Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Tipping on a guided elk hunt

On a guided hunt what is general consensus on who all and how much ?

We have a tiered method of tipping in our group. If the guide is really good and tries hard, but we don't get one, we tip 10% of the cost of the outfitter. If we get one, we add $100 and if we get a double, we tip an additional $200. Additionally, we tip the packer $100 per animal and the cook $50. If the guide is not really good and doesn't try that hard, we still give a minimum of $300. I hope this helps.

I alway tip my hat as I walk on by.

That's about right...most people forget about tipping the cook

10% plus one of my handmade knives.

Suppose it’s a husband and wife operation. The wife is the cook . Does she get tipped ?
What if the owner is also one of the guides ?

Guide is a guide and a cook is a cook. If they treat us right, we do the same.

Godogs57, I'll bet your guides fight over getting you as a hunter. Great gift.

Don’t know that I could tip a guide that doesn’t try very hard $300.

Why wouldn't she? Remember that cook was up way before you getting breakfast ready so you don't hit the wall a mile from camp.

Yes, it's was very hard. But, we like the outfitter and wanted to keep coming back. We only had to do it once. Additionally, we had two groups and the other group had a great guide and tipped him accordingly. I guess they all got the message because the guide no longer works there.

I guide a lot of elk hunts every fall. 10% is industry standard for a guy that does his job. I've gotten way less, and I've gotten way more on occasion. No guide I've ever met would consider a 10% tip to be less than satisfactory. If you really like your guide, and your thinking about returning and requesting him again, consider a little extra, think if it as a reservation deposit for next time.

Wether you get your animal or not is rarely up to the guide. Generally speaking, the weak link is the client, followed by various other factors that no one has any control over. Now if the outfitter over sold the hunt, then hash that out with him, but don't take it out on your guide.

If you have a guide that you feel like is not putting forth a good effort, have a discussion with the outfitter. No outfitter wants to lose you as a customer, or have guides around that don't pull their weight.

I like tipping well organized, proficient, attentive staff, which is normally the case.

And I like doing it generously.

But I do not like having to tip.

Just because someone (barely) does his job I do not think he/she deserves a tip.

And I never tip the owner of the company but rather make him a good present. For example, now that I am going on a Snow Sheep hunt to Kamchatka, the outfitter will be picking me up in Moscow, what I will do will upgrade his 11 hour flight ticket to Petropavlosk to business class.

I’ve always heard 10% is usual and customary. I’ve also heard that you never give a knife as a tip, which I understand. I don’t give a knife instead of money....it’s just a gift on top of the full tip. Everyone who has ever received one has been grateful, writing or calling back with compliments about how it performed, etc.

10% is customary - sad but true since it can rack up some big $$$ on some hunts!

You shouldn't tie an animal to the tip, necessarily. The guide can put in on position, but somethings are out of his control, like weather. Other things like your shooting which he then may have to deal with. for example, I went on a deer/antelope hunt last year. We told the guide shooting from just outside the truck wasn't fun to us, we wanted to do some spot/stalk (second trip with this outfitter and first trip we shot one or two right from the side of the truck). Guide nicely accomondated us on that and we had a blast. We took 6 animals (had doe antelope tags)

On my doe, we got to 265 yards which would be my longest shot. We talked it over and decided good conditions and I would take it. Bullet was off by about 6 inches and rather than entering at the shoulder, it hit the front let at shoulder height. Blood was pouring down, but she was trying to run with the herd. Guide did a GREAT job re-locating her and we trailed them over 90 minutes and got me into position twice for a follow up. First was 300 which I wasn't pshyced about but as he pointed out "you already have a bullet in her, have to try", by the time I got setup she was out of site and off we went again following her. Got to 125 and put her down. He was a man on a mission getting me back on that antelope and luckily I was in shape to keep up and make the final shot. He earned a bit higher tip for that effort.

$100 per day.

10% - 12% of the cost of the hunt.....ALWAYS tip the cook too as he /she is the one that kept your bellies full!!

I tipped my guide about 15% of the total cost of the hunt. He did an excellent job in very difficult terrain and weather. I gave the outfitter roughly 5-6x that in services updating some tech stuff because he was a good dude and needed the help. I was also in a position to do that at the time and may not be again, so I can't say that it will happen that way again.


Okie John

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've never been on a guided elk or guided horseback hunt, but the few guided hunts I have gone on has seen me tip my main guide about 10% if he is good and treats me well.
I hate to sound cheap, but unless the cook and/or skinners, game keepers, etc. (I guess wranglers would fall into this category) really impress me, I usually don't tip them.

I have before, but they really have to stand out from their peers. I tipped the cook during my Spain hunt in January this year 100 Euro because he was absolutely awesome, and deserved it.

One thing I have noticed, is that while everyone loves $, the guides would rather have a mediocre tip and a hunter that is easy to work with, hunts hard and doesn't complain about everything, than deal with a $hitty hunter and get a big tip at the end. I think they appreciate everyday hunters who save for years for a hunt, and give a mediocre tip than ultra rich guys who are a pain in the ass to deal with. At least I did back in my guiding days.

Make sure they know to not eat yellow snow, that's a great tip for people who spend time in the outdoors.

Don't forget the packer packed in all the silly crap you didnt need or use plus the 6 cases of beer that kept you from killing an elk. Tip him whether you killed an elk or not cause he already did more than he should have.

If you come to Australia do not tip as it is considered crass.



And if you insist on tipping then put it in one of the charity jars that are ever present on the counters, these are generally for the children's hospital or one of the cancer mobs.

I really cannot describe how disdainfully it is looked upon.

Packing my own crap , and don’t drink beer so not worrying about him .

10% is a general starting point then we go up or down from there. If my guide worked his tail off and gave me a fantastic hunt to think about for years to come I have no problem tipping. I've also found that some guides, especially some of the younger ones really appreciate gifts. My buddy and I had a guide that was awesome. During the hunt we got to know a bit about him, just married and starting a family and so on. He really wanted better equipment but said tips usually went to the household needs. He got us on some really nice 6x6's so my buddy gave him a nice tip in cash and I made a trip to the store and picked up a nice Vortex spotting scope and window mount he had mentioned a couple of times. Thought he was going to hug me.

On last years trip I had another younger guide. Tough hunt, animals weren't moving and so on. Again, he worked his rear end off for 5 days to get me on a shooter. I noticed he had really admired my new Leica range finder so I gave him a choice of cash for a tip or the range finder. He gladly accepted the range finder.

Whether I tip with cash or a gift, for the last couple of years I've given my guide one of the Outdoor Edge or Havalon knifes with an extra pack of replacement blades. They're inexpensive and have been really appreciated. The orange ones so they can find them where they set them down in the grass easier. I'd be curious to know just how many skinning knifes have been left or lost in the field after dressing animals.

And ALWAYS tip the cook. Like others have mentioned, they work too and it's cheap insurance. You might end up coming back some day and cooks have memory's.

Does it make any difference if it’s a 1x1 or 2x1 hunt ?

I have had this discussion with a few outfitters. Here is what I have come up with.

I tip the outfitter 10%. He can distribute it as he sees fit among his staff. I then tip any particular individuals that I feel went above and beyond my expectations, whether it be the guide, the cook, the wrangler or whatever. I have given away a few knives, but it has always been as an additional gift, not in lieu of cash. Knives are great gifts, but they the don't pay the bills.

Likewise, in some foreign countries, in addition to cash, I have left behind clothes and boots which always seem to be appreciated.

donsm70

A lot of wisdom right here... And not just for guided hunts...

I felt sorry for the last guide I had. My now X partner treated him like a low class person. This nice young 25 year old tried his hardest to get us on elk and my partner screamed at him a couple times. Guide also put his onto a 370 class bull but he failed to get it done. Then partner got pissed when I shot a cow. That guide got a nice tip from me but nothing from my x partner. Thats why he's my x partner, what an a hole. Treat your guides nice!!! However the owner of the outfitting business was an a hole himself and a liar. Guide moved on also because of it. Hunting is just that---hunting---not killing. Go in with a good attitude and be in the BEST SHAPE you can be AND THEN DO BETTER. Help your guide as much as you can, he will return the favor. My then guide told me his best most favorite clients were guys who helped with the small stuff and were in shape, didn't bitch and were just happy to be there. He said he felt bad when someone gave him 250 dollars and he knew the guy couldn't really afford it and didn't even get a chance at an elk and then some rich out of shape blowhard showed up in camp got lucky killed a nice bull and left 50 bucks. I always try to put my self in their shoes and tip accordingly. But right now I do the DIY hunts, as I get to old to do it myself and need to do the guided route I hope to remember my words and treat my guides accordingly. If I don't I hope I get tag soup

This is spot on....as a former guide, myself.
I never worked for the tip, just loved it. Clients ranged all over the map, if they were fit and a good companion both of us enjoyed it.
The guide is responsible for setting the tone in spike camp, letting the hunter make the decisions would never work. Tough some times

I'm gonna bump this back up since the queastion has come up between me and a couple of friends going on a hunt this fall.

We are doing a drop camp hunt in Colorado and are being taken into one of, if not, the best drop camps they have. Since we have already paid in full for the hunt and are on our own, we were wondering if the owner of the operation is tipped or not.
I was thinking that since the packers are carrying us in and out, that they should be the recipients of a tip. That and the person/s who come to retrieve and pack out any animals that we may shoot.

What say you folks that have been in on a hunt like this?

I would NOT tip the owner. He makes the most $$. And who does all the work, your packers, guides and cooks

She will not accept a tip, but the packers should be tipped after the hunt. We always give the tip money to her and then she gives it to the packers and divides it among those that helped. Have a great hunt.

I do a cull elk hunt on a ranch in New Mexico and usually take the shot off the hood of the truck. I can legally shoot from the truck if I wish as I am legally handicapped and have the proper paperwork that allows it. Not my favorite way to hunt but when it's tough to walk more than 100 yard in only slightly rough terrain one does what one has to do if he wants to hunt. I've done 6 hunts on this ranch and the average tip has been 10 percent of the cost of the hunt. No cooks or wranglers involved. I say average because one guide has received 15 percent tips twice now as the guide only last hunt. One guide, while he got us elk was so unethical that my partner and I decided to give him nothing and let the outfitter know why. He like to drive right into the middle of a herd and expected us to shoot one. My partner got one that was in the clear but if I'd shot mine I'd have killed more than one elk. it was o close I could have just jammed the muzzle into its side and pulled the trigger. The guide chewed me out for not shooting and I told him I was shooting a .35 Whelen with 225 gr. TSX bullets. If I'd shot that elk I'd probably have killed or wounded more than one animal. From what I understand that particular guide got fired after getting a few more complaints about his ethics.
Paul B.

10% of outfitters hunt fee for the guide as a minimum. Maybe a couple hundred more if I get an animal. 100 for cook and 100 for wrangler. I've done a guided elk hunt for 10 of the last 12 years.

I have only been on one big game guided hunt. My guide was ok so I tipped him 10%. The cook was outstanding and I tipped her 15%.

I have been on a few guided duck hunts and the guides I have had were absolute top notch. I tipped 25% but also the cost of the hunts were less.

I was on a guided fishing/Chukar hunt on the Middle Fork of the Salmon tipped the guide my fly rod Orvis (Model before the Helios) I can't remember the name.

I plan on $100/day for the guide, plus $100/week for the cook, and some more for the camp staff if there is any.

All tipping is BS - the guide/cook/etc. are not my employees .
Pay the outfitter and he pays his people and expects them to do a good job .

When I built or remodeled a house for someone - why didn't the owners or owners to be tip every trade who participated - I wish they'd start then I could pocket more money for myself .

I would say to you the average guide isn't making a killing in wages. Add the fact that it is seasonal work for the most part. It is a personal choice to tip or not to tip. For me it is an easy choice specially when the guide has worked hard for me, Kill or no Kill.

I have tipped tradesmen too because they have done a great job for me.

If the guide is skilled and works hard I Iike to show my appreciation in $. You can learn a ton from a good guide and knowledge has value.


mike r

I tip on hunts because it has become part of the expectations.

Tipping in general has gotten out of control. Servers in restaraunts is different, they essentially don't get paid, they make about $3/hour, well below minimum wage and close to 100% of take home is tips. Essentially they make enough on "hourly" to cover taxes on the tips.

On a hunt you are paying somewhere in the area of $1000/day or more and that SHOULD be enough to fund everything. But tipping is part of the expense you should plan on as it's part of the expectations now. Guides do not make much money.

They must love seeing you come in the door at the local restaurant.

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.

And I totally get this. Problem there is if the good guides don't make extra above and beyond pay, they can't afford to stay and you start getting what I see on the river, guide gets his folks out, and rods, then fishes the whole time for himself. Might be lucky if he nets the clients fish.. me, I basically refuse to fish, though some folks want to see how I do it and I"ll demonstrate, some demand that after they are limited I take my limit and I might but I spend very little time if I can't... and we go on to other things for the duration to have fun, catch and release, sight seeing and such. While other guides suggest, hey you are limited out, want to head in and get an early lunch, or head in for the bar etc... nope and I don't agree with the suggestions.

The folks that don't tip add up, and effect whether I can afford to come back each year.

Though I wish you were right, I wish they would up our fees by 100 plus bucks on each trip, preferably 150 to 200, and then we are making a decent wage and not have to pray that we also get a good tip.

I refuse or do my best to, tips on make a wish trips and on honeymoons or anniversary trips. Just my thing. Sometimes those folks insist though