If ANY PH/Outfitter ever asks for trophy fees up front, I'd tell him to pack sand and I'd find another. Fifty % deposit of the DAILY RATE at booking, the other 50, sixty days prior and trophy fees at the end of the hunt.
I believe an outfitter asking for a TF deposit is completely within reason. I would never pay up front but a 50% deposit on what I think I may shoot is appropriate. Trust is required on both ends.
I ran into a guy several years ago in the Phoenix Chapter SCI who made it his MO to purchase donated hunts that included everything but TF's. He would go and shoot the place up and either make claims on his CC's or simply not pay for the stuff. All he wanted was the pictures anyway.
I think there was a time when gentlemen would never consider stiffing a client or an outfitter.
