|
[ Return to Contents
| Post a Reply
| Post a new message
]
Tipping on guided hunts
Posted by Michael Strahan on Feb 24 2006
Longbow,
Good question. Tipping is a courtesy on hunts, but many guides have come to anticipate it as part of their income. There is some disagreement as to whether a hunter should tip the pilot, and the owner of the operation. All of that is of course up to you, but I don't think any of them will turn it down!
I would certainly consider tipping the person who guides you, whether you shoot game or not (assuming they gave it their best effort). Some hunters give gear as tips. This can be a good way to go if you have purchased something you're only gonna use on your one Alaska hunt anyway, assuming it's something the guide can use. Some guides are just as picky about their gear as you are though, so gear may be unwelcome. It's best to just ask them first. Cash is always welcome. I think $500 is a good place to start, and I have seen tips much higher than that. It's not the same as tipping for meal service, where you just go with 15%, though some guide services use this number. I've even mentioned it before as a sort of benchmark, but I've backed off a bit from that. Seems to me that a tip of $1,200 or so is a bit high.
In the end, it's a judgement call on the hunters' part. Just don't forget to do something for your guide if he made an honest effort. If, on the other hand, you had to boot him out of bed every day and he burned your dinner every night, I'd send a message with a $300 tip or so. (a guy doesn't want to look TOO cheap!)
Generally speaking, I would give the tip directly to the person intended to receive it. This is a personal touch that means a lot more to the receiver. That means that you have to think about it in advance... the final hours of a hunt can be quite chaotic and it would be really bad to forget. Remember that your guide may be left behind in the field to pull the camp or conduct another hunt. Bring the money with you to the field! Tipping the pilot, cook, packer, etc. is always welcome. In Alaska you need to think in increments of $100 (it's really expensive to live here and that will barely cover a night at dinner and the movies with the family)
I'm sorta rambling right now, hopefully this makes sense?
Excellent question, by the way.
-Mike
Previous: Tips Longbow Feb 23 2006
Next: Rates Snowwolfe Feb 23 2006
 Message Thread:
|
