What is going on with tipping culture in the hunting industry?

[dailordasailor]

What about the UK? We’ve hunted there a few times and going back next year. Always tipped ~20% as they are budget/cull hunts but never had reference to what is “expected” there

 

[Sabre]

But, there is the issue that RSA for example limits the amount of cash you can bring into the country to $1300 US if I recall correctly. Now if I am going to tip even 10% on a 20,000 hunt for several PG and maybe a Buffalo or other DG animal (croc, hippo, etc), I either must figure out a way to bring in more cash, and declare it on entry or do what?? Give them Krugerrands? Diamonds, traveler's checks? It is a real question.

I don't know that there is such a small limit on USD that can be brought in. The amount you stated is about the amount in Rand a person can bring in. Generally when I have traveled abroad the limit I frequently hear is $10,000 USD. I know that the vast majority of people that I know of that have traveled to SA have taken more than $1,300 USD and never had an issue. Although, I am not an expert on this information and just speaking from experience.

 

[Sabre]

What about the UK? We’ve hunted there a few times and going back next year. Always tipped ~20% as they are budget/cull hunts but never had reference to what is “expected” there

If you're going by percentages, I think it makes sense to tip a higher percentage on a cull or low cost hunt just to fairly compensate the PH/Guide for their time and effort. Within reason of course. But if you were on a cull hunt and killed $300 worth of animals over 3 days, it would be unreasonable to tip a PH/Guide 30-40 bucks.

Have you always hunted at the same place in the UK? I see your one hunt report for there and it looks like a good time.

 

[dailordasailor]

Even a cheap cull hunt can add up lol. Want to say I paid $1100 for critters plus the 400 or so for hunt fees. Tipped $300 I think and guide seemed genuinely happy. Also at that time very different financial situation then I have now. I’ve hunted with Hockham Deer Management on our first international hunt in 2017. Going back with them for 2 days then 3 days with a new guide for trophy muntjac/CWD. Strongly recommend Hockham, I’ve talked to my guide ever since. Also how I met Manish the mustache.

 

[UKHunter]

What about the UK? We’ve hunted there a few times and going back next year. Always tipped ~20% as they are budget/cull hunts but never had reference to what is “expected” there

In the UK the norm would be about £40-60 per day, esp if you aren’t after trophies.

 

[Hunt anything]

I don't know that there is such a small limit on USD that can be brought in. The amount you stated is about the amount in Rand a person can bring in. Generally when I have traveled abroad the limit I frequently hear is $10,000 USD. I know that the vast majority of people that I know of that have traveled to SA have taken more than $1,300 USD and never had an issue. Although, I am not an expert on this information and just speaking from experience.

$10,000 is the limit to take out of the US without declaring it. You can take more but you’ll spend a lot of time explaining why you are taking more than that.
In 4 trips to South Africa and 1 transfer through South Africa I’ve never been asked how much cash I have. I normally take around $5,000 with me for extra animals and tips.

 

[Northern Shooter]

With the sky high prices of hunts these days, a 25% tip seems outrageous.

I’d rather a 10-15% tip be baked into the hunt cost from the start and be done with this game of tipping enough after the hunt has completed or guides/outfitters and staff complaining that you didn’t tip enough.

 

[Bearkat]

As far as Africa, I would recommend talking to you outfitter. Ours is an owner PH and he was very reluctant to talk about tipping. He feels his price is his price and doesn't expect more. I appreciate that attitude and pressed him on suggestions for trackers and other staff. He didn't want us to tip more than $50 I believe and to include all tips in our final payment for him to pass out. His reasoning was that he takes good care of his employees and he doesn't want those guys to suddenly have a substantial amount of money in their pockets and disappear. We don't always appreciate how far $50 goes in some countries.

We followed his advise, plus we gave the trackers and skinners some small gifts. In the end, we tipped the owner/PH and his other PH $100/day and also paid for some groceries that were stolen out of his wife's car. They were all very grateful of what was given and we are returning to hunt with them this June. I will follow the same protocol as our last trip.

 

[CBH Australia]

As far as Africa, I would recommend talking to you outfitter. Ours is an owner PH and he was very reluctant to talk about tipping. He feels his price is his price and doesn't expect more. I appreciate that attitude and pressed him on suggestions for trackers and other staff. He didn't want us to tip more than $50 I believe and to include all tips in our final payment for him to pass out. His reasoning was that he takes good care of his employees and he doesn't want those guys to suddenly have a substantial amount of money in their pockets and disappear. We don't always appreciate how far $50 goes in some countries.

We followed his advise, plus we gave the trackers and skinners some small gifts. In the end, we tipped the owner/PH and his other PH $100/day and also paid for some groceries that were stolen out of his wife's car. They were all very grateful of what was given and we are returning to hunt with them this June. I will follow the same protocol as our last trip.

I prefer the idea of his price is his price. They have the option to cost it out and offer a set price based on costs plus a profit margin. Setting a fair price and consistent pricing across their offerings means people can base a decision on that and not consider if their are 20-15% tips expected. I might be the minority but coming from a country where tips are not part of the culture I would prefer to have a set fee as opposed to having a tipping system that seems hierarchical in the distribution and a system I’m not familiar with with.
We had a PH and a tracker. There was a cook and a maid and 3 skinners that I know of so that’s 7 people employed that I saw in the off season plus 2 outfitters and I don’t know if there were others behind the scenes .
I hope everyone gets fair pay for the industry and by the country’s standards but I have no idea how that look the same as I don’t know how American wages look although I heard it’s lower wages and tips add to the average income. I assume Tips are not taxed.
Here we get a fair wage and it it taxed. It’s the only way we know it. So a tip is just that, if it’s given at all but it’s a collection of small tips divided equally on occasion and it probably mostly restaurants who keep a tip jar on the counter.

The catch is we are all trying to to make a decent wage but buying imported items to save money and in turn we are loosing all of of production industry.
No car manufacturers., no oil refinery so fuel comes in refined . The majority of clothing is imported another daily requirement.
Most of our steel used in manufacturing and domestic fabrication is from Korea. Roof iron, fence iron mostly imported made from raw ingredients we export shipped both ways and that doesn’t seem to get a mention when we ship in green alternatives.

 

[Sabre]

In the UK the norm would be about £40-60 per day, esp if you aren’t after trophies.

Do you guide in the UK, or you live over there and hunt there? I noticed you posting quite a few things in the past about CWD and Muntjac scoring.

 

[UKHunter]

Do you guide in the UK, or you live over there and hunt there? I noticed you posting quite a few things in the past about CWD and Muntjac scoring.

I’m from the UK and fortunate to have my own hunting grounds but I also have done and still occasionally hunt with guides here.

 

[Sabre]

I’m from the UK and fortunate to have my own hunting grounds but I also have done and still occasionally hunt with guides here.

That is awesome. I am eager to go to the UK and do a hunt. I am planning on trying to get over there next year.

 

[M70375!]

In the line of work I did, everyone I sold to did their very best to pay me less than the advertised price, so I have a calloused attitude toward tipping some people.So as far as bars and restaurants go, if they suggest a 15-20% tip , it offends me for the little bit of effort used to serve me, so they get little or no tip. You don't tell me what to tip. I am the one giving the tip and I will decide if and how much the tip will be. The same applies for hunting, not saying that I don't tip well at times, but the person has to deserve it. In Africa I actually enjoy tipping the poor folks working as helpers and camp staff, they don't expect much and really appreciate a good tip, and the PH is tipped well , as they are always so good to me, they treat me like a king and we become friends for life. I am just fed up with the woke entitlement attitude here in the US.