Do I tip an outfitter if I don't use a guide?

[jlovie]

I'm looking into a few lodges for a fishing/bird hunting trip in the fall of 2021. They all offer guided and self guided options and I was leaning toward self guided as my plan is to fish along the way to a spot, hunt for a while, fish my way back etc. I've never been to a lodge before and am wondering, do I tip an outfitter, even if I do a self guided trip? Wherever I end up, I will be doing the plan where all meals are provided, including a packed lunch for the day, etc, so would that be considered along the lines of guiding as far as providing a service, even when I'm paying for the meal plan? Tipping an actual guide seems self explanatory to me but does an outfitter expect a tip at the end of a successful trip, or would it just come off as weird?

 

[Tex Critter]

Yes you tip. If you're staying in a lodge, at least tip the girl making your bed and cleaning your room.

 

[silverfoxdj]

Usually they are on minimum wage so yes

 

[Foxer2373]

My general rule of thumb in life is, if they touch my food, my bed or my stuff they get a tip.

I think your more asking if you tip the company... that I don’t believe is needed at all. Guides live off tips, just like most in the service industry so they “need” the tips after a good trip.

To guide or not to guide: if you like being alone and taking what comes at you, don’t guide. Personally, I love meeting someone new and they “know” all the good spots for hunting fishing and all that, just tell the booker what your looking to do and they will set you up with the right guy for that job. Plus they know all the regs forwards and backwards so less chance of getting caught doing something stupid you didn’t know about.

I’m jelious!!! Have fun!

 

[Oneduckdog]

Yes absolutely as mentioned above. I am similar to you where there are times I just like being by myself. When you speak with them, sometimes you can get a guide for a day how shows you some of the good spots then you go off the rest on your own. There is a bit of a increase in cost but I find this way could be a good option too which I have done. Good luck, haven't had a trip like that in some years.....

 

[Grizzly Adams]

My rule of thumb is, you're getting paid to do a job, I shouldn't have to subsidize that., especially if I'm already paying through the nose.

Grizz

 

[hoytcanon]

My rule of thumb is, you're getting paid to do a job, I shouldn't have to subsidize that., especially if I'm already paying through the nose.

Grizz

Spoken like a guy who has no idea how little guides make or how hard they work, to make your trip (of a lifetime perhaps) a successful and enjoyable experience... whether or not an animal is taken.

P.S - I have been on all three sides of this discussion, as the outfitter, as the guide and as the client.

 

[Bare]

You still tip. When I guided we lived off the tips. I bet I made well under minimum wage when I look back at the hours I worked. Lots of experience gained though and lots of memories from those times.
Even the unguided people tipped as we still had to clean up after them and help them with their things back at the camp.

 

[freddyfour]

I have only ever rented cabins from outfitters and all the ones I have been to there are no staff, just the owners. I generally do not tip if I'm not paying for any services, IE food or housekeeping. One time in Chapleau I had an Outfitter offer to take me to good grouse hunting spots I would help him clean up his bear baits at the end of the season. I was more than happy to do that. If I was doing the American plan with all the meals included I would definitely dip whoever was doing that work.

 

[new210/22]

Do you know the difference between a guide and a large pizza? A large pizza can feed a family.

Tipping owners is optional, support staff not so much.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Spoken like a guy who has no idea how little guides make or how hard they work, to make your trip (of a lifetime perhaps) a successful and enjoyable experience... whether or not an animal is taken.

P.S - I have been on all three sides of this discussion, as the outfitter, as the guide and as the client.

I know how little they make, same as most service personnel, but employers are exploiting them on the basis that tips will make up for it. I've known several guides not paid by oufitters either, or the outfitter collects the tips and doesn't pass them on, they have little recourse. Client never gets to see that side of it.

Grizz

 

[Bigbubba]

I would not tip the owner. When I went on a few fly in moose hunts, no one had their hand out looking for a tip, and no one got one either.
They dropped us at a camp (which more often than not did not have everything it was supposed to have in good working order) and came back a week later.
Me and my buddy did everything else including loading moose 1/4's into Beavers.

I would tip whomever made my lunch and made the bed etc. Sometimes you get a better lunch....

Overall, I'm not a big believer in tipping, but I do tip a waiter/waitress for exceptional service.
And a good waiter/waitress makes a ton of money in a night - a ton. Don't let anyone tell you different.

The way I look at it is, I work for minimum wage and no one tips me after I hump all your lumber etc into your truck while you stand there like a lump watching me even though you are half my age.....I am doing this job because I want to. I am not doing it hoping to get tips. I figure you are doing your job for the same reason.

If you cannot afford to live of the wages you get paid, look for a better job (might not be so full of memories and good times outdoors)

 

[medvedqc]

Spoken like a guy who has no idea how little guides make or how hard they work, to make your trip (of a lifetime perhaps) a successful and enjoyable experience... whether or not an animal is taken.

P.S - I have been on all three sides of this discussion, as the outfitter, as the guide and as the client.

well sum up.

and if you are using a boat, a truck or a plane with someone paid to do it do not forget them as well ...

 

[jlovie]

Thanks for the responses guys. I fully intend to tip the guides because they do go over maps with me before my first outing and I know they work hard behind the scenes, same with food and house keeping. I was worried that although I was still paying good money, if I didnt use a guides services, the outfitter would miss out on some money as well. I've never tipped a restaurant owner, so i guess this would be the same thing.

 

[hoytcanon]

I know how little they make, same as most service personnel, but employers are exploiting them on the basis that tips will make up for it. I've known several guides not paid by oufitters either, or the outfitter collects the tips and doesn't pass them on, they have little recourse. Client never gets to see that side of it.

Grizz

The client doesn't see it, because in my experience it doesn't happen. When I was outfitting, clients regularly asked for my advice on tipping their guides and I would always give them a a range of tips from meager to extravagant and tell them to place themselves comfortably within that range... tips were also given directly to the guides, I did not handle tips and always directed the clients directly to the guides. As far as renumeration from outfitter to guide, that is invariably a pre-determined daily rate and does not take into account the possible tip from the client. As far as outfitters not being "fair" to guides regarding salaries... you would not believe the overhead costs of being the outfitter... particularly remote outfitters who have to boat, train or fly-in all of the gear, supplies, staff, clients, fuel etc... etc...

Nobody in their right mind would get into outfitting or guiding as a means to get rich. As an example, I guide at 1/3 my normal salary, and take the time off to do it... and for that 1/3 salary, I work twice as hard... but again, it is not about money, it is about a passion for the outdoors, the thrill of the pursuit, the new friendships and times spent around a campfire. A tip at the end of the experience simply helps to offset the personal cost and shows appreciation for your efforts.

 

[btabin]

I never tip anyone who is getting paid to do a job. I don't care if they're working hard or not, be they guide, outfitter, or wait staff. I bust my ass all the time and never have I once expected a gratuity from another. Service workers who expect tips are just one step away from beggars on the street.

 

[Suther]

I know how little they make, same as most service personnel, but employers are exploiting them on the basis that tips will make up for it. I've known several guides not paid by oufitters either, or the outfitter collects the tips and doesn't pass them on, they have little recourse. Client never gets to see that side of it.

Grizz

I don't have any experience from the guiding side of things, but I spent many years in the service industry between the kitchen and delivery driving. From my experience spanning almost two decades and over a dozen jobs what you speak of certainly happens, but its the exception not the rule. Even as kitchen staff, every job I had included a tip out of some sort.

Besides, if their manager is screwing them thats beyond my control, what I can control is whether I tip or not.

I would not tip the owner. When I went on a few fly in moose hunts, no one had their hand out looking for a tip, and no one got one either.
They dropped us at a camp (which more often than not did not have everything it was supposed to have in good working order) and came back a week later.
Me and my buddy did everything else including loading moose 1/4's into Beavers.

I would tip whomever made my lunch and made the bed etc. Sometimes you get a better lunch....

Overall, I'm not a big believer in tipping, but I do tip a waiter/waitress for exceptional service.
And a good waiter/waitress makes a ton of money in a night - a ton. Don't let anyone tell you different.

The way I look at it is, I work for minimum wage and no one tips me after I hump all your lumber etc into your truck while you stand there like a lump watching me even though you are half my age.....I am doing this job because I want to. I am not doing it hoping to get tips. I figure you are doing your job for the same reason.

If you cannot afford to live of the wages you get paid, look for a better job (might not be so full of memories and good times outdoors)

Making tonnes of money as a server is the exception not the norm. They generally don't do terribly, but unless you're a pretty woman working in a mid-to-high end restaurant or a good bar/club you're not making fat stacks of cash every night, especially if its not Friday/Saturday night. Hell, I've seen servers LOSE money on tips before, because they got stiffed by a few tables over the course of the night but they still have to tip out the kitchen/bar staff a certain percentage of their bill total - and if the tips you made throughout the night don't add up to the total you have to tip out, well that comes right out of your pocket.

Its also hard to get fulltime work as a server. Most shifts are 4-6 hours, and working a second job can often be difficult because there is little consistency in your schedule as a server most places.


In a perfect world tipping wouldn't exist and the service industry would be paid a better wage to make up for it. Because we don't live in a perfect world I tip. OP I would agree with the people above, the outfitter doesn't deserve a tip but if someone is making your lunch and bed, they totally deserve a little something something.

 

[Suther]

I never tip anyone who is getting paid to do a job. I don't care if they're working hard or not, be they guide, outfitter, or wait staff. I bust my ass all the time and never have I once expected a gratuity from another. Service workers who expect tips are just one step away from beggars on the street.

Do you work a job that pays you minimum wage (or less, In BC if you serve alcohol they can pay you under minimum wage) with the expectation that you'll get tipped? The price of your food is cheaper than it should be because staff are intentionally underpaid.

I hope you're not a regular anywhere. Known no-tippers don't get the best treatment from the kitchen staff, you might be eatting someones ballsweat on your garlic bread...

 

[hoytcanon]

I never tip anyone who is getting paid to do a job. I don't care if they're working hard or not, be they guide, outfitter, or wait staff. I bust my ass all the time and never have I once expected a gratuity from another. Service workers who expect tips are just one step away from beggars on the street.

Duly noted... I.L

 

[Dogleg]

You don’t have to tip an owner; ever. On the other hand, if the owner is guiding you himself, or cooking for you, or his wife is you might want to rethink that.

I don’t like the concept of tipping; much preferring a world where people are paid what they are worth and the worthless ones are run-off. Unfortunately that’s not the world we live in.