Following the Remember Bill_G thread, it was stated that guides have had several instances where the client actually wanted the guide to shoot the animal for them. This floors me, as I would rather go home with a empty tag rather than tag an animal I didn't at least draw blood on.
My question to the guides on this forum is how often this occurs? What percentage of the hunters would let you shoot their animal for them, if you would?

I'm not a guide. That said, you have to realize there are some folks that have more $ than sense, and that want to have impressive trophies to show off to their friends. They don't have any hunting skills, and don't have any problem letting the guide shoot their animal for them.

This is a very small minority, but there are some folks like that.

None have ever asked me to shoot there game for them.

I always discuss backup at length with my hunters. Especially bow hunters. Some don't want backup at all. Most want backup ready when it is percieved as needed. And backup seems to happen more on Mt Goat hunts than on the Bears we hunt. Appropriate hand signals and / or words must be used in the heat of the moment.

I do believe it is against the Guide Laws for a Guide to take his hunters game.

A Guide cannot hunt while there is a hunter under contract. If your name is listed as guiding on that contract.

But we are required to do all things necessary (with in the law) to retrieve a wonded animal. I know Guides that have been busted in the past for doing to much while trying to do that. Sameday airborn type stuff.

In this business you deal with "hunters" and with "clients"
I have had some clients who did not know how to load their rifle and some who did not even know what caliber they used. One brought 300 Win. ammo for his .300 Wby. He had been using it and sighted in with it.
Still, these guys paid for and deserve the same treatment as anyone. They just need some direction.

I've guided in CA, mostly for wild boar (some deer, elk, etc.), for the last 17 years. I've lost count how many clients have asked me to shoot their game. Some have even begged. Witnessing odd human behavior in the field is a big part of the job.

I've never shot an unwounded animal for a client and never will, but at least in this area (not that pig guides are well known for great ethics) I don't think it's that uncommon for guides to kill game for clients. They justify it because the client "wasn't shooting well", had a physical disability or the guide just got impatient. One competitor in the area admitted to me that he or his other guides shot around HALF of the pigs for their clients. They chased pigs with dogs and whoever got to the pig first shot it. Several of the guides were college rugby players. No wonder few of the clients could ever beat them to the game.
I said, "Aren't the clients upset?" He said, "Yeah, some of them are." I was in shock at this confession (thinking of several of my clients that would have been so mad they would knife the "guide"). Not only is it illegal, but I can't believe people would pay for their hunt after that. I would hope sooner or later one of the clients would turn them in if they'd been treated like this (probably Fish & Game wouldn't do anything about it, but that's another thread).

For the vast majority of hunters, they want to shoot their own game and would be offended by anyone else shooting it, as it should be. But if you're in the field long enough with the general public you'll get to the point where not much surprises you anymore.

Kyler

I've never been asked to shoot game for a client, but I have had a guide ask me if he shoot in my stead!

This was on my first roe buck hunt in Poland years ago. I had only once before shot a doe and no other big game. We were on a highseat at the forest edge, with a huge meadow in front of us. Enter a decent buck about 200 yards to our left. The guide gives me a nudge to shoot. I've got buck fever all over, and I can't get the crosshairs to stabilize. Buck retreat into the forest, emerges at 160. Still can't get the shaking under control. Buck withdraws, and emerges from the thick stuff at 130 or so yards. Then the guide asks me "Vielleicht Ich schiesen Bock?" (Maybe I shoot buck?) That really pissed me off. I aimed and put one nice and clean behind the shoulder. I smoked half a cigarette after that, and I had quit 11 years before this happened!

Frans

Well,

I meet a Italian "trophy collector" This gentleman told me he never liked shooting and therefore had a shooter who took care of it

As trophy collector, his part of the hunt was to select the animals

I found this very interesting and comic I would never accept such arrangement, each to his own

Cheers
/ JOHAN