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Gratuity for hunting guide
SS3 and I are planning a hunt for '16.
Due to limited time, logistics, and so forth we have decided the use of an outfitter is the best course of action.
One question that has come up in conversations is, gratuity for the guide
suggested at 10%.
My question is 10% of what? Based on total charges of the outfitter that could be several hundred dollars.
I realize guiding hunters can be a "tough row to hoe" and I certainly want to fair and reasonable.
I know several of you have experience with guided hunts and would value you input.
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Due to limited time, logistics, and so forth we have decided the use of an outfitter is the best course of action.
One question that has come up in conversations is, gratuity for the guide
suggested at 10%.
My question is 10% of what? Based on total charges of the outfitter that could be several hundred dollars.
I realize guiding hunters can be a "tough row to hoe" and I certainly want to fair and reasonable.
I know several of you have experience with guided hunts and would value you input.
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"The .30-06 is never a mistake." Townsend Whelen :iwo:
Replies
Generally, you're paying the outfitter...room, lodging, meals, transportation, contracting a guide, etc, etc, etc....the guide gets a cut of what you paid the outfitter.... A guide who busts his ass for me deserves something extra...
10% of the cost of the guided hunt is about right!
Its like eating at a restaurant, you aren't paying the server for the food, you are paying the business. But the server is the one who facilitated putting food in your mouth, so you tip her based on a % of the total bill.
I think it really depends on the type of hunt you are doing. If its a fully guided 10 day back country horse back elk hunt....the price is going to be much higher and I'd tip on the total amount. In Africa they break things down between daily rate and trophy fee, you tip on the DR, not the trophy fee added in.
If this is something like a 1-2 day weekend pig hunt, I could see UP TO 50$ a day per person. If I'm hunting for 2 days on a 500$ 2-pig hunt, I think 100$ is appropriate.
Need a bit more info on the hunt to figure this out (plus I just want to know what you two are up to!)
It will not a full blown pack trip as much as I covet making a hunt like. Typical speed goat hunt, drive the area, spot a likekly candidate then put on a stalk.
I have hunted at lodges, or ranches where you are taken to a blind, picked up for lunch and a nap then back to a blind for the afternoon. I tipped the hand who did the field dressing, but not the cook (owner's wife), or the owner/operator. Hunted with them 3 years, or so, they always seemed happy to have us back.
Just trying to estimate the cost and avoid any unplanned expenses.
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When my son was a deck hand with another company back in the 90s, the Captain got tipped too, because it wasn't his boat. The boat belonged to the company. So the captain was just another crew member in effect.
I would say that if your guide just works for a company he should be tipped. If he IS the company, no. Tip the guys that work for him if they do a good job and you have an enjoyable hunt due to their service.
I know some restaurants where the ownership-management takes a cut out of the tips. If I find this out, they don't get my business and I tell them why.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
I recently went on a guided deer hunt on a 7300 acre ranch. The tips were included in the package. I asked the owner and the guides about tips. They both said it was included in the package.
If you don't mind me asking, where in Texas would you hunt? The only places I know of with goat populations are the Trans-Pecos region (Alpine/Marfa/Ft. Davis) and the panhandle between Amarillo and Dalhart. I've only seen a few in the panhandle, and have been told by very reliable sources that there was a big disappearance of antelope in the Trans-Pecos region 10-12 years ago. Perhaps the population has rebounded, though. I don't know. I do know that I used to see them just north of Ft. Davis (toward Balmorhea), between Alpine and Ft. Davis, and between Ft. Davis and Marfa. There's probably other places they stay, but those are where I've seen them.
As for New Mexico, the northeast corner between Raton and Clayton is lousy with them. I've counted as many as 300 from my car when driving through. I've also seen a lot between Clayton and Springer. Many years ago, there used to be a lot west of Roswell. I haven't been in that country since the late 1987, though, so I don't have any idea what the population is like now.
You might also check Colorado. There is (or was) at least one Ranching for Wildlife operation in southeast Colorado that offered antelope hunts. I have no idea what they charge, but they can provide you with a tag as part of the price.
Whichever way you go, I'd like to know. Please keep us informed. Chasing goats across the open prairie is about the most fun a man can have with his pants on.
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
There are some Pronghorn in Dickens, Borden, Lynne, Garza counties (southern plains off the caprock) but very limited numbers. Also huntable # near the Plains TX, Tatum NM. Lack of rainfall & general poor range condition in the Trans-Pecos region has lead to reduced numbers there, according to the TPW biologist I visited with.
Due to time constraints of both our jobs I plan on keeping to the high plains of TX & NM. (5 hour range of home)
While I detest the term, this is one of those "bucket list" hunts I want to do while I am still able - physically & fiscally .
Of course I would be thankful for any advise - guides, locale, &/or equipment. My rifle decision has been made, can't or won't speak for SS3, but I'm thinking he may have made that decision as well.
Outfitter fees are comparable, excluding the more high-end hunts, so the misc. expenses must be considered, and may well be the determinationing factor.
NM nonresident license will be approximately $350-400. TX resident (bought every year anyway) $50. Land owner tags for TX hunt included in outfitter's charges.
Planning is part of the adventure :cool:
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