21 days with Mark Sullivan

[Badboymelvin]

I'm not really sure I fully get threads like this... people just seem to like drama...

I have no dog in this fight, and I don't have any opinion on Mark Sullivan one way or the other, but everyone knows how he goes about things.
I live in Australia and haven't even hunted in Africa yet, and even I know how he operates.
And if you choose to hunt with him knowing this – and enjoy your hunt – who cares?

I dunno, maybe I'm missing something... but if you enjoy your hunt and like the guy – and it's all done legally – then really, is it anyone else's business?

How I hunt and who I hunt with, as long as it's done legally, is no one else's concern...

Russ

 

[migrabill]

It seems that my post got your panties all in a knot. You are an excitable fella there, aren't you 375Fox? Sorry that I "triggered" you.

I hope that you are able to keep your cool if you ever hunt something like a Buffalo, or you might need a PH like MS to back you up.

Anyway....YES, I watched the same videos that you did, and I read all of the comments as well, so I was wondering if anyone here actually hunted with MS and if so, did they have a good time. Period. Initially, I thought that the video was the OPs video, so that's also why I asked him

I am neither defending nor criticizing MS, because I can care less about who a hunter decides to book his hunt with....it's his money and his experience. Obviously, there are many hunters out there who want to hunt with MS because he has been a PH for a long time, and guys are paying a ton of money to hunt Tanzania with him.

Personally, I wouldn't hunt with a PH who was going to put back up rounds into my Buffalo, but to each his own

Shakka. There are very few butt heads on this forum. Out of my hundreds of interactions I have encountered exactly one. I think you found him too. When I was a Special Agent for Homeland Security, my boss used to always say, "If you are the common denominator........" We have found our common denominator. Others have PM'ed me that they have the same common denominator.

 

[mdwest]

Damn it, now we are back to square one!

So, did anybody here hunt with MS, and how was it?

I think @Hunter-Habib has hunted with him or knows him fairly well?

 

[dchum]

Shakka. There are very few butt heads on this forum. Out of my hundreds of interactions I have encountered exactly one. I think you found him too. When I was a Special Agent for Homeland Security, my boss used to always say, "If you are the common denominator........" We have found our common denominator. Others have PM'ed me that they have the same common denominator.

He’s one of nicest and most experienced African hunters we have on this forum.

Have you ever met him in person? He’s a gentleman and has more experience on the continent than 90% of members. He offers real sound advice and has helped many.
If you have a problem You are just taking it the wrong way….

This forum has sure changed. Instead of receiving real advice and learning. People just want it to be only applauds and never questioning someone.

 

[dchum]

I think @Hunter-Habib has hunted with him or knows him fairly well?

Very kind member @PaulB has actually hunted with him and just had a great safari with him. I’m sure if anyone had questions you could DM him.

 

[Maskell Shotgun academy]

wish I could afford to hunt with him, I bet just listening t the stories around the camp fire would be worth it

 

[Shakka]

Shakka. There are very few butt heads on this forum. Out of my hundreds of interactions I have encountered exactly one. I think you found him too. When I was a Special Agent for Homeland Security, my boss used to always say, "If you are the common denominator........" We have found our common denominator. Others have PM'ed me that they have the same common denominator.

lol that's hysterical!! We found our common denominator

Thank you for reaching out!

 

[375Fox]

Shakka. There are very few butt heads on this forum. Out of my hundreds of interactions I have encountered exactly one. I think you found him too. When I was a Special Agent for Homeland Security, my boss used to always say, "If you are the common denominator........" We have found our common denominator. Others have PM'ed me that they have the same common denominator.

Your high level of integrity continues managing to show through. Glad you found your group of friends over PM. Also glad the last thread you started was deleted from the forum.

 

[Shakka]

He’s one of nicest and most experienced African hunters we have on this forum.

Have you ever met him in person? He’s a gentleman and has more experience on the continent than 90% of members. He offers real sound advice and has helped many.
If you have a problem You are just taking it the wrong way….

This forum has sure changed. Instead of receiving real advice and learning. People just want it to be only applauds and never questioning someone.

How do you know how much "experience" the many members on this site has?

Be that as it may, I bet that Fox is happy to have a friend like you who will defend him blindly

BTW: this was my first interaction with your friend, so my reply was based on the way that he spoke to me for asking a sincere and innocent question

 

[375Fox]

How do you know how much "experience" the many members on this site has?

Be that as it may, I bet that Fox is happy to have a friend like you who will defend him blindly

BTW: this was my first interaction with your friend, so my reply was based on the way that he spoke to me for asking a sincere and innocent question

You seem to be highly triggered as you accused me. This is not our first interaction, but I’d suggest hunt reports might be a good starting point for your question.

 

[Brent in Az]

I seem to have opened a can of worms by posting the video.

 

[dchum]

I seem to have opened a can of worms by posting the video.

You knew what you were doing

It’s an Internet forum people! We share opinions and disagree. It’s fun! Right? Haha

 

[Shakka]

You seem to be highly triggered as you accused me. This is not our first interaction, but I’d suggest hunt reports might be a good starting point for your question.

I have no intention of obsessing over "hunt reports" to see what people have to say about MS. I posted, out of curiosity, to ask if any members here hunted with MS....that's the long and short of it

This exchange has gotten ridiculous, so this is my last post on this subject

Have a good night

 

[Mark458]

I've actually talked to Mark Sullivan a few times in person. He had a booth close to ours at SCI in Reno many years ago. He is a very nice person and doesn't come across like the guy you see in the videos. Keep in mind he was in the business to sell videos and charging buffalo and hippo definitely sells videos. His videos were very expensive and he sold a ton of them. The guys that hunted with him also wanted to be in those videos, that's why they let him shoot along with them. This was the last show that he did at SCI before he was banned.

I would never want to hunt with him. I'm not a big ego guy and never had any desire to have any of my hunts videoed. I talked with his wife who was there with him. She was telling me that not all of his hunts are like that and if you don't want him to shoot then he won't unless absolutely necessary. She assured me that there have been many hunts like that. Those usually don't make as exciting content and quite often didn't make it onto the video for sale. He obviously would seek out the guys that would allow him to hunt his way.

If you think this one was controversial then you need to check out his hippo charging videos. He provokes hippos to charge on land. He often shoots first in these videos because he's provoking the hippo to charge him, and not the client.

He's definitely an adrenaline junkie.

Like him or not he's definitely got a big pair to do what he does.

 

[Kharn]

Have a good night

Block them, they aren't worth anything they might have that could contribute.
Both of them.

 

[dchum]

Block them, they aren't worth anything they might have that could contribute.
Both of them.

You don’t hunt.

 

[Kdouglas3]

I seem to have opened a can of worms by posting the video.

It’s called MSDS…Mark Sullivan derangement syndrome!

 

[IvW]

Pay for 21 day full bag Tanzania safari, charter of a Caravan and the PH does the killing. He could have just stayed home, have a video WhatsApp call, tell the PH to shoot and then just ship them home for his "wall of death."

Exactly.....

 

[Shakka]

Exactly.....

I agree with both of you, but I will say it again that we all do what we want with our money

I have a good friend who guides Elk hunters every year in Wyoming.
He told me that over the years, several hunters have asked him to shoot the Elk for them. One I remember, was a shot that he wasn't sure if he could pull off. Another guy got tired on the 4th or 5th day and said that he had enough, and asked my friend to shoot his Elk. He told both guys no, and that he would get them a closer shot etc, but they insisted.

I can't imagine spending 25Gs for an Elk hunt and having my guide shoot it for me. I would much rather go home with nothing

So same with our brave Buffalo hunter. If he gets a boner watching himself standing side by side with the grat MS and killing a Buffalo, then have at it

Again, to each his own

 

[mark-hunter]

I agree with both of you, but I will say it again that we all do what we want with our money

I have a good friend who guides Elk hunters every year in Wyoming.
He told me that over the years, several hunters have asked him to shoot the Elk for them. One I remember, was a shot that he wasn't sure if he could pull off. Another guy got tired on the 4th or 5th day and said that he had enough, and asked my friend to shoot his Elk. He told both guys no, and that he would get them a closer shot etc, but they insisted.

I can't imagine spending 25Gs for an Elk hunt and having my guide shoot it for me. I would much rather go home with nothing

So same with our brave Buffalo hunter. If he gets a boner watching himself standing side by side with the grat MS and killing a Buffalo, then have at it

Again, to each his own

I heard of this stories as well. Not only for elk.
Now, why that happens?
Hmmm...?

I think that free range elk hunts are not guaranteed, and are non refundable.
They cost.
And most likely, occasional hunter gets into the dilemma, go back home empty handed, or go home with something.
And if he cannot get proper shot, asks for a guide to make it.

Another type, might be: trophy collector. get a trophy in trophy room at any cost, regardless who shoots.

Speaking for African DG hunts, I always ask my PH to make back up shot, if he thinks is neccessary.
It never happened. My reasoning is safety factor, to avoid wounded DG charge, and / or losing wounded animal
But I specifically ask for that in advance.

For PG hunt in Africa, I would say the same. Not to lose the animal.
But in most of occasions during PG stalk, PH does not carry a rifle. It is all up to the client to make the shot.