i always tip $100

 

I have to ask why do you have to tip the guides???? I dont tip the pizza man he gets a pay check!! How do the guides get paid is it like a waiter that makes $3.50 + tips or is it just expected that you tip them??? I dont wanta so cold or cheap but If i go on a guided hunt its going to be just for their land, hunting spots, and for someone to know where the birds are and not really their services. I just kinda feel like its there job but like i said if there pay is low and they live off tips thats one thing but I dont like the whole its expected stuff?????

 

I hope you don't get the same delivery guy for your pizza more than once; I bet they are snorting boogers on your pizza and everyone elses pizza that stiffs them.

 

I spend my summers as a fishing guide in Northern Wisconsin. I never feel the client needs to tip me. One thing to consider is how hard he works before you go on the trip. When you go on a guided trip pay attention to the guide. Does he show up prepared for the day? Is his boat clean and is his equipment in good condition? When I have a trip I am up the night before cleaning the boat and getting rods rigged so the client doesn't have to wait to start fishing when we get out there. On the morning of the trip I am up early making sure everything is ready to go and that I didn't forget anything. Also you should think about how your guide was that day, did you learn something new or maybe you got a personal best (biggest fish, new species of duck, etc). I don't think there should be a set amount for the tip. You should decide that on the way in at the end of the trip.

Thats just my .02

-Shawn

 

I've got a buddy that guides on a major lake in TN. When they bring in good numbers, he normally gets good tips and visa versa. If things are done right, you enjoy yourself, and plan on using that particular guide again, tip well. If you tip well, then next time you call and plan a hunt you may be rewarded. Its a higher possibility that my buddy will schedule a returning hunter who tips well over a new hunter or a returning hunter that didn't tip well last time OR you may receive a little discount.

I'm not saying you should d*ck a guide by not tipping because you're visiting your uncle ronnie in arkansas before he loses his battle with rocky mountain spotted fever and will never be back to that area again. Pay the man for a job well done if he does his job well.

 

don't know about guides....but 2 people you always take care of are your Bartender and you Barber.

 

I have to ask why do you have to tip the guides???? I dont tip the pizza man he gets a pay check!! How do the guides get paid is it like a waiter that makes $3.50 + tips or is it just expected that you tip them??? I dont wanta so cold or cheap but If i go on a guided hunt its going to be just for their land, hunting spots, and for someone to know where the birds are and not really their services. I just kinda feel like its there job but like i said if there pay is low and they live off tips thats one thing but I dont like the whole its expected stuff?????

I agree. If you want to live on tips you have to expect to work for your tip, not just do a crappy job and then whine when you don't get paid. If I get served well then I tip well, otherwise you better not be disappointed when you get jack from me.

 

I believe tipping falls within some ethic guidelines, but I tipped a guide well a couple of hunts and was rewarded on the third trip to the guides' private stash of puddle duck huntn' at it's best... limit in 20min. and then went on the goose hunt as planned. :yes:

 

I always considered it a compliment on a job well done. If the hunt turns out to be a bust but your guide bust his can for you then a tip is probably called for. On the other hand if the guide just sticks you out some place and expects you to do all the work then keep your money, you can give it to the next guide that does the job right. It's like having a real good waiter, tip what you feel he was worth, a good guide won't have his feelings hurt if his tip if he knows you tipped him fairly for amount of work he did for you.

 

My buddy and I used to go on a guided fishing trip every year with the same guy. On our first trip we got our fish (salmon) and we were taken care of pretty well. A $25.00 tip from all of us. Booked him for 3 more trips after that. He would call me to say that the chromers are in come on up. We would go and he was rewarded for his consideration. Pat attention to what the guide does for you, let that be your judge.

 

I agree with everything said above, the amount depends on the situation and what you feel is appropriate. I asked this question once before and someone suggested a starting point of 10% of the cost of the hunt, just like tipping 10% of a restaurant bill. You can go higher or lower as you feel appropriate.

 

My guides will be setting out my dekes they'll be giving me the show. You bet I'll tip them. I have to grant incentives or I wont go hunting much. This is because I am disabled, a man that uses a wheelchair. So I reload the shells we use, furnish the dekes we use, do the calling and I'm pretty good a bringing up newbee waterfowlers. For that reason the boogers will stay out of my pizza. Loved the booger comment.

 

Ive just heard of 50 and 100 dollar tips for one day of service on a 300-400 a day hunt. That just seems excessive to me but wanted to see if I was crazy.

 

I go on one guided duck hunt a year. We have 4-6 guys and hunt for three days. Our guides work hard for us and do a lot of the calling. That is one of the draws to this place, the guides are all experienced hunters and won competitions. Each guy gives an extra $100 at the end of the trip to be split between the guides that take us out with them.

 

It depends on how badly you need a guide and how much they need to do; how well the day went; what did for you that made a difference, and; whether you plan to use him/her again. You may want to make it worth their while to guide you again...or not.

Hunting and fishing guides are doing that type work because of any or all of the following: 1) they like to be outdoors more thatn anything else, ever; 2) are too rigid to get a real job rather than what they like; 3) are willing to give up good/better pay to do what they like as opposed to what they have to, or: 4) they enjoy babysitting adults. Whatever, it's a decision that have made for whatever reason, and you are ususally paying a pretty decent fee to go along with them, so a tip is icing on the cake for when/if they do something special... not just for showing up.

On the other hand waitresses, housekeeping, and other low paid service people don't get paid squat, usually don't have many options, and probably need the money more.

 

Most of my customers give $100 after a two day trip. I don't ask for it, and it's not a problem if I don't get it.

 

Tipping for a hunting or fishing trip is not different than tipping at a restraunt or a barber shop. 15% is the average and depending on the service will dictate more or less. If I pay 1500.00 for a guided hunt then I have all ready averaged in a 15% tip. If the guide does the job well, and bust their ass to get me the game (scouting, setting up, calling and etc.) then I like to show my appreciation. If I show up and have to do most of the work and get little back in return the tip will be smaller if one at all. When I (and this is just me) go on a guided trip, I don't want to do nothing but set the hook or pull the trigger. I am there to be catered to and expect that in return for the money I pay you. If you do an exceptional job, the fringe benefits will be good, if not then it is your loss.

 

I believe tipping falls within some ethic guidelines, but I tipped a guide well a couple of hunts and was rewarded on the third trip to the guides' private stash of puddle duck huntn' at it's best... limit in 20min. and then went on the goose hunt as planned. :yes:

We have been going to Lubbock for the last 6 yrs. We have had a group go for the last 12 years or so, but I have only been going for 6. We tip the guides well. it is always between 60-100 per man. (9-10 people ) they always take care of us and put us in the hot fields. there were 4 hunting parties there the at the same time as us last year and the geese had not really arrived in large numbers yet-migration was a little late. We got the hot field. Three years ago, we were given the opportunity to hunt a new pond they had just picked up. It was holding about 6000 canadas and about 5000 ducks. He told us that the we could shoot the ducks for free. We had an awesome shoot-42 ducks-mostly mallards, pintails, and greenwing teal; and we got our geese too. very memorable hunt indeed. If you take good care of the guides and they are reputable and hard working- it will come back to you...they don't forget good tippers. just my $0.02 :thumbsup: They also provided extra shells in the field for us at no charge.....and one of the guides let a boy use his gloves cause the kid forgot his at the hotel-it was 25 wind blowin 25 mph with sleet falling. Kid wouldn't have been able to shoot without the gloves on.....

We look forward to the trip every year...and they look forward to having us. they enjoy our group - now if you are total a$$holes, don't expect to buy this lagniappe with cash!! We don't take our guides for granted-we pitch in and help set up the field. Alot of their clients don't.