Jerome - Please update the "Tipping Recommendation"

I tipped everyone too much after my last safari, but was "guilted" by American culture and nearly fell in love with everyone who participated.

Live & Learn, I guess...


(This really is a problem for nearly all international hunters)

 

[CBH Australia]

Tipping as you see it is not part of the Australian culture.

We do tip but it’s change or maybe a note dropped in a tip jar at a restaurant but my understanding is of the American lifestyle is different.

I read up on tipping before hunting Africa. I considered the breakdown etc and wanted to endure the lowest paid still got a mention and acknowledgement.

I would have my instruction to the outfitters in email.

Now, it’s all foreign to me and I did accept a quote and paid the price. I was told tipping is not essential but appreciated. It is customary in Africa and I did tip.

All that said if someone accepts a price in Australia it’s the price you pay. If someone accepts gives a tip it is because they genuinely appreciate the service or product and want to be generous. It’s not an expectation but I see it sneaking in on various billing systems etc and to be honest it’s Un-Australian.

 

[Certus]

Well, I guess we could flip the thread to discuss the suitability of the .243 Winchester for plains game.

How much should one tip if a PH allows a push feed .243 Winchester?

 

[mark-hunter]

As a person that already tends to tip well, reading that type of stuff makes me feel like good tips aren’t even appreciated, they are just expected. If that is the case, then just put the cost into the price of the trip and be done with it.

I agree.

Dump the price of hunt, increase "expectations" in tipping. It is just a marketing policy.

When considering the tipping and the values: i always check average salary for a specific country.
USA average salary is 6228 $ per month (74.738 $ per year), or 207.6 $ per day.
Anyway I turn this coin, 400 per day tip or 500 per day tip (expected) is to be.... seriously reconsidered.
Especially if it comes down to "expected tipping for unsuccessful hunt" (because hunt is hunt, correct?)
Working for money and expecting double average day pay for tip.

Pricing is certainly a factor in overall number of hunters decline in USA, less and less people can afford.
it is not the only factor (woke polices & media are another for example) but high pricing doesn't attract blue collar.

A new survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows that today, only about 5 percent of Americans, 16 years old and older, actually hunt. That's half of what it was 50 years ago and the decline is expected to accelerate over the next decade

 

[Scott CWO]

What is going on with tipping culture in the hunting industry?

I have always been a person who has tipped well, typically quite a bit higher than what I have seen from others, this is true from restaurants to hunting. I generally enjoy tipping well.

However, recently I have noticed a trend with outfitters of “recommending” a tipping percentage. A lot of times the tipping percentage starts at around 20% as the low end.

I have especially noticed it for North American hunts or outfits in other countries owned by US residents.

The recommendation from the outfitter often goes something like this: “I often get asked how much to tip your guide, I would recommend 18-25% for an average hunt and 30% or greater for a spectacular hunt or if you get a spectacular trophy animal”. I have even seen some where they have outright said that if you tip below 15-20% they will expect that you won’t be booking with them again. Which of course, reading between the lines is saying you will be fired as a client if you don’t tip at least 15%.

Of course there is almost always a blurb in there about how your tip should not depend on success and you should still tip very well even if you don’t have success. This is always a bit of a paradox considering they also point out that you should definitely tip more if you get an animal, especially a good trophy animal. I am still trying to figure out how that works…..

All of this comes at the same time as guided hunting prices doubling and tripling in price within a very short time. The price of the hunt doubling or tripling like that already doubles or triples the average tip, but now the hunter is being told that around 20% is basement level tipping on top of their hunt.

This means that if a person books a 5 day $10,000 mule deer hunt. Their base tip, whether successful or not, should be around $2,000. So, they expect AT LEAST $400/day tip. And if you are successful you should bump that up to at least $3,000; $500/day tip.

As a person that already tends to tip well, reading that type of stuff makes me feel like good tips aren’t even appreciated, they are just expected. If that is the case, then just put the cost into the price of the trip and be done with it.

Wow, 18% to 30%?? Who were these outfits? I usually recommend 10%-12% in North America.

 

[Muskox]

$100 a day tops.

This is getting out of hand.

 

[Muskox]

I am seriously over it.

I never tip at kiosk tips either.

 

[Certus]

I agree.

Dump the price of hunt, increase "expectations" in tipping. It is just a marketing policy.

When considering the tipping and the values: i always check average salary for a specific country.
USA average salary is 6228 $ per month (74.738 $ per year), or 207.6 $ per day.
Anyway I turn this coin, 400 per day tip or 500 per day tip (expected) is to be.... seriously reconsidered.
Especially if it comes down to "expected tipping for unsuccessful hunt" (because hunt is hunt, correct?)
Working for money and expecting double average day pay for tip.

Pricing is certainly a factor in overall number of hunters decline in USA, less and less people can afford.
it is not the only factor (woke polices & media are another for example) but high pricing doesn't attract blue collar.

A new survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows that today, only about 5 percent of Americans, 16 years old and older, actually hunt. That's half of what it was 50 years ago and the decline is expected to accelerate over the next decade

I reckon a large portion of those not hunting anymore is simply losing access to places to go.

 

[Gyani]

If I‘m happy with a tracker, skinner, camp staff etc then I tip. Not a lot btw. The outfitter will get zero, the ph only if he did an outstanding job. A huge tip is only expected from an US client.