The Economics of Guiding: Why Tips Matter

“How much should I tip my guide?” is the most universally asked question among hunters booking an outfitted big game hunt.

Looking into the forest shadows, I could see a form that looked out of place against a backdrop of thick spruce.  I shouldered my rifle and peered through the scope.  The image observed through the riflescope electrified me as I realized I was only yards from the monster grizzly — and I was clearly the focal point of its attention.

Listen Now > > The huge elk caught me by surprise. I was hunting mule deer with my guide when a bull bugled 200 yards away. I say “bugle,” but that’s really not the word. “Growl” would better describe the sound.

Gray wolves and grizzly bears have become the most controversial species of wildlife in North America. Once considered animals to be eradicated by any means possible, these two species were “listed” under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the 1970s. Since then, they have recolonized remarkably in the lower 48 states of the U.S., advancing under decades of Federal protection and three…

Uniquely American, it's otherwise enigmatic, with no brand name. Millions of hunters own one.

Lead, copper, water and time conspire to sabotage accuracy. You can save it. But first….

It may not be true that if you haven’t hunted with a .30-30 rifle, or a .30-06 or a .300 Winchester Magnum, you’re still learning to tie your shoes. Some souls so deprived reach adulthood, though mothers have long known .30s are good for you. Hunters born before there were .30s have all died.

It’s More Faith Than Equipment—It really isn’t about the equipment, you do the best you can with what you have. Rather, it’s knowing where and how to look, and believing that if you look long enough and hard enough you will see the game you seek.