Fair tip amount?

[Deleted]

I was given a rabbit hunt for Xmas from in laws. What's a fair tip for the outfitter? Is it success based?

[Deleted]

Just to set the record straight I wish tipping were not necessary, but it is because outfitters do not pay their guides well at all and like waitresses guides have come to depend upon the extra cash income. I don't tip outfitters unless the outfitter is also doing the guiding. The outfitter makes his money from the cost of the hunt. If he is also guiding you, that changes things a bit. In your case it would be handling dogs and transporting you to the hunt area, sometimes at the guide's expense.

There are a lot of guidelines out there as to what constitutes a fair tip to a guide (or in the case of Africa, a professional hunter). Some say it should be 10% of the cost of the hunt, plus or minus, depending upon how good an experience you had and how hard the guide worked for you. Whether or not you killed game would also enter in, but would not be a major determining factor to me. That 10% figure is open to a lot of discussion. Some hunts are very expensive and some are relatively inexpensive. I will try to give you an example or two from my experiences.

The first example is of a pheasant hunt a group of four of us did at a local preserve a few years ago. The guide supplied his own trained English setters, and worked them well to our benefit. He was a nice guy who was a pleasure to hunt with. The hunt cost us about $500 for a day's hunting including cleaning the birds for us. We discussed it and each of us kicked in $20, so his tip for the day was a pretty generous $80, which is well above 10%.
The second example is for a deer hunt down south. The guides take you to your stand, pick you up, and skin and quarter your deer for you. For a five day hunt costing $2300 we usually tip our guides about $200, again, plus or minus.

To give you a hard and fast answer to your question is probably not possible. You should let your experience be your guide in this. If you had a great time, tip accordingly. If not so great, same answer. I hope this helps you a bit. In the end it will be your decision.

[Deleted]

Thanks mutt. I understand. I'm a good tipper, probably to a fault, if you speak with my wife.

There will be 2 of us hunting, and it's not African hunt-expensive. I think along lines of your pheasant hunt.

I've never used an outfitter so I just don't want to be a fool.

[Deleted]

Hope you have a great hunt and enjoy yourself to the fullest extent. Nobody wants to be thought of as foolish, but sometimes I have seen folks go out of their way to cinch the deal. As an example, one time on a moose hunt in Alberta I was in camp with two orthopedic surgeons who spent much of the time each evening expounding on how much they made and how much their cars cost. At the end of the hunt, which cost a bit over $3000, I had had a great time, took a decent moose, and enjoyed my guide's company, so I tipped him $350. A few years later I had occasion to hunt with the surgeon's guide. This time he had his own outfit, and he served as my guide on an archery elk hunt. I didn't get an elk, but did have a couple of chances, so I tipped Grant $300, which was 10% of the cost of the hunt. One evening he told me what the two surgeons had tipped him on that moose hunt. Each had given him $20.

[davet]

Well, you guys make up for my brother in law. He and his wife will go out to dinner and (for example) if the dinner for the two of them cost $50, they will will tip the waitress $3. My wife and I will not go out to dinner with these two because they are so darn cheap.

As for the surgeons, go figure?

Dave

[Deleted]

During my formative years (actually up to around age 40 or so) I spent some time waiting tables in various restaurants. One of those restaurants was my own for a short time. If anything, that experience leads me to be a fairly good tipper if service is up to standard.

Oh gosh, I gotta add a story.  Many years ago I went to a restaurant named the Hill Cafe with my parents and my aunt and uncle.  After we finished our dinner, Dad left a few dollars on the table as a tip.  Uncle Noah came up to him outside the restaurant and handed him the money he had left, saying "Here George.  You left this on the table."  My Dad explained to uncle Noah that it was a tip.  Uncle Noah did not understand.  I suspect that when uncle Noah died he still had his first nickle.

[Deleted]

The surgeons' names were Imad and Zafir, as I remember. Don't know if that had anything to do with it. I think Zafir told me he was originally from Lebanon, not the one in Pennsylvania.

[Deleted]

The more you have, the more you spend? It wouldn't be the first time wealthier folks didn't tip well. In fact, I bet those docs aren't very liquid. It's all tied up in worldly possessions.

[Deleted]

Interersting you should say that, since it mirrors the research of Stanley and Danko first published in the book, THE MILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR. Here is an excerpt from a review of it.

Many people who earn high incomes are not rich, the authors warn. Most people with high incomes fail to accumulate any lasting wealth. They live hyperconsumer lifestyles, spending their money as fast as they earn it. In order to accumulate wealth, in order to become rich, one must not only earn a lot (play “good offense”, according to Stanley and Danko), but also develop frugal habits (play “good defense”).

I have always maintained that one does not have to earn enormous sums in order to become well off.  Perhaps it is difficult for someone who earns $40,000 a year to become a millionaire, but that doesn't mean he can't accumulate a sizeable nest egg.  There are always reasons why it does not happen if it doesn't.

The two surgeons I mentioned before made great incomes, but they spent it all, thus their chances of accumulating wealth are negligible.  And of course they cut corners where they did not see any benefit to them, for example by being penurious tippers.

[davet]

True statements muttley. During my working life, I've seen many different people in many different occupations\professions. I've had clients who earned $80,000 a year live like they made $40,000 a year and had several million in the stock market. I've had clients who earned $400,000 a year live like they made $200,000 a year, millions in the market, and a few millions in "venture capital" always looking for new business start up to knock 'em out of the park and make 50% to 200% returns on their investments. Hey, that's how companies are started and jobs are created. It's called capitalism.

Then I've had clients who made $400,000 live like they made $600,000 a year. Bigger numbers....same outcome that you would think.

Dave

[CoureurDeBois]

I think that the best advice I ever received on handling money was, Learn to live under your means.

[dougell]

I worked a lot of petty jobs growing up.As a result,if I'm treated well,I tip well.I rarely pay a contractor,mechanic or tech person what they ask for.I almost always pay them more.Sometimes I need them in a pinch and they usually come running.

[Deleted]

Jan 7, 2014 18:27:32 GMT -5 dougell said:

I worked a lot of petty jobs growing up.As a result,if I'm treated well,I tip well.I rarely pay a contractor,mechanic or tech person what they ask for.I almost always pay them more.Sometimes I need them in a pinch and they usually come running.

Agreed. It's the only way to be.

[acorn20]

I've never considered myself a wealthy man when it comes to money, but I've always considered myself rich when it comes to my family and friends.

[Deleted]

The xmas gift rabbit hunt yesterday was a blast! Perfect weather and conditions and snow on the ground. The guide worked 3 beagles and we covered some good area, and had many opportunities to tag some bunnies. I personally took 2 and my buddy took 3, and all went home with me and I'm scheming on some ways to prepare them. What a day to NOT be at work! There are a few lucky rabbits still out there...

The guide was tipped well (20%+) and I'd go out with him again... total pro and has permission to access some nice spots. He just seemed to know where the rabbits would be and where'd they go.

[Deleted]

This is great to hear, cl3.  Let the enjoyment of the eating begin.

[Deleted]

Jan 22, 2014 8:43:16 GMT -5 @muttleysgone said:

This is great to hear, cl3.  Let the enjoyment of the eating begin.

I soaked them in salt water Monday night and butchered them last night. I'm eying some of Hank Shaw's recipes:

honest-food.net/wild-game/rabbit-hare-squirrel-recipes/

My wife makes a wicked chicken pot pie... I mean exceptional. I'm also going to get her to make some squirrel pot pies this weekend. She jokes that we'll play "pot-pie roulette" to see who gets chicken and who gets squirrel!