Mark Sullivan the Expose’

[Mark A Ouellette]

Let me add to my reasoning of not wanting to hunt or share a camp with an egomaniac PH. Some may enjoy spending weeks one on one with a big personality. They may later tell stories of their combined adventure. Me, not so much.

If I am paying tens of thousands of dollars for a hunt, by Gosh it better be my hunt. I judge people one at a time and approach others as my equals until they prove otherwise. Oh, I expect a PH to be many times a better hunter than me. I hope the trackers are a thousand times better than me. If they stepped into my world they would find me ten, a hundred, or maybe a thousand times better at what I do. Hopefully. Overall we are equal as people. Respect must be both ways.

Since I am paying for the hunt, I would first want an eyeball to eyeball discussion as I recently had with Dalton of Dalton and York. At first Dalton wasn’t sure who would be my PH for my upcoming hunt. After a few minutes of listening to me and what I expected, he told me that Johnny was going to guide me. Your personalities will fit well together. I’m sure I’d be fine spending every day with Dalton or York, but Dalton thinks I will have a better time with Johnny. That’s smart business.

I've had a couple face to face conversations with Buzz Charlton and MIles McCallum. Different personallities for sure but both of the type I'd enjoy spending time with. Judging by their very successful business, many other think the same!

 

[Philip Glass]

Once on online event, I asked Craig Boddington how many buffalo charges he experienced after having shot 100 buffalos.
Answer: zero.

So, there must be some catch in Sullivan's approach, and it does not taste well with me.

I have your answer. Shooting solids from the get go. I've seen videos with shot after shot from 500's going into Buffalo with little reaction.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

I have your answer. Shooting solids from the get go. I've seen videos with shot after shot from 500's going into Buffalo with little reaction.

Hmmm, a PH insists his client not only hunts with a large caliber double rifle and only solid, non-expanding projectiles? Could that combination provide more opportunities for confronting wounded dangerous game at very short distances?

Another photo (video) opportunity!

 

[PARA45]

How many of us frown upon when we see a picture of someone sitting on an animal they just killed? That was the norm in the old days, and no one gave a sh*t about it. Let's move forward, and the Anti's bitched about how we disrespected the animal by sitting on them, or how we pose with them and smile, etc, etc. So, now we don't sit on them, and we criticize the hunter when we see them do this. Some on here suggest that we shouldn't smile when we pose with the dead animal. So, we are changing/evolving as well, maybe forced by how the world is changing, or how we are seen as hunters.

Mark, he may be a beast of a hunter, maybe someone who should have lived 100 years ago when no one criticize his hunting technique. Based on what I read here so far, Mark doesn't fit the mold of the modern hunter and doesn't fit the new hunter's etiquette.

I'm not making excuses for the man since I don't know him, and like I said earlier what I know about him is from this forum and what I've read about him. If I had the chance to hunt with him, he would shoot only if my life was in danger, and we take out the animal quickly with no charge.

 

[Philip Glass]

Hmmm, a PH insists his client not only hunts with a large caliber double rifle and only solid, non-expanding projectiles? Could that combination provide more opportunities for confronting wounded dangerous game at very short distances?

Another photo (video) opportunity!

Me thinks so!

 

[Russ16]

I don’t doubt his skill with a double rifle or as a hunter.

I’m just not attracted to the cultivation of yeh “badass” image in anyone. Just the way he poses for photos standing over the game looking tough the pictures of him pouting the gun right at the camera. It is a turn off to me.

Around the same time he was getting popular Jeff Foiles made a lot of money with his “Fallin Skies” duck and good hunting videos. The painted face and yelling “cut ‘em” all set to rock music was not my cup of tea. Jeff eventually was convicted of shooting over limit, shooting clients birds and a few other violations. The pursuit of the image and the videos to go with it made him push past the limits.

I’m not saying Mark Sullivan has done anything illegal but he cultivates a similar image.

I prefer to hunt with people that show more reverence for the game and the environment. In the videos that I’ve seen I’ve never see. Him stop to comment on a unique tree or animal. I’ve watched a lot of YouTube hunts (I watch them while in the peloton) and I love the long format ones that CMS puts out with all their PHs. They have the occasional charge and certainly get close enough to elephant and buffalo. Bur, some of my favorite parts are hand they find a pangolin or stop to admire a baobab.

Hunting is about way more than the kill. I like to see a PH emphasize that and show it in their videos and marketing.

 

[HankBuck]

Gee, I though I was really clear about my opinion of Mark Sullivan and other self promoting personalities. Refering to him as the “Kim Kardashian” of PH’s" should provide an answer.




I did not mention Sullivan's requirement to hunt with a large double rifle. Is he paying for the hunt?

If you can't figure out my answer with all my reasoning behind it will all my above, frankly, the only way I'd hunt with him and his ego would be if YOU pay for it. Any more silly questions?

@Mark A Ouellette - taking that as a YES, you’ll hunt with Sullivan as long as the economics make sense.

 

[DieJager]

Hmmm, a PH insists his client not only hunts with a large caliber double rifle and only solid, non-expanding projectiles?

It was not a long time ago that a lot of PH's insisted on using only solids. One of the most accomplished hunters, certain in numbers of game taken, Ron Thomson, only used solids iirc. Took 800 buffalo and more than 5000 elephants.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

@Mark A Ouellette - taking that as a YES, you’ll hunt with Sullivan as long as the economics make sense.

No, I would hunt with him if you and only fund a $50k hunt, and only because you are teasing me.
And you are not invited!

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

It was not a long time ago that a lot of PH's insisted on using only solids. One of the most accomplished hunters, certain in numbers of game taken, Ron Thomson, only used solids iirc. Took 800 buffalo and more than 5000 elephants.

Captain Obvious here,

Clearly Ron Thompson shot better than most client hunters. Or maybe the old guys didn't write about bad shots and lost game?

 

[HankBuck]

How many of us frown upon when we see a picture of someone sitting on an animal they just killed? That was the norm in the old days, and no one gave a sh*t about it. Let's move forward, and the Anti's bitched about how we disrespected the animal by sitting on them, or how we pose with them and smile, etc, etc. So, now we don't sit on them, and we criticize the hunter when we see them do this. Some on here suggest that we shouldn't smile when we pose with the dead animal. So, we are changing/evolving as well, maybe forced by how the world is changing, or how we are seen as hunters.

View attachment 692183

View attachment 692184

Mark, he may be a beast of a hunter, maybe someone who should have lived 100 years ago when no one criticize his hunting technique. Based on what I read here so far, Mark doesn't fit the mold of the modern hunter and doesn't fit the new hunter's etiquette.

I'm not making excuses for the man since I don't know him, and like I said earlier what I know about him is from this forum and what I've read about him. If I had the chance to hunt with him, he would shoot only if my life was in danger, and we take out the animal quickly with no charge.

@PARA45 - GREAT Photos - each of them classic & historical. I think opinions on Hunting have changed over the years but Not necessarily evolved. In 20-75 years from now I wonder how harshly Our opinions will be criticized, ridiculed, and determined to be “disrespectful”.

 

[DieJager]

Captain Obvious here,
Clearly Ron Thompson shot better than most client hunters. Or maybe the old guys didn't write about bad shots and lost game?

He only wounded a handful during his long career. But the point is not how wel he shot but his dislike of SP ammo and use of solids for buffalo and elephant.

A lot of PH used solids and did want the clients to use one so it is not as frowned upon as you imply.

A solid through the vitals is certain death. Luckily bullets have become much better the last decades. Still, there are PH's that will only want the client to use solids.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

He only wounded a handful during his long career. But the point is not how wel he shot but his dislike of SP ammo and use of solids for buffalo and elephant.

A lot of PH used solids and did want the clients to use one so it is not as frowned upon as you imply.

A solid through the vitals is certain death. Luckily bullets have become much better the last decades. Still, there are PH's that will only want the client to use solids.

A modern monometal TSX or similar bullet is equal to or better the solids of old. Older soft points are today only use by anti with access to better bullets for plains game and cats. Those old SP would not be my choice either .

By the way, did you witness those 800 kill shots?
Did you have face to face conversations with the PH?

There are two well known examples of a poacher and a British gentleman killing elephant with a .22 long rifle. I was not there so, maybe...

 

[Russ16]

How many of us frown upon when we see a picture of someone sitting on an animal they just killed? That was the norm in the old days, and no one gave a sh*t about it. Let's move forward, and the Anti's bitched about how we disrespected the animal by sitting on them, or how we pose with them and smile, etc, etc. So, now we don't sit on them, and we criticize the hunter when we see them do this. Some on here suggest that we shouldn't smile when we pose with the dead animal. So, we are changing/evolving as well, maybe forced by how the world is changing, or how we are seen as hunters.

View attachment 692183

View attachment 692184

Mark, he may be a beast of a hunter, maybe someone who should have lived 100 years ago when no one criticize his hunting technique. Based on what I read here so far, Mark doesn't fit the mold of the modern hunter and doesn't fit the new hunter's etiquette.

I'm not making excuses for the man since I don't know him, and like I said earlier what I know about him is from this forum and what I've read about him. If I had the chance to hunt with him, he would shoot only if my life was in danger, and we take out the animal quickly with no charge.

I’ve never had a problem with the sitting on game. I think it is better than some of the Mark Sullivan pics where he is standing like he’s lording over the game.

And most of those guys were real naturalists. They were exploring a world they didn’t know anything about. TR gathered specimens for scientific purposes and his preservation of wild lands show his ethic.

 

[HankBuck]

A modern monometal TSX or similar bullet is equal to or better the solids of old. Older soft points are today only use by anti with access to better bullets for plains game and cats. Those old SP would not be my choice either .

By the way, did you witness those 800 kill shots?
Did you have face to face conversations with the PH?

There are two well known examples of a poacher and a British gentleman killing elephant with a .22 long rifle. I was not there so, maybe...

@Mark A Ouellette - I’m interested in any documentation of Elephants killed with a .22LR? I’m Not doubting you read or heard about it but it’s very hard to believe (Unless Mark Sullivan did it !!!). I’ve had .22LR that did Not penetrate thru both sides of a Squirrel. Even with the “thru the Ear Hole” claim it seems impossible —— unless the Elephant died days later from Infection??
But I’m interested in the “claim”.

 

[DieJager]

A modern monometal TSX or similar bullet is equal to or better the solids of old. Older soft points are today only use by anti with access to better bullets for plains game and cats. Those old SP would not be my choice either .

By the way, did you witness those 800 kill shots?
Did you have face to face conversations with the PH?

There are two well known examples of a poacher and a British gentleman killing elephant with a .22 long rifle. I was not there so, maybe...

No need to get confrontational. I agree with you that there are NOW better bullets. Not when he was hunting and when those videos were shot. It is like saying Frederick Selous needed to shoot with a Barnes TSX or that he needed to shoot lead free because of environmental impact. Yeez, do not judge past actions with current standards. As @Hunter-Habib stated he sees the benefits of the Barnes TSX bullet not now. You just have times when new technique is not fully implemented by everybody and you have a transition phase. His last video is almost two decades ago.

Your second point I cannot understand, what has to do with it. He (Ron Thomson) claims this in his book, he seems an honest gentleman. His memoirs are a great wealth of information. Are you implying he is not truthful or what is your point you are trying to make.

Your last comparison is even more bizarre. You compare shooting a buffalo with a solid from a 577 nitro express with shooting a elephant with a 22lr

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

No need to get confrontational. I agree with you that there are NOW better bullets. Not when he was hunting and when those videos were shot. It is like saying Frederick Selous needed to shoot with a Barnes TSX or that he needed to shoot lead free because of environmental impact. Yeez, do not judge past actions with current standards. As @Hunter-Habib stated he sees the benefits of the Barnes TSX bullet not now. You just have times when new technique is not fully implemented by everybody and you have a transition phase. His last video is almost two decades ago.

Your second point I cannot understand, what has to do with it. He (Ron Thomson) claims this in his book, he seems an honest gentleman. His memoirs are a great wealth of information. Are you implying he is not truthful or what is your point you are trying to make.

Your last comparison is even more bizarre. You compare shooting a buffalo with a solid from a 577 nitro express with shooting a elephant with a 22lr

Maybe this is a language barrier or writing styles but YOU seem to be confronting me.

I don't know Ron Thompson nor have I read his book. He may have made 800 clean kills. Perhaps there were some, especially when he started that were not so clean? If one want's to sell books and magazine articles, some bad laundry is not included.

The information on a poached shooting between the ribs of an elephant is out there. There is also the story of a British gentelmen having shot an elephant through the earhole and killed it. In both cases as these stories go, first the magistrate didn't believe the poacher when caught with a .22 and elephant parts, didn't have a larger illegal caliber rifle. He made the poacher show the court it was possible. A shot between the ribs and in a few hours the elephant bled to death internally. Second the gentleman was challanged at a party that his story wasn't true so on a bet, he proved his story.

I can't verify these stories but I believe them a the 95 % level. Almost anything is possible.
If you have to confront me, so be it. I will produce verification for you at my labor rate billable in 15 minute increments, no matter how long it takes. I accept PayPal if you like

Otherwise, have a nice day and hit the Ignore key in my profile.

 

[Red Leg]

I have partially watched a couple of his videos and find them cringe worthy. The reasons …….

I despise the loud macho bravado - be prepared “to go to war”! Seriously? I’ve seen a little of war and in this confrontation, as Ivan Carter (the antithesis of Sullivan) would note, we have the guns.

Not doing everything in his power to end an animal’s suffering as quickly as possible - a regular feature in the portions of the videos I have seen.

Immediately firing to back up his client - in one instance in one of his videos actually firing before his client at a non-threatening animal. I am personally drawn to PH’s who do everything in their power to insure that I have killed the game animal we are pursuing.

I withhold judgement with regard to deliberately wounding game to induce a confrontation - he may simply not be that accurate with his big double.

Finally, and I realize this is purely a presentation criticism, but I cannot abide all the false and contrived drama of his productions and dialogue.

He may indeed be a prince of a fellow. I do not know him personally. I am unlikely to do so. Based on his videos, he would be one of the last people I would ever contract as a PH.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

We should be able to end this abysmal thread on that note. It doesn’t matter how the dude acts off camera. He presents himself as a d bag of the highest order and is not a good ambassador for hunting. Period.

 

[mark-hunter]

I’m interested in any documentation of Elephants killed with a .22LR? I’m Not doubting you read or heard about it but it’s very hard to believe (Unless Mark Sullivan did it !!!). I’ve had .22LR that did Not penetrate thru both sides of a Squirrel. Even with the “thru the Ear Hole” claim it seems impossible —— unless the Elephant died days later from Infection??
But I’m interested in the “claim”.

There is only one record known to me, which made snowball effect about this issue, in hunting community, and created the entire myth.

Those are the records of proven court case for elephant poaching with some rifle in 22. But it is not clear which 22 actual caliber was used.

The records are available on this forum. Here is the article. 3 pages.
For me, this is a bed time story and fairy tale, I am not buying this, it is not entirely proven