Mark Sullivan kicked out of SCI

35 Could not agree more.... he's good with that double in hand, he sells his DVD's and has always been very friendly to me and other guys I know (by no means a fan just met him a couple of times... I do not even own a dvd by Mark) whether we like him or not, let's concentrate on something else for a change every one is giving him so much grief and yet many of the same guys feel its fair to shoot a big Kudu bull of the back of a truck??

Makes no sense to me. I'm sure he has had many happy clients and created many good memories for such clients.

Whether we like what he does or not it definitly makes money for him.

My best always.

sullivan is cool.. he knows how to hunt.. he is a professional and takes the risks most hunters dont.. shooting from far or from vehicle is killing not hunting...

The idea that Mark intentionally has game wounded by his clients is totally false. He is one of a handful of PHs in Tanzania that is fully booked each season and has a great reputation amongst his clients and many of his peers. He presents hunts on video as they happen without orchestration. Capstick put adventures on paper but many of them were not his own. I think if you ever met Mark you would have a different opinion of him. He has no more ego than the rest of us and is a very good guy. When Mark and a client walk up close to an animal, wounded or not, some call him unethical, when Ivan Carter does it with elephants they call that hunting. I like it all and wish I could hunt with either of these guys.

Yes, agreed. Probably a great guy. Probably a humble man and quite normal. It is very clear he is very good with his double rifle and calm under stressful situations and professional and very experienced. Also his dvds do sell and he knows how to market them. But that's not what SCI considered when they banned him. There are specific reasons for him being banned from SCI and the fact that he is indeed a great guy, down to earth, professional, experienced, good with his double, and that he has great marketing abilities has got nothing to do with him being banned. SCI never kicked him out because he is not a good guy, or has terrible marketing abilities, or because his dvds don't sell, or because he can't handle a double...nobody is taking that away from him nor should they(try). Its important to remain on point with facts that are either verified or verifiable. It is true that he is a great guy and very professional because people who know him personally have testified to this.

I know a man in Polsmoor prison in Cape Town, SA who will spend the better part of five years behind bars. Though I know he is a great guy who is inherently humble and skilled and down to earth, the facts that count against him in court are the things which he did wrong according to the law. His unrelated character traits were not under question and had no bearing on his case because he broke a law that had nothing to do with his personal character traits. We must remember that we are all the same and that anyone can do anything, nobody is exempt from anything even though they are great and friendly men.

Nobody should question Mark Sullivan's personal life, or character, or ability as a PH, or skill with his double rifle, as these things are not the reason for him being kicked out of SCI. The inquisitions were/are about him not finishing off animals when he was supposed to, and whether it is true that he wounds animals intentionally (which cannot be established). Anyone who attacks his personal character on this basis alone is a terrible debator and unobjective. Don't let emotions get in the way of reason, if I love the guy as a long time friend I still should not ignore the relevant facts, and if I hate the guy I still shouldn't ignore hard evidence that refutes my own.

I think there is a lot of hearsay and hype to all this. It is true about others doing the same, I have seen clips where other well known PHs also do similar with elephants and the like and nobody even bats an eyelid. So why don't we target those individuals too? I think its because Mark is the most successful in his campaign.

So glad, he's a a$$! Had the bad luck of using him as our PH .Puts himself in front of the hunter so he can use the video to sell .

Originally Posted by safari hunter

A buddy told me today that Mark Sullivan has been kicked out of the SCI as an exhibitor. Apparently they did not even tell him why. He won't be missed by me.

Hunting is an ancient spiritual instinctive event that is intertwined intrinsically with the circle of life. Ancient cultures had ways to address harvested animal with respect and the understanding that life itself had been taken. It was and should be a moment mixed with joy and remorse. If there is any moment for an adrenalin rush it is involved with the chase and the sharpening of skills involved to be a hunter. We as hunters need to be mindful of our long standing culture and promote our values as they have been molded over many generations. The real offense of Mark Sullivan has nothing to do with his rights. Is has more to do with his lack of respect for the true ritual of hunting. In fact he seems to get a pure thrill out of the killing. There is no respect for life and joy at inflicting pain disrespect and death. He is a sociopath in the truest definition. I applaud SCI's decision . I hope that someone with a great camera presence can put together a production crew that can pass on the subtle but beautiful ritual of hunting.

-Jerry

Well.... IF in fact he delays shooting wounded animals to prolong for video...and IF he allows gut shooting...they should pull his license. These are big " IF's" . If these statements are true...then his character of a nice guy has nothing to do with it.

It is 20 years overdue ! Unfortunately we have some new contenders that really fill his boots !

Originally Posted by zenbear

I hope that someone with a great camera presence can put together a production crew that can pass on the subtle but beautiful ritual of hunting.

-Jerry

We already have him...Ivan Carter. I own a few of his videos and watch him on Tracks Across Africa all the time. His videos and the show depict hunting as a gentleman's sport. Great guy and great show!

I won't hide it...I also own a few of Sullivan's videos. He may not be well liked or popular amongst many, but this isn't a popularity contest. Much of his video footage really is spectacular.

Originally Posted by Heym 88

Well.... IF in fact he delays shooting wounded animals to prolong for video...and IF he allows gut shooting...they should pull his license. These are big " IF's" . If these statements are true...then his character of a nice guy has nothing to do with it.

Guess that's the point I was making earlier,,, IF he is truly guilty of the alligations presented (i.e. intentionally wounding an animal) then okay I guess he made his bed, now let him lay in it. BBBUUUUTTTTT, if these are false (and I know some of you will stick to your guns on this topic regardless) you will feel like an ass for posting half cocked statements and opinions about a fellow hunter. This topic sickens me.... now more than ever we need to stick together. If you DON'T want to hunt with him then DON'T, if you don't like his hunting tactics then don't hunt with him, if you don't want to watch a TV program then don't, It's pretty simple. there are too many outfitters out there that can hunt with you the way YOU want to hunt. You guys condemn the man, watch the video's he does (what I am sure a lot of PH's do) what most of us don't have the balls to do. I will never condone the intentional injury of an animal just for the spectical of it, which until I have proof that he does practice this, I will always argue in his favor. I find it hard to believe this post is still running, I really do. Some are saying he is giving the hunting community a black eye,,,, guess what,,,, if he wasn't the one, the anti's would find someone else....There are much bigger threat's to the hunting community than Mark Sullivan.

Seems like pretty sound logic to me.

yup...35 bore has it right

Originally Posted by 35bore

Guess that's the point I was making earlier,,, IF he is truly guilty of the alligations presented (i.e. intentionally wounding an animal) then okay I guess he made his bed, now let him lay in it. BBBUUUUTTTTT, if these are false (and I know some of you will stick to your guns on this topic regardless) you will feel like an ass for posting half cocked statements and opinions about a fellow hunter. This topic sickens me.... now more than ever we need to stick together. If you DON'T want to hunt with him then DON'T, if you don't like his hunting tactics then don't hunt with him, if you don't want to watch a TV program then don't, It's pretty simple. there are too many outfitters out there that can hunt with you the way YOU want to hunt. You guys condemn the man, watch the video's he does (what I am sure a lot of PH's do) what most of us don't have the balls to do. I will never condone the intentional injury of an animal just for the spectical of it, which until I have proof that he does practice this, I will always argue in his favor. I find it hard to believe this post is still running, I really do. Some are saying he is giving the hunting community a black eye,,,, guess what,,,, if he wasn't the one, the anti's would find someone else....There are much bigger threat's to the hunting community than Mark Sullivan.

Very well said, I totally agree.

Originally Posted by 35bore

Guess that's the point I was making earlier,,, IF he is truly guilty of the alligations presented (i.e. intentionally wounding an animal) then okay I guess he made his bed, now let him lay in it. BBBUUUUTTTTT, if these are false (and I know some of you will stick to your guns on this topic regardless) you will feel like an ass for posting half cocked statements and opinions about a fellow hunter. This topic sickens me.... now more than ever we need to stick together. If you DON'T want to hunt with him then DON'T, if you don't like his hunting tactics then don't hunt with him, if you don't want to watch a TV program then don't, It's pretty simple. there are too many outfitters out there that can hunt with you the way YOU want to hunt. You guys condemn the man, watch the video's he does (what I am sure a lot of PH's do) what most of us don't have the balls to do. I will never condone the intentional injury of an animal just for the spectical of it, which until I have proof that he does practice this, I will always argue in his favor. I find it hard to believe this post is still running, I really do. Some are saying he is giving the hunting community a black eye,,,, guess what,,,, if he wasn't the one, the anti's would find someone else....There are much bigger threat's to the hunting community than Mark Sullivan.

+1.....Pretty much sums up my thinking also.

+1 with 35bore

Originally Posted by 35bore

Guess that's the point I was making earlier,,, IF he is truly guilty of the alligations presented (i.e. intentionally wounding an animal) then okay I guess he made his bed, now let him lay in it. BBBUUUUTTTTT, if these are false (and I know some of you will stick to your guns on this topic regardless) you will feel like an ass for posting half cocked statements and opinions about a fellow hunter. This topic sickens me.... now more than ever we need to stick together. If you DON'T want to hunt with him then DON'T, if you don't like his hunting tactics then don't hunt with him, if you don't want to watch a TV program then don't, It's pretty simple. there are too many outfitters out there that can hunt with you the way YOU want to hunt. You guys condemn the man, watch the video's he does (what I am sure a lot of PH's do) what most of us don't have the balls to do. I will never condone the intentional injury of an animal just for the spectical of it, which until I have proof that he does practice this, I will always argue in his favor. I find it hard to believe this post is still running, I really do. Some are saying he is giving the hunting community a black eye,,,, guess what,,,, if he wasn't the one, the anti's would find someone else....There are much bigger threat's to the hunting community than Mark Sullivan.

Big Plus when your right your right!