Mark Sullivan the Expose’

[rookhawk]

He wasn't kicked out of SCI for his videos. That is a rumor that uninformed people have claimed for years. Nor was he kicked out for his "ideas." That seems a little Draconian.

Hmm. This thread from 2009 explains he was banned from the exhibition and prohibited from selling his videos at SCI.

S

Thread 'Mark Sullivan kicked out of SCI'

Dec 28, 2009

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.

• safari hunter
• Replies: 164
• Forum: Hunting Africa

• 

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Hmm. This thread from 2009 explains he was banned from the exhibition and prohibited from selling his videos at SCI.

S

Thread 'Mark Sullivan kicked out of SCI'

Dec 28, 2009

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.

• safari hunter
• Replies: 164
• Forum: Hunting Africa

• 

Well, well, well, how the turn tables

 

[358 Norma]

Our hunting community can be extremely vindictive, hateful, judgmental, self righteous & jealous. We don’t like seeing others successful, no matter how eloquent we act. And if somebody hunts in a way different from us… well, God help them. There’s no nice way to say it. We might deny it, but deep in our hearts… we know that it’s true.

If you want to form an opinion on a hunting celebrity, then YOU are the best judge. Nobody else. A hundred people online might dislike somebody, but that disliked person may actually be the nicest guy in the world to you. And that's what should matter.


I'll provide some insight about Mark Sullivan. A lot of people hate him (including spreading around tasteless garbage such as him losing his hunting license in Tanzania). That's fine. But you should personally take a look at the man and form your own opinions on him rather than use other people's opinions as a litmus test.

Mark is a friend of mine. We have had several exchanges over the years. We know each other's families and friends circles well. Yes, it's true. I don't necessarily agree with everything he says. Hunting with him is definitely not for everybody (especially physically unfit clients who want to take game out from as far as possible). But in my opinion, he's a good man. And a good hunter. And nowhere as pompous in real life as he makes himself out to be on camera. Sure, he likes to boast. I personally don't. But he has earned that right through 43 years (and counting) of hard work.

I'll tell you a small story about Mark. A young local hunter here (who will probably not be able to afford an African safari for several more years, let alone with Mark) wrote Mark a fan letter in 2022. Mark sent the South Bengali boy both of his books (autographed) through courier from Arizona. Along with his DVDs and a safari cap. I was absolutely mind blown by this gesture.

In Tanzania, Mark has (on more than one occasion) gone above and beyond to financially help fellow white hunters in trouble. Even trackers on a couple of occasions. In my opinion, SCI did the best thing by finally allowing Mark back to all of their programs, starting from 2023 onwards.

See the best in a person rather than the worst. And see it for yourself, rather than relying upon other people's opinions. Life's too short and we hunters already have plenty of enemies out there. Those who actually hunt(ed) with Mark Sullivan have quite positive feedback about him.

Yes, there’s a little known reason why Mark contends with more wounded Cape buffalo than other white hunters do. The reason is because he is probably the only bug name in the hunting industry who exclusively prefers solid bullets for Cape buffalo hunting. He even mandates that his clients use them. I’ve actually spoken to him about this; telling him that (in my humble experience) a premium grade soft point can take out a Cape buffalo with a heart-lung shot quicker than any solid can these days. But Mark exclusively prefers the solid. In recent years, he’s come to see the light. He now has his clients take the first shot with a Barnes TSX all-copper hollow point.

He’s also evolved his strategies over the years in order to increase his client’s chances of success. Early in his career, he used to stipulate that his clients only employ double rifles. Nowadays, he has them bring a heavy double rifle as well as a telescopic sighted .375 Holland & Holland Magnum magazine rifle. Depending upon his client’s physical limitations and the way the hunting scenario unfolds, he advises them on which rifle to use.

Yes, Mark says a lot of things that might rub off on a sensitive person the wrong way. He once told me “Bolt action rifles are for women & small children”. He also often quips that the “.470 Nitro Express is a fine ladies’ gun”. But it’s all in good humor. He has many, many clients who come to hunt with him; armed with .470 Nitro Express (or smaller caliber) rifles. He has often invited me to go on Safari with him… knowing full well that I use a .375 Holland & Holland Magnum Remington Model 700. If you’re the kind of person who takes every word literally, then Mark is definitely not for you.

76 years young (3 years older than I am) and he still actively hunts in the wilds of Tanzania with a .600 Nitro Express John Wilkes boxlock non ejector (formerly the property of the late Cal Pappas). I wish him well for all of his future endeavors.

P.S: Mark has stopped more than a few lion & leopard charges. But given the pricing of lion hunts in Tanzania, relatively few of his clients opt to pursue lion. I assure you all. In the last 35 years, Mark has had far more clients who bagged all of their own game rather than clients who needed him to step in. I know many of them by name.

It's nice to know Cal's 600 nitro went to someone who will use it for what was built for. Thankfully it's not sitting in someone's collection were it would never be used!

 

[HankBuck]

Hmm. This thread from 2009 explains he was banned from the exhibition and prohibited from selling his videos at SCI.

S

Thread 'Mark Sullivan kicked out of SCI'

Dec 28, 2009

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.

• safari hunter
• Replies: 164
• Forum: Hunting Africa

• 

@rookhawk - a “Thread” from 2009 that starts out with “a Buddy told me..”??
Is that the Source? We have Members with much more specific knowledge on the Man and the subjects being discussed….I am NOT one of them

 

[rookhawk]

@rookhawk - a “Thread” from 2009 that starts out with “a Buddy told me..”??
Is that the Source? We have Members with much more specific knowledge on the Man and the subjects being discussed….I am NOT one of them

The source included in that post would be none other than confirmation from Mr. Mark Sullivan. I'm not arguing with anyone about Mr. Sullivan, I'm just pointing to his statements and I analyzed his videos and ethics based on his statements and actions.

Here's Mark's Sullivan's Letter he wrote confirming the validity of the 2009 AH post you seem to claim is not legitimate:

S C I - 2 0 1 0
A N N O U C E M E N T

A Personal Letter

To all of my loyal Customers, Hunting Clients and Friends

As a result of the large number of inquiries from so many of you, I wanted to alert you to a yet to be explained action by Safari Club International (SCI). Every year I look forward to attending the annual SCI Convention usually held in Reno, Nevada. For the January 2010 SCI Convention, the SCI Executive Committee unilaterally and without prior notice or warning notified me that I would not be allowed to have an exhibitors booth.

They took this action just before the start of my 2009 safari season in Tanzania knowing that I would have little or no time to challenge this unexplained action. I immediately requested an explanation, a hearing, a meeting or just an opportunity to have someone at SCI inform me of the basis for this decision. I even offered to return home from Africa in the middle of my season just to meet with the Executive Committee. SCI rejected that idea, refused all of my requests, said the decision was final, and flatly refused to tell me why they were doing this.

SCI`s conduct should be measured by its members and the hunting community with great scrutiny and a determined demand for transparency and fairness. Bear in mind that I am one of the earliest members of SCI dating back to June 1976 when I first drove down from Phoenix, Arizona to Tucson to meet with C.J. McElroy, SCI`s founder and president. As a result of that meeting Mac and I became lifelong friends. It was Mac who steered me in the right direction and who booked my first safari to Zambia in 1977. I was SCI`s first Master Measurer; being trained by Mac himself, measuring all of Mac`s trophies for inclusion into the first SCI Record Book.

My wife Kathy and I contributed generously to the building of the SCI Museum and Headquarters and were featured guests at its Grand Opening. We were one of just five couples to be honored at the highest donor level. I served as Regional Vice President and attended Executive Committee meetings. My wife and I have supported SCI and its programs for over thirty-three years. We`ve donated to SCI, donated hunts to be sold at the Convention to benefit SCI, and have been a faithful exhibitor at the Convention since 1989. For 2010 we donated a $25,000 safari which was later refused when SCI terminated our participation. In these troubling economic times this decision by SCI in and by itself seems hard to understand begging one to question; What is the real reason for my expulsion?

More importantly, and evidently forgotten or arrogantly overlooked by SCI is the fact that my hunting style, my world-wide sales of thousands of dangerous game movies and my two books have probably done more to reinvigorate safari hunting in Africa than any single individual in the last twenty years. Long before the flood of movies on the market today, there was Africa`s Black Death and the "blood-on-the-shoes" footage brought to you only by Nitro Express Safaris. This pioneering footage and eleven unique movies to follow, as well as my emphasis on hunting up close with a large caliber double rifle pushed and encouraged thousands of new hunters to hunt in Africa. All of this benefitted SCI without any cost to it.

I greatly appreciate all of the support I have received from hunters, customers, friends, clients and SCI members on this perplexing and unexplained action taken by SCI this year. Your outpouring of compassion and outrage at their decision encourages me to continue to try to convince SCI that it made a mistake and there is in fact room at the Convention for a professional hunter that relishes the opportunity to challenge Africa`s most dangerous game within the distance of the smell-of-its-breath. Rest assured, I will always provide unique hunting experiences for my hunting clients as well as spectacular footage of close encounters with buffalo, hippo, lion, elephant and leopard. This year alone my clients enjoyed four of the greatest charges I have ever experienced; adding once more to the growing list of hunters who have stood their ground, faced death on the hoof, standing toe-to-toe with me.

Most of all, I regret that I will not be able to spend time with you and personally deliver my movies and books to you at the Convention this year. I have always cherished and valued those meetings, handshakes, autographs, and photos. I will miss it all. In closing, I wish to thank each and every one of you who have, over the many years, supported me by purchasing my movies, books and safaris. To all of you, please accept my deepest and warmest "thank you". God bless each and every one of you and God bless this great country of ours.

With Warmest Regards,

Mark Sullivan
Professional Hunter

 

[Altitude sickness]

Autographs