For the group I hunt with:
Minimum 10% to the guide, if he tries hard, and the amount given to him will have no reflection on my success or failure as a hunter - meaning if he did his job, I owe him whether or not I got my part done.
I tip the wrangler, and the camp cook, and I've tipped more than one guide that helped pack out after a successful hunt.
Sometimes, the guide and the wrangler are the owner operator, and the camp cook is always one of the owner/operators - still tip them just the same.
I've had one year that I did not fully tip the guide, and I explained those reasons to the owners before I did it.
We've built a good relationship over the years, and we have a good reputation in camp, and with other entities within the hunting community - or, at least I think we do - we get invited back.
It's not just guides and outfitters that have a reputation to worry about, if you use the services enough, (or just once poorly) you will be known by your reputation as well.
I like the way you think. The guide cannot produce animals on demand, make fish bite etc... sometimes it works out, but the way I work and most of the good folks out there is we give it our all every day. Sometimes the results are better than others. And IMHO, the guides feel worse than the clients if they bust their tail but circumstances lead to no game. Vs being LUCKY and walking over the next hill and a big bull is there... there is no skill to speak of in that.
But my fishing guide tips here represent that often, no matter how easy to limit when the fishing is good, limits bring better tips. While you work MUCH harder when things aren't right and someone leaves you 20 bucks... WTF almost comes out of my mouth, BUT I signed on for the salary and tips are gravy, though we rely on them much, much like wait staff etc... it was my choice to start guiding again so I live with the results.
