want to get into profesional guiding

[Cold Track]

$500-$750 a month, that's sheepherder wages. Never heard of anyone get paid less than $100 a day.

[Ike]

This is an interesting topic, and I have had several laughs while reading it. If a guy was gonna guide lion or bear hunters with his own truck, wheeler, snow sled, hounds, equipment and knowledge how much should he get a per dead bear or lion or per day??????

Ike

[chilcotin hillbilly]

Ike, I subcontract the cat hunting in my area from the outfitters because none run hounds. I have a deal if they supply the client they keep 50% of thier advertised price. If I bring in the clients I pay them a set fee and I keep the rest. I won't work for day rates only by the hunt. If the hunt is over in one day I get payed the same as if it was a 7 day hunt. If guys are looking to run hounds as a guide don't underestimate what you , your hounds , trucks, collars and sleds are worth if you work hard and are successful you make the outfitter look good. Work hard for the client but charge accorridingly or you are better off hunting for fun with a buddy or two.

[Ike]

chilcotin hillbilly,

Thanks for the input cause those people talking about $500 to $750 a month just about choked me up. You are a lot closer to what a skilled guide should charge for equipment, knowledge and time. I charge by the hunt as well, and will not take a day rate either. Too many guys around here are helping people kill lions for gas money and tips (under the table) which prevents outfitters with forest service and BLM permits from booking lots of those hunters--not much a guy can do about cash under the table if people hold their tongues.........

I have helped a select few people by running down a tom lion and not taken money, but those people have been few and far between. With the cost of dog food, licenses, equipment and the skill set that goes with them hunting behind my dogs is pretty damn expensive..........

keep'em treed and best of luck,
ike

http://www.ingramwildlife.com/picture.htm

[chilcotin hillbilly]

Ike , I ve also taken afew friends out for toms. one guy went to shoot a problem cat which was going to die anyway the other guy was a good friend which I deer hunt with every year ,treed him a good tom and the guy bailed on me and left me taking pictures at the tree for an hour before I walked out and found him at the truck . I usually go out a few days before a hunter shows up and get a line on a tom if I can, so the hunt is over quicker. Easier looking for lions on your own and not having to drag clients around with you, besides, the conversation is better.

[Ike]

Correct, what I have found is a guide shouldn't start a female for a client if he doesn't want them to kill it. Too many times, if you beat a hunter up on a tough tree they'll want to end the hunt there rather than risk another tough tree. But people like you and me (or us) don't know any better, as we just send dogs and then go pull'em...........samw with bear!

ike

[chilcotin hillbilly]

Ike, about 4 winters ago I had a sick looking client he and is wife both claimed to be in good shape but I had my doubts. I spent 4 days finding a tom that would be suitable to run, this required lots of snow shoeing. Finally get a young tom in a good area. they strap on their snowshoes, I keep the the hounds with us as this could be a good long hike, I was waiting until the track heated up and then decide if they could continue on. An our of easy going and the guy dropped dead . Can you believe it!!! Very next hunter I go to pick up at the airport is the only guy out of the 20 people at the airport that should not be hunting cats!!!! (5'8" 280lbs)First morning we cut a female track in an easy area, its a big female and you might pass the track off as a tom track. I told the guy this is going to be your cat because I don't think you can get a hard cat. 4 hrs of slow going on the snowshoes he makes the tree,shoots the cat in the elbow from 15 yards and I have to finish the cat off, my dog had it by the throat and the cat had the dog by the jaw, when I pulled the trigger. The hunter barily made it to a trail 300 yards away , there he sat by the fire ,sleeping while I hiked out and brought a sled from home to retreive him. So you want to be a guide Twinpinekennels. I at least have the luxury of taking a female if need be as in the last 5 years 3 have been shot in my area we don't get any pressure. I am glad not all are like those 2 but at least niether complained.

[Ike]

That was a pretty tough hunter as some go if he could keep up for four hours on snowshoes hillbilly--lol! I had one tell me he'd sit in the truck and if the dogs get treed come back after him; another that quit after about a mile hike. I'd say the most important piece of equipment a lion guide needs is a tow rope to pull his hunter back to the truck...........

ike

Oh, and it sounds like you've about seen it all as well. I had a guide I know in BC tell me a few years back he had a hunter out all night in the deep snow, bout lost him and had to fly him out on a chopper. That guy makes his living as a EMT.........

[chilcotin hillbilly]

Ike that last fellow only walked2 miles in the 4 hours. It was almost comical as we got to a blow down that was knee high he would lay down and roll over it and I would pick him up on the other side. This happened probably20 times on the hike. The worst part about him was he was in such poor shape he was basically bed ridden at my house for the next 5 days as he could not even travel as he was so sore. I usually don't let any clients shoot females but this poor sap saved his money for a number of years working as a warehouse forklift driver to come on his dream hunt. Well he went home happy and not in a casket thats the main thing.

[Ike]

If we still had hunting rights, like some of the native american tribes, a guide could just run down some of those out of shape hunters a tom, kill it, take photos, tag it, then bring it out to him--and that my friend would fix the problem............

roflmao,
ike

[houndcrazyfool]

IMO- anyone that has to go to school to guide just doesnt belong! Sorry... If your good at catching game you will have no problem

[bob baldwin jr]

It ain't all about catching game You would not last more than 1 season with that attitude

[catslayer]

I went through a hands on guide school with the first oufitter i worked for and thats the way to go.I worked with a few kids that came from guide school in MT and like someone else said,it aint the guide school but rather the student.They were not someone i was sad to see go.I have guided in idaho and nevada since 04 and when i started out i was making 100 a day plus tips which were not that great.Now Im making 225 a day plus good tips,(recomended 10% of the hunt,15% if the guys had a great hunt),Plus gas,dog food and room and board.Its an awesome way to make a living i must say.I have guided some tv guys and done some tv shows and met some great people.You wont get rich off of it but you can make around 30 thousand in wages and about 10 to 15 thousand in tips if your outfit keeps ya busy.The last 2 years i have been busy 11 months out of the year and made some good money,but this season i have made more on unemployment than wages.If you find a good outfitter that treats you right,stick with him.There are some dandys out there but also some guys that treat ya like just another guy,cause there are so many guys that run through there i think they get a little numb.Its a great business and it never feels like a job even when ya get a terd of a client, as long as you keep in mind that you only have to put up with them for 5 or 7 days then you never have to talk to them again in your life.The real money is bein the outfitter.My boss nets around a million a year and most of that is just in the couple month elk and mulie season just to give ya an idea.The rest of the seasons are just to keep us busy and keep the lights on:)Anyways,have fun with it and good luck:)

[krk hunting]

I think that you need to remember that a TIP is a gratuity given for a ser vice performed at or above the clients expectations. If an outfitter or a guide told me there was a manditory 10% tip i would find a different outfitter. The guide that requires a manditory tip is not confident of his level of ability to succeed. He may also be cutting himself short.

Thanks

Junk

[Steve White]

Ike, reading this I too, got a chuckle and choked up a bit over this. Never guided out west, but have been a guide for over 20yrs here in WI. Must say it is one of the most cut throat businesses you can be in at times. The mentality, and price that goes with western guides does seem to be a lot better than back here. Some people have that belief that our costs in these parts are far less anywhere else so we should make less than a teenager at MC'D's. Since this is a hunting board will skip the fishing folies. With hunting man is it rough. With bear and cat there are some many weekend warriors that take guys out for that cash under the table thing, or worse. Some play games with the law wordings charging far more than a actual guide giving guides a bad name. Seems to be getting worse with the economy. Cats this year may be non exsistent. We got a total of 400 tags. have yet to even get a call yet. So every weekend warrior guide will fight for the tags. Taking guys out for the season for $500 or less. Does not even pay the gas!!

$100 a day does not sound like much. Yet, if food, lodging, gas,etc are included. That all adds up! I can easily drop $50 just in gas!! Lucky to get $1000 for a 5 day bear hunt in this state. Average price on cats is $500 for a 3 day hunt. profit margin can be real low quick. Deer you can forget about!! Fishing is where the money gets made, but costs there are high as well.

I checked the royal tine site out. Seems like a lot of money for skills one should already have as a hunter. The biggest part of guiding can't be taught in a school. Being a people person. That's where those tips come from. Perhaps some of the stuff could be useful. Like for me I know nothing about horses other than they eat, and crap. Sure as heck can't learn to hunt hounds in 5 weeks!!

Chilcolton Hillbilly, having a guy drop dead on you is what scares me all the time. Seems here in the flatlands we get a lot more of those guys that are on deaths door. Some have a hard time just sitting in a boat.

Like was said. It's a lifestyle. Few will ever get rich just guiding. It's also a luxury item. So when the economy hits the fan less clients come to visit. Many of us that do it for a living are also doing other things at the same time to keep the gas tank full!!