Who belongs on the Mount Rushmore of active PHs?

I believe this thread is being sidetracked, now, are we talking about PH´s we have heard of, or those that we have actually hunted with ?

I have hunted with 19 different PH´s , and have two in mind

Hannes Lamprecht, a real boer, born and raised in a farm, hunting is his life, rough around the edges, what you in the US would call a real redneck. Not for everyone, he hunts hard.
Once you get to know him you will appreciate him, very honest, he wont let you shoot anything below his standard.

Then I have Geoffrey Wayland, a gentleman, very experienced , great hunter, over the evening fire with a whiskey in your hand you could spend hours talking with him on matters which interest us, hunting, history...

Then there are those which are good but not great, and others which I would rather forget

Mr Gazi

Mark A Ouellette said:

I think one would need a sample set of 20 or more PH's to provide a qualified answer. That's not me now or probably ever but here's my opinion...

Johnny Russell who guided me to my tuskless in 2025 is Outstanding! I could not ask for more. He is young compared to most but he knows his shxt! When it concerns a service or product which I pay a premium price for, I am an anal S.O.B. Johnny met and mostly exceeded every standard I have. Comparing Johnny to young Marine Corps lieutenants and seasoned NCO's with whom I served, he was like that one in a thousand who was not only technically proficient but repeatedly demonstrated natural leadership abilities.

I haven't hunted with Buzz Charlton but I converse with him at DSC and SCI. Buzz told me he thinks Johnny Russell is the best PH in the outfit he works for. Give it 20 years and I think Johnny Russell will be at the top of many persons' list!

PS, A certain PH and also a videographer gave the highest praise to York Mare as a PH who knows exactly how to hunt every species of game.

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I'm a huge Johnny Russell fan, and hope to hunt with him again...

He is very impressive for his stalking skills; I can remember a stalk across a pretty open flood plain on a spooky bachelor herd of wide-awake impala. He was masterful in his use of cover and patience to get close enough. He also successfully stalked us to within 12 yards of a buffalo behind a mopane bush (turned out to be a cow); so close we could hear the animal breathing, and a couple of very impressive stalks on dry-land hippo as well. He does a great job of managing his trackers and team, and they quite obviously are happy, have good morale, and a good work ethic. You can just see that they like him, trust him, and will go to war for him.

I also remember me asking a million curious questions about every bird and bush and part of the ecosystem (that's just me). Johnny would not only be able to ID the bird, but would typically be able to tell you all about their migration patterns, nesting habits, etc, etc. Then one day he picked up some rocks by the trail and held forth with a whole geology lesson... Then there was the night he filled me in on the stars and constellations of the Southern hemisphere as we sat around the campfire. He will not bore you with this stuff, but if he knows you're interested, he is an absolute wealth of information.

Then there was the time he so successfully mimicked the sound of zebra that he got a herd of them to trot over and investigate... he had all the trackers laughing about that one.

He's one of those rare individuals with tremendous competence married to true humility and gentle spirit, but with steel underneath, and a good sense of humor. Can't say enough good things about him. In my opinion he is a true credit to @DALTON & YORK SAFARIS and to his profession. I agree with you; I expect him to make quite a name for himself.

I think there’s a reasonable expectation that the most popular lists and most accomplished/deserving lists will be different. I think many commenters will lean toward PH’s who are most astute and active on social media, while many who spend all their time hunting instead of promoting will go unmentioned and under represented. Unfortunately, many who post on this probably have little exposure to some truly great, long time top tier PH’s

I’ll say this, for 99% of anyone to be a legitimate candidate, he would have to hunt wild country and be heavily focused on dangerous game. Hunting nearly all plains game on ranches is an automatic disqualifier. Another consideration should be tenure. If a PH hasn’t been actively hunting for say 30 years or more, he shouldn’t be considered over those who have.

The OP is asking for four names. That’s a really small club. 99% won’t rise to that level.

Fatback said:

Guav Johnson
Mike Fell
Buzz Charlton
Peter Chipman
Jeff Rann
Jason Russo
Duckworth brothers


These gentlemen all come to mind. Having never hunted with any of them myself, it would be impossible for me to say which 4 it should be. I would love to hunt with each of them.

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I’ve hunted or am booked with four on your list. Very good list!

How in the world is Harry Selby not mentioned?!? Frederick Selous? Philip Percival? JA Hunter? Geez.

Green Chile said:

How in the world is Harry Selby not mentioned?!? Frederick Selous? Philip Percival? JA Hunter? Geez.

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Probably because he said active not all time.

Hunter-Habib said:

Active:
John Sharpe
Robin Hurt
Jeff Rann
Buzz Charlton
Mark Sullivan (I know this name will attract hatred on these forums but I’m not afraid to say that I like his style)

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Ultimately, these are all hunters who have a strong presence on social media.
Ultimately, there are plenty of hunters who can hold their own against all of them, but they just never participate in the Facebook/Instagram circus.

That's correct. He's not an active PH anymore.

Charlie64 said:

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I thought that Ivan Carter had stopped hunting & become a full time conservationist. Would not class him as an active & current PH

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Russ16 said:

Probably because he said active not all time.

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As stated: that's a different conversation. A fantastic conversation, and one we can have with great pleasure. Just a different conversation. I'm thinking about top guys that you could actually hunt with. Sort of like being able to play a round of golf with Arnie or Jack or Tiger in their prime...

Buzz Charlton

Foxi said:

Ultimately, these are all hunters who have a strong presence on social media.
Ultimately, there are plenty of hunters who can hold their own against all of them, but they just never participate in the Facebook/Instagram circus.

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In the interest of irony, I'll point out that we are all currently ON a social media platform...

Your point is well taken, but it's simply the way of the world these days. I'm sure unwritten or untold history may hold many great athletes who could equal or surpass Jim Thorpe, Michael Jordan, Ali, Messi, Gretzky, etc. We just don't know about them, because they weren't recorded for posterity. We do have names of great military figures who have come down to us through the ages... BECAUSE they were written down, in some earlier form of what today is - social media.

I can sure see why many great PHs may choose not to participate in social media, if they don't need it for their business. And why many hunters may love hunting with them. And it would be great to hear more about them - right here on this social media platform. Do tell.

Foxi said:

Ultimately, these are all hunters who have a strong presence on social media.
Ultimately, there are plenty of hunters who can hold their own against all of them, but they just never participate in the Facebook/Instagram circus.

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I respectfully disagree….
Basically none of these guys have a strong presence on social media…
Several are in their 70s lol….

kpoynter said:

I respectfully disagree….
Basically none of these guys have a strong presence on social media…
Several are in their 70s lol….

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Robin Hurt is really the only one of those that doesn't. Sharp has a very active Instagram and Buzz and Rann both have active instagram, or facebook. Buzz has one of the most active YouTube channels going.

There are also PHs mostly unknown to folks here on AH because they guide primarily European clients. One is Fico Vidale. I found him to be the best judge of game on the hoof that I have ever hunted with and extremely hard working. We weren’t waiting until sunup to leave camp and we returned after dark. When I’m paying thousands per day in expenses, that means a lot to me. He does have an IG account and the quality of animals shown are incredible. When I filed my hunt report from 2022, very few AH members had even heard of him or the outfit. Thankfully, @spike.t helped me find him and the area.

Green Chile said:

How in the world is Harry Selby not mentioned?!? Frederick Selous? Philip Percival? JA Hunter? Geez.

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I agree the question would be far more interesting if we were talking about the time frame of the 20th century, especially in the 50's, 60's, 70's

uplander01 said:

I agree the question would be far more interesting if we were talking about the time frame of the 20th century, especially in the 50's, 60's, 70's

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Particularly if you were to ask those being mentioned here. I know Buzz...he would much rather have Harry Selby up there than his own face!

kpoynter said:

Interesting thread…
Perhaps the most surprising one to me is a few mentioned Ivan Carter.
That’s actually shocking to me…he for sure doesn’t belong for numerous reasons
The hardest part is limiting to 4
Not surprising….
Old school guys we still have with us
John Sharp…(legendary figure in Zim hunting)
Robin Hurt…(length, breadth, and depth of storied career)
Barrie Duckworth… long and storied career and legacy (and his sons mentioned who are indeed top top PHs currently active) Barrie is second probably to a Richard only in terms of living men and numbers of Elephant (although hunted as members of Parks not as PHs…also why Richard cannot be in this group)
Not mentioned….Luke Samaras perhaps too in this Octogenarian (or close) group above

Younger but highly ranked…and duly noted
Jeff Rann
Buzz
Mike Fell
Johan I’m afraid drank his way out of it
I see Peter Chapman but not a Johnny Duplooy… you’d have to mention him in this breath

Michael Matheakis?
Harpreet?

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kpoynter said:

Several top names in TZ

Lots of honorable mentions but the old guys we still have with us are a bridge between our modern times but go way back to the 1960s and 70s and times gone by…

Very hard to pick 4

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kpoynter said:

Interesting thread…
Perhaps the most surprising one to me is a few mentioned Ivan Carter.
That’s actually shocking to me…he for sure doesn’t belong for numerous reasons
The hardest part is limiting to 4
Not surprising….
Old school guys we still have with us
John Sharp…(legendary figure in Zim hunting)
Robin Hurt…(length, breadth, and depth of storied career)
Barrie Duckworth… long and storied career and legacy (and his sons mentioned who are indeed top top PHs currently active) Barrie is second probably to a Richard only in terms of living men and numbers of Elephant (although hunted as members of Parks not as PHs…also why Richard cannot be in this group)
Not mentioned….Luke Samaras perhaps too in this Octogenarian (or close) group above

Younger but highly ranked…and duly noted
Jeff Rann
Buzz
Mike Fell
Johan I’m afraid drank his way out of it
I see Peter Chapman but not a Johnny Duplooy… you’d have to mention him in this breath

Michael Matheakis?
Harpreet?
Several top names in TZ

Lots of honorable mentions but the old guys we still have with us are a bridge between our modern times but go way back to the 1960s and 70s and times gone by…

Very hard to pick 4

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TZ - Mike Angiledes

Scott CWO said:

I’ve hunted or am booked with four on your list. Very good list!

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Fico Vidale?

DLSJR said:

I think there’s a reasonable expectation that the most popular lists and most accomplished/deserving lists will be different. I think many commenters will lean toward PH’s who are most astute and active on social media, while many who spend all their time hunting instead of promoting will go unmentioned and under represented. Unfortunately, many who post on this probably have little exposure to some truly great, long time top tier PH’s

I’ll say this, for 99% of anyone to be a legitimate candidate, he would have to hunt wild country and be heavily focused on dangerous game. Hunting nearly all plains game on ranches is an automatic disqualifier. Another consideration should be tenure. If a PH hasn’t been actively hunting for say 30 years or more, he shouldn’t be considered over those who have.

The OP is asking for four names. That’s a really small club. 99% won’t rise to that level.

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You hit the nail on the head.

So, if I may ask, who would you consider to be in the top echelon of PHs today?

I'm not necessarily talking about the most famous names or those with the biggest trophy lists, but rather the PHs who combine experience, fieldcraft, judgment, tracking ability, ethics, and the ability to handle dangerous game when things don't go according to plan.