chipper Posted November 13, 2015 Report Share Posted November 13, 2015 The subject of 'tipping' the keeper at the end of the day seems to be a very very hush hush subject. So, whilst we're here and using our pseudonyms, is it safe to say what we think ? A good friend (a ex gamekeeper) has always maintained that the bare minimum is 20 quid.....and of course this will go up accordingly. He maintains that on a 100 bird day, he'd tip 20 quid (give or take a tenner, i.e if he drew an exceptional peg) and if its a 200 bird day , it'll be 50. Would really like to know your thoughts ? ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exudate Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 http://www.gunsonpegs.com/shooting/blogs/tipping-a-gamekeeper-the-debate_1621 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipdog Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 (edited) £20 for fifty birds and then £10 extra per 50 birds is a good rule of thumb. Edited November 14, 2015 by zipdog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 When I was heavily involved with a large game shoot, this question was raised regularly. Start at £20 and work up above 50 birdsish was a good guide, but I think there are other factors; a poor weather day when the keeper and beaters have worked hard in non ideal conditions in my view deserves suitable recognition with 'a little extra' - even if the bag has been more reflective of the weather than the efforts. Also - if you happen to have inadvertently caused additional problems (e.g. arrive late due to unforseen traffic, delays between drives due to dog gone AWOL, or any little problem that upsets the keeper's plans) - a little extra to reflect the trouble caused does not go amiss. Equally (as has happened to me only once in my 40 years shooting) - the guns overall have had a poor day, the keeper has been sullen and shown no enthusiasm, few manners, and no apologies, then less may be in order. Under this (very rare in my experience) circumstance, it is sensible for the guns to discuss matters and agree a stance. In the instance to which I refer, all guns agreed that a 'gesture of dissatisfaction' was appropriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 When I was heavily involved with a large game shoot, this question was raised regularly. Start at £20 and work up above 50 birdsish was a good guide, but I think there are other factors; a poor weather day when the keeper and beaters have worked hard in non ideal conditions in my view deserves suitable recognition with 'a little extra' - even if the bag has been more reflective of the weather than the efforts. Also - if you happen to have inadvertently caused additional problems (e.g. arrive late due to unforseen traffic, delays between drives due to dog gone AWOL, or any little problem that upsets the keeper's plans) - a little extra to reflect the trouble caused does not go amiss. Equally (as has happened to me only once in my 40 years shooting) - the guns overall have had a poor day, the keeper has been sullen and shown no enthusiasm, few manners, and no apologies, then less may be in order. Under this (very rare in my experience) circumstance, it is sensible for the guns to discuss matters and agree a stance. In the instance to which I refer, all guns agreed that a 'gesture of dissatisfaction' was appropriate. Some very valid points and wouldn't it be nice if some of the extra went to the beaters too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 i/we have always worked on...having a chat with each other at the end of the day and agreeing on a tip............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 No matter what the day I would normally give £50.A smaller day can require more effort to pull off if you have not got a lot of birds to play with ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningB525 Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 £20 for fifty birds and then £10 extra per 50 birds is a good rule of thumb. Excuse my ignorance. I am not quite sure about how it works. Using this simplistic example below: Is that if say 5 guns shoot 50 birds in total, each gun tips £20. Or is it £20 for each 50 birds that the gun shoots? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 Excuse my ignorance. I am not quite sure about how it works. Using this simplistic example below: Is that if say 5 guns shoot 50 birds in total, each gun tips £20. Or is it £20 for each 50 birds that the gun shoots? If a team of 5 guns shoot a total of 50 birds, the tip would be £20 from each of those 5 guns If EACH gun shot 50 birds, so that the team of 5 shot a total of 250 birds, then I would suggest probably £50 from each gun region. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 (edited) Hi chipper No it's not safe to say what you think 😚😋 Sudename or not Anyway There are different types of driven day some Corperare Gest Formal And Commercial As said above a lot depends on the day you've had and the deal Tin hat time 😋 Personally don't think you should be tipping on a commercial shoot especially if your paying overages or the whistle is blown on a shot count It's a commercial shoot there selling a product doing there job so why the tip ? Well I apreciate its controversial and very few will have experienced big pay days on a commercial shoot Just my thoughts Kettle on All the best Of Edited November 14, 2015 by Old farrier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 You won't need a tin hat for this, but what is the difference between 'Corporate' and 'Commercial' as regards tipping? By 'Formal' I assume you mean the shoot owner, his family and his personal (i.e. non paying) guests? My understanding is that a 'Commercial' day is one where you pay ££ per bird shot with a predicted bag of yyy at the end of the day - so the team of guns pays the shoot ££ x yyy pounds for the day. (Excluding any overages etc). The team of guns may be a roving syndicate, group of friends taking a day together, or a group of people who have never met put together by a 'sporting agent'. I understood a 'Corporate' day is effectively the same, but the 'Corporation' who have bought the day for their guests pays the (same) bill. The team of guns are usually some 'Seniors' of the Corporation and their business contacts. I don't believe these differ from a tipping point of view as the tip is an 'individual' thing. As a gun, I have been lucky enough to take part in all of the above except 'Corporate', and have always tipped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 You won't need a tin hat for this, but what is the difference between 'Corporate' and 'Commercial' as regards tipping? By 'Formal' I assume you mean the shoot owner, his family and his personal (i.e. non paying) guests? My understanding is that a 'Commercial' day is one where you pay ££ per bird shot with a predicted bag of yyy at the end of the day - so the team of guns pays the shoot ££ x yyy pounds for the day. (Excluding any overages etc). The team of guns may be a roving syndicate, group of friends taking a day together, or a group of people who have never met put together by a 'sporting agent'. I understood a 'Corporate' day is effectively the same, but the 'Corporation' who have bought the day for their guests pays the (same) bill. The team of guns are usually some 'Seniors' of the Corporation and their business contacts. I don't believe these differ from a tipping point of view as the tip is an 'individual' thing. As a gun, I have been lucky enough to take part in all of the above except 'Corporate', and have always tipped. Corporate Bought by a company as a perk to treat its staff to a day out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootgun Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 Last season i was invited by one of our company customer to a corporate 400 bird day shot, and i was told by my host at the begining of the day, not to tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 I get invited to 1 shoot each year, and end of day I ask my host, how much to tip, £80 is the amount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 Last season i was invited by one of our company customer to a corporate 400 bird day shot, and i was told by my host at the begining of the day, not to tip. I guess because your "host", being a very hospitable chap, tipped the keeper on behalf of his guests...........which is what I do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 Having been on a shoot where we met the 'Keeper' on the hotel car park and straight off he was muuttering about hating these 'small' days (125). They normally shoot 250 bird days, I felt that even £20 was too much. After lunch he counted we had 80 down and asked if we really wanted to do 'another drive'. We insisted and to say he was NOT happy would be an understatement. His reasoning........................."it costs the same amount of money to put on a 125 bird day as to shoot a 250+ bird day" his words, not mine. Funnily enough we have never been back. Another thing that I try to ensure that I do at the end of play, is to personally thank each beater, after all it would be a bloody long day without them ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoot and be safe Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 (edited) My view is you show your gratitude to the keeper for the day you've had. On some shoots in the past I have tipped as much as £50 when there wasn't 40 birds in the bag. Like wise I have tipped £30 on a 150 bird day. Ultimately it is down to the individual to decide on how much, but the £20 for up to the first 50 then £10 for every 50 over is a good rule of thumb. I have also tipped less than the above mentioned rule of thumb if the day hasn't been as described. ie, I booked on for a pheasant and partridge day with the chance of some ducks, three quarters of the bag was duck, so I reduced my tip from the above rule. Each to their own and if overage was charged, a small nominal tip would be passed. Just my thoughts. Edited November 14, 2015 by shoot and be safe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 I hope I provide a good day for the rest of the season, my tips are all that are keeping our heads above water at the moment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalahari Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 That is a lot of the problem. I have tipped when I have been lucky enough to be on a "proper" driven shoot, but that shouldn't be a reason why the shoot owners pay pitiful wages! David. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJW Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 My rule of thumb is £20 per 100birds, however it is also the minimum I would tip, so I would still tip £20 for a smaller bag. I think it also depends where you are shooting in the country. On my most recent day last week, that I've put a video up of, I tipped £30 (105 bag) because the birds were so well presented and I got a serious amount of sport. I think that sadly because tipping is a tradition, some keepers take it for granted, which defeats the object. I've had days where the bag is miles below what was promised, days where the lunch that was promised has not been supplied, days where beaters have been skimped on so the drive can't be beaten properly, if you received similar "service" in a restaurant you wouldn't think about tipping, but shooting is so steeped in tradition that most people will no matter what. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 Its a tip Do what you think is right simple end of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spanj Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 Its a tip Do what you think is right simple end of thats the scouser in you showing you bolshy get Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 General rule is £20 plus £20 per 100 so 100 bird day £20 150 bird day £40 200 bird day £40 Etc If the keeper has shown some very good birds especially for the terrain I tip more if I get the impression he isn't bothered I tip less. If I'm invited to shoot I'm normally tip a bit higher. It is becoming more and more noticeable that people aren't tipping especially loaders who are now often forgotten, even when they have worked hard for the gun offering advice and getting hitting stuff and clean the gun etc! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterside Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 Chipper,! Looks like it's a bullseye for our day!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 I know of some local 'toff's' that tip a 'fiver' and have done for years. And they are gettin invited to some decent sized days. I have also shot on some dog training days where the handlers have decided to all chip in a fiver for a tip, i usually say i'll give my own tip and usually £20 as small bags esp dog training days are bloody hard work and stressfull for keepers. Shot in a couple of FT's and still tipped he keeper but i think he was quite surprised to get it, not sure if normal on a FT but i still appreciated all the work them and stops had put in to the day. The only time i don't tip would be on a keepers day, if i have beat or picked up all season for them and possibly done other work as well i tend to think u deserve it. Most of the keepers days i've been on the shoot/keeper supplies the food and a lot of drink to say thanks to all the boys for puting the effort in throughout the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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