Mouflon sheep hunt in Croatia questions

[D-Orcutt]

My better half is dragging me to Croatia next month to go to her friends wedding, so doing what I do I best I found what I could hunt or fish for while I was there, Ended up booking a Mouflon hunt. A few questions for the more experienced travelers
1. Tipping in Europe as an American what’s the standard process or amount for a good service.
2. Final payment is supposed to be in cash in euro what’s the best way to get/ exchange usd for euro

 

[Mekaniks]

what outfitter are you using?

Looking forward to the full report when you return!

 

[D-Orcutt]

what outfitter are you using?

Looking forward to the full report when you return!

Booked it off of book your hunt, had enough good reviews and talked to owner enough to feel good about the process, not sure of the company name it just has the owners name and contact info

 

[Wade J VanGinkel]

My bank can get me foreign currency usually within 24hrs of requests for no charge.

 

[Throwback]

I have tipped 10% on some Euro hunts. Tipping in general though in Europe is not done in many places (e.g. restaurants, etc).

I always get cash from an ATM once on the ground in Europe. Not sure how much you need though. Also, its probably not the best exchange rate but I like it for convenience.

 

[Throwback]

Oh, and looking forward to your hunt report sir. I am hunting Mouflon in Slovakia starting this Friday myself. I looked into Croatia but settled on Slovakia. Croatia has some great options though.

 

[HUNTROMANIA]

Czech Republic has also good mouflon areas. I will post in the near future some offers for mouflon in Czech Republic

 

[375Fox]

I’ve been told 100 euro per day for the guide if you are happy not a percentage. Spain, France, Romania they were happy to take a tip. Sweden and Poland it was almost discouraged by the guides. Tipping for hunts in Europe is very easy I’ve found no stress like in North America.

 

[Trophyhunter01]

As mentioned above. Your local bank can get foreign currency in a couple days as stated and not worry about getting hammered on transaction fees. Very easy and takes one more thing to do once you land off your list? Last time I went to S. Africa I got Rand told them how much and what denominations. I just make sure I spend it all there and don’t have to worry about having some left over. Your local bank can work it the other way if you have a lot left over.

 

[VertigoBE]

As to tipping in Europe, I have the following reflections to make as a Belgian:

- For most services that are provided, no tips will be expected, nor required.
- An exception would be for restaurants, where a few euro's to show your appreciation, up to 20 Euro for the table in a non-michelin starred restaurant would be considered a very nice tip. In michelin starred restaurants, it can be a % of the total bill of the table. Usually this tip is paid by one person of the table ( not the person who paid the bill itself)
- One big exception, where tips are also definitely required, is in the hunting context. Often called "the chapeau". This is French for "The hat", as in, after a (driven) hunt would be over, the hunting master who organised the hunt, will go around with his hat to collect the tips from everyone, the total sum being then divided over the beaters, houndsmen, etc. This tip is non-negotiable and it would be in very very bad form, not to have a few bills on you to pay this up. On all the hunts I have ever been, this "chapeau" was 50€ per hunter, per day, which then gets divided over everyone who helped out. In the case of a one-on-one hunt, going for a specific trophy animal, a good translation of this would be about 100€ per day, for the PH, if it is truly exceptional, perhaps a little extra.

 

[HuntingGold]

I shot my mouflon almost 2 years ago. Tipped the main guide about $100 per day. The sub-guides a little less. They seemed happy. They worked their tails off packing that sheep out, wouldn't let me help.

 

[UKHunter]

My better half is dragging me to Croatia next month to go to her friends wedding, so doing what I do I best I found what I could hunt or fish for while I was there, Ended up booking a Mouflon hunt. A few questions for the more experienced travelers
1. Tipping in Europe as an American what’s the standard process or amount for a good service.
2. Final payment is supposed to be in cash in euro what’s the best way to get/ exchange usd for euro

Anything will be appreciated - not the same tipping culture in Europe as there is in North America. Around €50 a day to your guide would be about right

 

[Zkk93]

Hello,
I am from Italy and I quote every word written by VertigoBE.
I would like to add two lines:
- In stalking hunts, like deer stalking or roebuck stalking, you can give a tip to your gamekeeper at the end of the trip.

It's not obligatory, it's like an extra reward if you are satisfied with the service or the trophy.
I don't have the possibility to hunt abroad yet, but every time I see my father he gave this tip in a "private moment", far away from other eyes like colleagues or head gamekeepers.
Remember that in countries like CZ, SK, HU or Romania the average income in the countryside is often less than 1k euro net...

- In Italy we often give a tip at the end of a service, equal to the rest. Example in a restaurant we are in two the bill is 46 euro we pay with 50 euro and the rest is tip, same way with taxi.

About "The chapeau", in Italy we have the same rules and it is called "Cappello", Italian word with the same meaning.
It is normal during wild boar driven hunts and usually it is asked by the youngest male shooter who collects money in a hat used as a basket.
Also here, to not pay the cappello is one of worst and rude idea, you can have during a group hunting.

As to tipping in Europe, I have the following reflections to make as a Belgian:

- For most services that are provided, no tips will be expected, nor required.
- An exception would be for restaurants, where a few euro's to show your appreciation, up to 20 Euro for the table in a non-michelin starred restaurant would be considered a very nice tip. In michelin starred restaurants, it can be a % of the total bill of the table. Usually this tip is paid by one person of the table ( not the person who paid the bill itself)
- One big exception, where tips are also definitely required, is in the hunting context. Often called "the chapeau". This is French for "The hat", as in, after a (driven) hunt would be over, the hunting master who organised the hunt, will go around with his hat to collect the tips from everyone, the total sum being then divided over the beaters, houndsmen, etc. This tip is non-negotiable and it would be in very very bad form, not to have a few bills on you to pay this up. On all the hunts I have ever been, this "chapeau" was 50€ per hunter, per day, which then gets divided over everyone who helped out. In the case of a one-on-one hunt, going for a specific trophy animal, a good translation of this would be about 100€ per day, for the PH, if it is truly exceptional, perhaps a little extra.

 

[Red Leg]

You are also going to be an American in Europe - not a European in Europe. Thanks to other Americans, and I am one, the expectation of a tip by your guide will be more than it would be for a German or Belgian client. In fact, they will likely be looking forward to your arrival with a great deal of hope even expectation. I personally am absolutely fine with that. I have spent a lifetime traveling in Europe attacking their miserly tipping culture one server, taxi driver, bellhop, and PH at a time.

Most hunts are fairly short. Depending on the type of hunt, the animal(s) being hunted, the location, and the effort of the PH, I typically tip a hundred to two hundred a day.

I am tracking exactly with @VertigoBE with respect to restaurants in Europe, though I have never experienced someone other than the host picking up the tip as well as the bill (curious people these Belgians).

 

[D-Orcutt]

You are also going to be an American in Europe - not a European in Europe. Thanks to other Americans, and I am one, the expectation of a tip by your guide will be more than it would be for a German or Belgian client. In fact, they will likely be looking forward to your arrival with a great deal of hope even expectation. I personally am absolutely fine with that. I have spent a lifetime traveling in Europe attacking their miserly tipping culture one server, taxi driver, bellhop, and PH at a time.

Most hunts are fairly short. Depending on the type of hunt, the animal(s) being hunted, the location, and the effort of the PH, I typically tip a hundred to two hundred a day.

I am tracking exactly with @VertigoBE with respect to restaurants in Europe, though I have never experienced someone other than the host picking up the tip as well as the bill (curious people these Belgians).

I planed on leaving a $200 tip it’s supposed to be 1-2 day hunt a side note of something I a little nervous about is the price was slightly higher if it scores over a certain size. I’m ok with that being traveling that far might as well try for the best but having never hunted sheep no telling what score it would be looking at it

 

[Sika98k]

I planed on leaving a $200 tip it’s supposed to be 1-2 day hunt a side note of something I a little nervous about is the price was slightly higher if it scores over a certain size. I’m ok with that being traveling that far might as well try for the best but having never hunted sheep no telling what score it would be looking at it

The price for your mouflon will depend on the size. You set your limits and let them know. It’s up to your guide to assess the potential trophy for you. If he gets it wrong it’s not your fault if it turns out to be much larger. You should not be responsible for a higher trophy fee.

 

[Red Leg]

The price for your mouflon will depend on the size. You set your limits and let them know. It’s up to your guide to assess the potential trophy for you. If he gets it wrong it’s not your fault if it turns out to be much larger. You should not be responsible for a higher trophy fee.

I planed on leaving a $200 tip it’s supposed to be 1-2 day hunt a side note of something I a little nervous about is the price was slightly higher if it scores over a certain size. I’m ok with that being traveling that far might as well try for the best but having never hunted sheep no telling what score it would be looking at it

I am not sure about Ireland, and I may have misunderstood what you are saying, but that is not necessarily so everywhere I have hunted in Europe.

In Spain, Germany, Austria, and Hungary a client contracts for a particular size - let's say a bronze medal mouflon. The contractual cost is typically the base size of a bronze. With no further guidance, the PH or guide will try his best to get the client the largest and oldest sheep that is still a bronze. In that case, the client is absolutely responsible for every CM or gram above the base cost. On some species, that can become a meaningful number.

Take a look at the outfitters trophy costs. It will tell you the additional charge per CM or gram depending upon species. Some areas there will not be one, but usually there is. Before you head out with your PH, make sure he understands what your max over the base cost you are willing to pay. He will keep it below that threshold.

Your planned tip will be fine.

 

[DillonG]

Out of curiosity, how many hunting days can be expected/needed to bag a mouflon?

 

[mark-hunter]

1. Tipping in Europe as an American what’s the standard process or amount for a good service.
2. Final payment is supposed to be in cash in euro what’s the best way to get/ exchange usd for euro

Consider 200 eur for successful hunt. restaurants, tip 10% of the bill.

Have in mind that if you pay in cash, and you dont get receipt, they will keep VAT. (25%) Payments without receipt is actual black market.

There is no black-market like best cash exchange in the street.
There are exchange offices and banks go there. You can use ATM cash machine as well.

On more thing.
Especially if coming to the country over international airport. It happens lately - practically every tourist season, now and then taxi drivers are targeting unexperienced tourists, overcharging them for taxi service. So, if using taxi, ask in advance how much it will cost from airport to your place where you are going. If it sounds too much, take another taxi.

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[Red Leg]

Out of curiosity, how many hunting days can be expected/needed to bag a mouflon?

In a good area, one or two. That can be driven by the narrowness of the acceptable trophy the client is willing to shoot.