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

[CoElkHunter]

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

+1.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I’m about to depart on a 4 day dove hunt to Argentina. I received an email from the outfitter stating that we needed to bring $1000 per person for tips.

Ok, $1K Argentina Pesos. Get 'em from the airport ATM upon landing. LOL

 

[coreydb]

Yeah, I don't like outfitters who list tips as part of the "costs not included". I continue to tip based on the above and beyond, as well as the little things that I find appreciative.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

let me throw this one out there. the person that owns the safari company, property, animals everything is also your PH. so he is the guy making all the money off your hunt so you tip the tracker, house keeping and the cook, no issues with that. BUT should you tip the Owner/PH and how much?

Yes I do. Same as any PH would get. He still did a job for me and if we got along and he worked hard getting me on animals, yes. Have had owned as PH many days, still tipped him.
But that’s me

 

[0002S]

Set a random number generator, on the phone, from 5% to 20% in 1% increments. Tell the PH that he can have a guaranteed 12% or gamble for as much as 20%. His choice. No butt hurt this way.

 

[Muskox]

Yeah, I don't like outfitters who list tips as part of the "costs not included". I continue to tip based on the above and beyond, as well as the little things that I find appreciative.

Yeah I won't book with them either.



This is on a Texas outfitter's website.

Hunt Price Gratuity Amount Per Hunter

$1,500 – $3,000 $300-$400 (Guide) $100 – $150 (Cook)

$3,000 – $5,000 $400-$500 (Guide) $100 – $150 (Cook)

$5,000+ 10%-12% Hunt (Guide) $150 – $200 (Cook)

 

[Pole Pole]

What is overall opinion on tipping after unsuccessful hunt?

This subject was not much covered in famous tipping thread. I am divided on

You of course have the option of not clicking on the thread and not commenting on it if it isn't to your liking.

I went on a guided hunt and before the hunt an email was sent out. In the email was some "helpful tipping guidelines".

It basically said that if you were on a fully guided hunt you should tip 20%. If you were on a semi-guided hunt, you should still tip about 20%, because they are actually working harder on those than some fully guided hunts and you just don't see it. There were some other caveats which only involved the tip being at 20% or going even higher. All of it was basically saying to tip at least $250-$350 per day (when you looked at the percentages). Even in some instances when very little would be done by the guide.

On a 30K hunt in Alaska what do the field guides, assistant guides or cooks make? With those hunts increasing 1-2 K per year seems the outfitters are keeping pace with cost. If the answer is “not much” then I feel most if not all the tip should go the field crew. Is there a customary split on tips between the outfitters and field hands? 10% on a big ticket item works for me.

 

[Muskox]

On a 30K hunt in Alaska what do the field guides, assistant guides or cooks make? With those hunts increasing 1-2 K per year seems the outfitters are keeping pace with cost. If the answer is “not much” then I feel most if not all the tip should go the field crew. Is there a customary split on tips between the outfitters and field hands? 10% on a big ticket item works for me.

Not sure about Alaska.

https://www.nahanniheliadventures.com/about/.

Home - South Nahanni Outfitters

With our helicopter we provide fully outfitted, guided hunts in our exclusive 9,000 square miles big game area.

www.huntnahanni.com

These folk outfit in the NWT. For sheep, their hunts are about $50,000 for 8 days.

7 years ago they told me that a guide needed $1000 in tips or it caused problems. This was when their hunts were $30,000 for sheep.

To which I thought, well this isn't a hunt I am currently going to go on, so it isn't a problem I have.

A full bag hunt for moose, goat, sheep and caribou would be over $90,000 USD for 12 days. Makes Africa pretty wonderful by comparison.

I don't think I could get away with tipping $100 a day in the NWT even if I never went back. These hunts are pretty out of market for me. If I was going to do a $50,000 dall I could make it work, but I wouldn't do much else for a few years other than get divorced. I think you also have to be interested. I am interested in a moose goat combo in BC for $30,000

 

[Muskox]

Oh I missed that you asked what do they make?

A friend of a friend guides in theYukon in the off season from his normal guiding in New Zealand. He makes about $3000 on an 8 day hunt, and most guys probably tip $2000-3000.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

let me throw this one out there. the person that owns the safari company, property, animals everything is also your PH. so he is the guy making all the money off your hunt so you tip the tracker, house keeping and the cook, no issues with that. BUT should you tip the Owner/PH and how much?

I did. In my mind it was absolutely right thing to do. The company is owned by he and his brother, and both also guide. My hunt was 8 days and I took 10 animals, to include a buffalo. He worked his tail off and made my first trip perfect in every regard. I paid for the opportunity to hunt and stay there. I tipped him for service that was above and beyond my highest expectations.

 

[Happy Myles]

What is overall opinion on tipping after unsuccessful hunt?

This subject was not much covered in famous tipping thread. I am divided on that.

If the guide works hard he still gets a good tip. The quarry has to win sometimes to make it challenging

What is overall opinion on tipping after unsuccessful hunt?

This subject was not much covered in famous tipping thread. I am divided on that.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

depends on what made it unsuccessful and what was the issue to cause that