I am off to Zambia next month and my booking agent recommended creating a bit of competition amongst the "truck staff" by offering a reward for spotting certain species. He said to offer a small cash bonus (maybe $5 to 20$) for say, the first person to spot the Kudu that I take or something similar. My agent also hunts and he says that he has used this method in the past. I'm looking for advice on this and perhaps any experiences from the forum. I intuitively like the idea, but I don't want to start a war between the staff about "who saw what first". In either case, I'll check with my PH before doing anything like this. Thanks.

I would check with the PH first, it can be a well structured pecking order among the staff which could be upset by the sight of the waterboy receiving $20.

Ask your PH if the staff smoke, a pack of cigarettes shared among the guys after the field recovery of each animal might be more appropriate.

Does your agent think that offering a reward got him more or better animals? If his answer is "Yes", then he is hunting with the wrong outfitter; if his answer is "No" then why do it in the first place? Most of the staff I have been around are eager to spot animals, I don't know that they need a "competition" to entice them to spot game for you.

How would this competition work? What if the waterboy saw a 60" kudu but you couldn't get a shot on it. Does he get paid? What happens when you pay the Number 2 tracker for spotting the 55" kudu that you shoot?

If I was going to set up any reward system, then I would do something like a $5 bonus to each of the truck staff for a 60" kudu, 45" buffalo, etc. That way everyone is in on the reward and the payout is based on a definite set of standards. Just don't miss the shot on that 60" kudu.

Just my 2 cents.

Regards,

Terry

On my recent trip, I talked to the PH first and he said to do what I wanted to do. He also asked that I consider giving a tip to the gov't game scout if the scout was of any help.

I gave the trackers and spotters $100 each and the game scouts about $40 each.

Sounds like a slippery slope to me. Finding, tracking and skinning the game is their job. And a job well done is rewarded with at the end of the safari. To introduce this new element during the course of the safari seems like asking for trouble to me.

I suggested something similar to the PH on my first Safari/Hunt in May. He discouraged it.

One of his favorite sayings was, "They are already getting paid to do you a good job. At the end of the hunt if you would like to give something extra, that is up to you."

At the end of the hunt I gave him $150 in front of the staff to be divided up equally among them after changed into Rand. He was not in favor of tipping one higher than another. All were working equally hard doing their particular job, was his theory.

Fred

Rewarding a spotter for doing a job he is expected to do well to begin with in lunacy to me. I mean if he suddenly starts working harder for that $20 you're waving around doesn't it make you wonder just how much effort he was putting forth before you skinned off the 20 from the money clip?
Fools keep throwing $ around on safaris the safari business will soon be in as big a mess as North American outfitting businesses are!

Tell your booking agent to spend his own damned money, not yours.

Spotting game is part of their job. If they did an ESPECIALLY good job of spotting game under difficult conditions, reward them at the end of the safari.

George

I gave a tracker a porno mag for finding me an eland.

500 grains,

Pretty sad you could'nt make to Africa without a porno mag!

500grains

How stupid can you be???

Do you think that tracker would look at anything else for 14 days

A little competition between staff is a delightful thing...It makes for happy days while hunting...

We do that all the time in Pierre's camp and also with Phillip Price...seeing the winner laugh and call the rest of the group "Rhino Eyes" gets a bellowing laugh out of the whole staff and hunters, PH and everyone...Its a good thing.

I agree that all these matters should be discussed with the PH, but if I am hunting with a perspective safari company, the first thing I will note is the attitude of the PH towards the staff and the attitude of the staff..I have seen many sullen, beat down, bickering staff groups on Safari and it makes for a damn poor hunt..The blame goes to the Safari company 100% IMO...

A happy, joking and smiling staff willing to bust a gut to please the hunter and the PH is what I look for...Those trackers, water boys, and staff have a great since of humor and love to have fun on Safari, if they are allowed....

What a universally bad idea. On one hunt my hunting partner gave his "team" of trackers a tip after having a particularly good day. I was unaware of what had transpired but the next day my "team" was unusually attentive to me and I really didn't like it.

Tips are for the end of a safari after consultation with the PH.

....hunting with a perspective safari company....
Is that like... ah, a "freebie" little wonder you don't mind tossing a few daily tip dollars

Someone must want to piss away money worse than I! This on top of the ungodly tipping? Unbelieveable. They're hired to spot game.

I gave all my trackers cigars after a successful morning. They were only small ones. They all lit up wih relish, except one guy who broke up his into tobacco and added it to his tobacco pouch.

Samll gifts along the way can be fun and add to their sense of achievement. A pocket or sheath knife perhaps, a cap etc.

I think 'cash' gifts are crass and should be left to the end of the safari as a thank you then.


500grains,

a porno mag. Which one?

I see no reason for giving extra tips to trackers who are just doing their job. If they do it right, they know they'll get rewarded in the end one way or another.

While on the subject of tiping, I can tell you what my PH on my tuskless cow elephant hunt reccomended for my 8 days of hunting:

$50 for the nr 1 tracker, $40 for the nr 2 tracker and the same for the gamescout, and finally $100 to be given to the "communal pot" which is devided up between all the camp staff.

In other words, a fair bit less than what many hunters consider a decent tip. But when considering the real costs of living for a black african, these "average" tips are a lot of money actually.

Most of us will never understand this "tipping" business. Tipping on safari has been going on since the white man landed on the continent. It is ingrained in the locals way of life and believe me it is NOT considered by them as a "gratuity" but rather taken for granted. To you and I its' wrong but when generations of them have been spoilt by the gesture, it is impossible to change or stop it. The easiest if it just becomes part of the safari costs and included in the invoice by the outfitter. That way, the straff already know they are getting "what they deserve" and a client that wishes to tip a gunbearer or tent attendant can do so by giving the extra amount directly to them. He is now getting something extra...

If you want to be really popular leave your gun at home and just bring a suitcase full of cash to hand out.

I think you are nuts.

I guess living in third-world countries for fifteen year has hardened me. The beggars don't even come tap on my car window in Mumbai anymore. I guess I've developed a reputation.

I tip the PH. He spreads it where it belongs.

My PH offered 10 Rand to the first truck boy to spot a mountain zebra as we were cutting tracks but not seeing the animals. On the fifth, and last day, he offered 20 Rand. It was his idea. Two out of the four boys were young and inexperienced and I thought the hope of getting that small reward gave them an incentive to hone their skills.
We never did see any.

If you start giving money for this, I know a few PH's who would be ticked off. As then the trackers will not perform as efficiently with a non "daily tipping client". There might be a few rare instances where it would be appropriate. Say for instance you are tracking a wounded animal, and after day two of following tiny bits of blood in 90-100deg wheather, the trackers kind of loose interest, then a small bounty on the wounded critter does wonders to the staff, still dont mean you'll get your throphy though.

Cats,
That was a piss ignorant remark and shows just how little you know about my business...I do get some "freebies"...I also advertise extensively, travel extensively, attend all the shows, support an office and a small staff, support a web page, and I book my Safari companies to the hilt, that ain't free, they ain't complaining, and it ain't none of your damn business.....

Call it what you want. I and 99% of everyone else call them "freebies". And I really don't give a piss about your line of work or I'd be in it too!
Getting jumpy in your old age aren't you Ray!

Ray!



465H&H

BTW Ray did you forget you booked me TWICE?

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:


500grains,

a porno mag. Which one?

The title was "Afro Heat". I purchased it specificaly in case I needed to create an unusual reward or incentive program. We had been after eland for 4 days without success. So after lunch I gathered the trackers around and asked if they like to read. They all said yes. So I pulled out the Afro Heat magazine and said that the tracker who found me an eland that I actually shot will receive the magazine to read during his spare time. After that there was no talking or joking by the trackers. Their eyes were constantly on the bush looking behind every leaf. And indeed I shot a herd bull that very afternoon. The tracker who was the first to see the bull received the magazine, but generously shared it with the other trackers.

Seem like a good idea. Afro Heat ? Never saw that one.
I am more of a HUSTLER fan myself

After reading this thread, I really feel good about my recient safari with Swan/Scan. ALL of the trackers and even the game scout took great pride in pointing out all game. When we got the Mocula buff, they were as proud of tracking it and spoting it as I was shooting it.
They were tipped for darn good work at the end.

Sprig

Most of the stuff suggested on this forum is not really needed on a hunt. On my next African safari, the one thing that I am going to take with me is a copy of "Afro Heat". Now I have to find out where to buy it!

I'll agree w/ several of the guys here, it's their job, let them do it. A pack of cigs passed around after the kill is great, the boys enjoy that. A reasonable tip @ the end of the trip is best sorted out w/ the PH. Remember, he has many clients coming in after you & has to deal w/ the staff all year long, not just your 7-10 days.

Cats,
I don't even know who you are, don't care, but just because you booked with me twice doesn't mean I have to take a ration of shit off you or be insulted by you, You got the wrong guy if you think I'm going to kiss your a$$ because you booked with me, and if you did then you should know that by now. I can't imagine anyone of my clients being that rude to me, so perhaps you had better book with someone else in the future.

Ray I can think of a couple, Mikail

All I got to say is give em hell Ray

500grains,
You sly devil you
Where do I get a copy of that??

Ok I'll back off Ray, as I was reminded he is a pretty old SOB and could have a heart attack or seizure.
Ray best to keep some Nitro in your pocket

Cats,
Your a true Look me up in Dallas and I'll share some of my old nitro with you...

easy there pops you don't have many of those jabs left in ya

Regarding tips to the trackers for spotting game...what I tried to do this last trip was after the animal was down, ask who had initially spotted him or the spoor, and make it a point to give him a big smile and handshake and get a few digital pictures of him with the critter. They really appreciated this simple gesture, and we got some great pictures. Like most of us, the trackers take pride in their work, appreciate acknowledgement - and are competitive with one another. It makes sense to make it fun and keep it interesting - but I think training them to expect a tip after each animal shot is a bad, bad idea. JMHO.

quote:

Originally posted by cats:
easy there pops you don't have many of those jabs left in ya

Has anyone spotted the juvenile kid from the Pennslyvania High School yet?

Is it school holidays in the USA at the moment or something?

just as gramps said "keeps them away from the decent folks"