Mark Sullivan the Expose’

[Red Leg]

Time to relax and see the two gigants in the field

Cal you are missed by many .

I miss Cal in this forum. He was a living encyclopedia about double rifles. He and I disagreed about the efficacy of a .500 BPE as a dangerous game option. (Hint, it is a great choice for red stg and wild boar). But, Cal was the sort of person with whom it was worth arguing. I wish I had seen that video while he was still with us. He was an excellent shot with a double. We would have had a good natured debate over the wisdom of an open sighted double in the hands of a DG client.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

You are trying to simplify complex issues and lump it into hunting rights.

1. Long range hunting and ballistic turrets are a newer development. If someone can shoot across a canyon overtop hunters trying to get closer. It impacts others hunting experience. That and increased wounding rates are worth a discussion.
2. I do want a ban on CBL. It’s a scourge on the hunting industry and is condemned by every major hunting organization outside South Africa. Hunters supporting a put and take commercial farming practice due to price is a dangerous slope. It was sadly growing every year as well. 2026 remains to be seen.
3. I take issue with the 223 for all hunting argument. Target shooting isn’t hunting. Putting a bullet on paper is not terminal performance on game especially large game like elk and moose. For those that understand bullet performance and shot placement there are many more that don’t. Wounded game should be a concern to all hunters. It’s worth a discussion.

The world might have been a bigger place years ago. It isn’t now. Ethics mean something. Ignoring and redefining ethics to suit someone’s personal aims is dangerous for hunting long term. I’d prefer hunters create their own rules and legislation around the sport, but that sadly doesn’t happen due to arguments like yours. So we wait for governments and non-hunting voters to do it and often don’t like the result.

And what you need to understand… is that the world doesn’t just revolve around you and what you like or don’t like. Only a one dimensional elitist thinks like that.

1. If somebody’s hunting tool of choice (a ballistic turret turret, for instance) enables them to take a shot at longer range than other hunters, and this means that other hunters are getting overtopped… well, then tough luck. Nobody is prohibiting those other hunters from purchasing ballistic turrets as well. It’s harsh but everybody is being given the same open chance to pursue their quarry. Some will succeed. Some will (at times) not. We just have to suck it up and live with it. If somebody has the wherewithal (be it through skill or due to technological superiority) to take a shot at longer range than other hunters while making a humane kill, and they enjoy that sort of thing… then, they have a right to go for it. I personally don’t. But at least I’m not selfish enough to impose my personal dislikes onto others as law. If that’s the case, then let’s ban telescopic sights and flat shooting long range cartridges for hunting altogether. Let everybody operate on a level playing field.
2. What you see as a “Scourge”, can (if done properly) provide a very viable & thrilling (while affordable) way for sportsmen of more modest means to hunt lion. Much depends upon the condition how the lion was raised, what kind of terrain the lion was being released into & how long the lion was released into that area before being hunted. Everything is not as black or white as people like you who see it as a “Scourge” like to portray it as. There are unethical outfits employing CBL (for instance releasing the lions into small plots a day or two before the hunt). There are also ethical outfits who employ CBL (releasing the lions into large areas for a longer period of time in order to familiarize themselves with their natural instincts). Yes, it can never be the same as wild lion hunting. CBL lions are less cunning and more likely to outright charge the hunter than wild lions (who rely more on ambushing). Which is why I personally don’t like CBL. But if it means offering hunters on a budget a scope to hunt a lion, then I’ll happily look the other way.
3. Individual skill varies from hunter to hunter. A lot of people can drop a deer employing (for instance) a .223 Remington or a .243 Winchester with more competence than some people can by using a .300 Winchester Magnum.
And they should be granted the legal right to hunt with any caliber which they can get humane kills with depending upon their individual proficiency. Years ago, I knew quite a few Inuit hunters who were taking big game with .22 Hornets with shooting skills that would put .338 Winchester Magnum owners to shame. Banning them from hunting with calibers like .223 Remington just because some others haven’t taken the time to familiarize themselves with proper shot placement or bullet selection… is like banning a law abiding American citizen from owning an AR-15 just because some sick freak decided to shoot up a school with one. Or stopping people from owning motorcycles just because some people have dangerous accidents with them. If a hunter equipped with a certain caliber of firearm wounds a head of game, then liability should fall upon that individual hunter. Not all hunters who prefer said caliber.

Yes, ethics mean something. But that something should not have to be mandated by enacting more laws and restrictions upon our kind. It should be at the psychological core of every hunter. And every hunter has their own code. There is a very popular philosophical topic called “Law & Morality”. What is moral isn’t always legal. And what is illegal isn’t always necessarily immoral. Law cannot/should not be used to govern every single aspect of how a sportsman goes about hunting in the field. It sets a very dangerous precedent. The concept of individual choice and morality should very much be existent in our hunting field.

You talk about how ignoring and redefining ethics is dangerous. Well, in my opinion… you’re doing the exact same thing. Whatever you don’t personally like, you want to see being banned or restricted. And unfortunately, people like you are the reason why everyday… more restrictions are being enacted on our hobby. The thing is, I don’t do long range hunting myself. I’ve never hunted with a ballistic turret. I did one CBL hunt in my life and decided that it wasn’t for me. I’d never shoot a deer with a caliber smaller than 7x57mm Mauser. But I’m at least open minded enough to let the other sportsman do as he pleases, as long as care is taken to do it properly & within reason.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

And what you need to understand… is that the world doesn’t just revolve around you and what you like or don’t like. Only a one dimensional elitist thinks like that.

1. If somebody’s hunting tool of choice (a ballistic turret turret, for instance) enables them to take a shot at longer range than other hunters, and this means that other hunters are getting overtopped… well, then tough luck. Nobody is prohibiting those other hunters from purchasing ballistic turrets as well. It’s harsh but everybody is being given the same open chance to pursue their quarry. Some will succeed. Some will (at times) not. We just have to suck it up and live with it. If somebody has the wherewithal (be it through skill or due to technological superiority) to take a shot at longer range than other hunters while making a humane kill, and they enjoy that sort of thing… then, they have a right to go for it. I personally don’t. But at least I’m not selfish enough to impose my personal dislikes onto others as law.
2. What you see as a “Scourge”, can (if done properly) provide a very viable & thrilling (while affordable) way for sportsmen of more modest means to hunt lion. Much depends upon the condition how the lion was raised, what kind of terrain the lion was being released into & how long the lion was released into that area before being hunted. Everything is not as black or white as people like you who see it as a “Scourge” like to portray it as. There are unethical outfits employing CBL (for instance releasing the lions into small plots a day or two before the hunt). There are also ethical outfits who employ CBL (releasing the lions into large areas for a longer period of time in order to familiarize themselves with their natural instincts). Yes, it can never be the same as wild lion hunting. CBL lions are less cunning and more likely to outright charge the hunter than wild lions (who rely more on ambushing). Which is why I personally don’t like CBL. But if it means offering hunters on a budget a scope to hunt a lion, then I’ll happily look the other way.
3. Individual skill varies from hunter to hunter. A lot of people can drop a deer employing (for instance) a .223 Remington or a .243 Winchester with more competence than some people can by using a .300 Winchester Magnum.
And they should be granted the legal right to hunt with any caliber which they can get humane kills with depending upon their individual proficiency. Years ago, I knew quite a few Inuit hunters who were taking big game with .22 Hornets with shooting skills that would put .338 Winchester Magnum owners to shame. Banning them from hunting with calibers like .223 Remington just because some others haven’t taken the time to familiarize themselves with proper shot placement or bullet selection… is like banning a law abiding American citizen from owning an AR-15 just because some sick freak decided to shoot up a school with one. Or stopping people from owning motorcycles just because some people have dangerous accidents with them. If a hunter equipped with a certain caliber of firearm wounds a head of game, then liability should fall upon that individual hunter. Not all hunters who prefer said caliber.

Yes, ethics mean something. But that something should not have to be mandated by enacting more laws and restrictions upon our kind. It should be at the psychological core of every hunter. And every hunter has their own code. There is a very popular philosophical topic called “Law & Morality”. What is moral isn’t always legal. And what is illegal isn’t always necessarily immoral. Law cannot/should not be used to govern every single aspect of how a sportsman goes about hunting in the field. It sets a very dangerous precedent. The concept of individual choice and morality should very much be existent in our hunting field.

You talk about how ignoring and redefining ethics is dangerous. Well, in my opinion… you’re doing the exact same thing. Whatever you don’t personally like, you want to see being banned or restricted. And unfortunately, people like you are the reason why everyday… more restrictions are being enacted on our hobby. The thing is, I don’t do long range hunting myself. I’ve never hunted with a ballistic turret. I did one CBL hunt in my life and decided that it wasn’t for me. I’d never shoot a deer with a caliber smaller than 7x57mm Mauser. But I’m at least open minded enough to let the other sportsman do as he pleases, as long as care is taken to do it properly & within reason.

I think the main contention is that many of these things are improper and therefore cannot be done properly along with being unreasonable and therefore cannot be done within reason..

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I think the main contention is that many of these things are improper and therefore cannot be done properly along with being unreasonable and therefore cannot be done within reason..

That’s where we disagree vehemently. Lots of long range hunters are cleanly dropping game all the time. Lots of hunters are hunting CBL lion and getting a very satisfying hunt (like @Rare Breed or @Mark A Ouellette have recently). Lots of hunters are using calibers perceived by others as “Light” to do humane hunting. None of these things are as black or white as some people perceive them to be. And enacting blanket bans on them sets a very dangerous precedent for hunters in the future.

 

[375Fox]

And what you need to understand… is that the world doesn’t just revolve around you and what you like or don’t like. Only a one dimensional elitist thinks like that.

1. If somebody’s hunting tool of choice (a ballistic turret turret, for instance) enables them to take a shot at longer range than other hunters, and this means that other hunters are getting overtopped… well, then tough luck. Nobody is prohibiting those other hunters from purchasing ballistic turrets as well. It’s harsh but everybody is being given the same open chance to pursue their quarry. Some will succeed. Some will (at times) not. We just have to suck it up and live with it. If somebody has the wherewithal (be it through skill or due to technological superiority) to take a shot at longer range than other hunters while making a humane kill, and they enjoy that sort of thing… then, they have a right to go for it. I personally don’t. But at least I’m not selfish enough to impose my personal dislikes onto others as law. If that’s the case, then let’s ban telescopic sights and flat shooting long range cartridges for hunting altogether. Let everybody operate on a level playing field.
2. What you see as a “Scourge”, can (if done properly) provide a very viable & thrilling (while affordable) way for sportsmen of more modest means to hunt lion. Much depends upon the condition how the lion was raised, what kind of terrain the lion was being released into & how long the lion was released into that area before being hunted. Everything is not as black or white as people like you who see it as a “Scourge” like to portray it as. There are unethical outfits employing CBL (for instance releasing the lions into small plots a day or two before the hunt). There are also ethical outfits who employ CBL (releasing the lions into large areas for a longer period of time in order to familiarize themselves with their natural instincts). Yes, it can never be the same as wild lion hunting. CBL lions are less cunning and more likely to outright charge the hunter than wild lions (who rely more on ambushing). Which is why I personally don’t like CBL. But if it means offering hunters on a budget a scope to hunt a lion, then I’ll happily look the other way.
3. Individual skill varies from hunter to hunter. A lot of people can drop a deer employing (for instance) a .223 Remington or a .243 Winchester with more competence than some people can by using a .300 Winchester Magnum.
And they should be granted the legal right to hunt with any caliber which they can get humane kills with depending upon their individual proficiency. Years ago, I knew quite a few Inuit hunters who were taking big game with .22 Hornets with shooting skills that would put .338 Winchester Magnum owners to shame. Banning them from hunting with calibers like .223 Remington just because some others haven’t taken the time to familiarize themselves with proper shot placement or bullet selection… is like banning a law abiding American citizen from owning an AR-15 just because some sick freak decided to shoot up a school with one. Or stopping people from owning motorcycles just because some people have dangerous accidents with them. If a hunter equipped with a certain caliber of firearm wounds a head of game, then liability should fall upon that individual hunter. Not all hunters who prefer said caliber.

Yes, ethics mean something. But that something should not have to be mandated by enacting more laws and restrictions upon our kind. It should be at the psychological core of every hunter. And every hunter has their own code. There is a very popular philosophical topic called “Law & Morality”. What is moral isn’t always legal. And what is illegal isn’t always necessarily immoral. Law cannot/should not be used to govern every single aspect of how a sportsman goes about hunting in the field. It sets a very dangerous precedent. The concept of individual choice and morality should very much be existent in our hunting field.

You talk about how ignoring and redefining ethics is dangerous. Well, in my opinion… you’re doing the exact same thing. Whatever you don’t personally like, you want to see being banned or restricted. And unfortunately, people like you are the reason why everyday… more restrictions are being enacted on our hobby. The thing is, I don’t do long range hunting myself. I’ve never hunted with a ballistic turret. I did one CBL hunt in my life and decided that it wasn’t for me. I’d never shoot a deer with a caliber smaller than 7x57mm Mauser. But I’m at least open minded enough to let the other sportsman do as he pleases, as long as care is taken to do it properly & within reason.

I’m not the one trying to stop a discussion. If your hunting impacts mine whether it’s wounded animals, trophy imports, bad press, etc doing whatever you want is no longer acceptable. I’ve wrote a lot of well thought out arguments on the topics you’ve brought up. However, I’ll assume you chose not to read them because they don’t agree with your viewpoint. You did however bring them into this argument.

 

[Flbt]

I think the main contention is that many of these things are improper and therefore cannot be done properly along with being unreasonable and therefore cannot be done within reason..

But that’s just there opinion.

 

[expresshunt]

Hi All, I read up to page 10... lots of opinion stuff.. and so I then went straight to write this.
This is my personal take, and some experience with Mark Sullivan. So dont take it to seriously, as we are all different. He does life different that most, so do I, so do many.
I met Mark and his wife at another hunters camp... my USA client jumped up and down when we arrived and he heard Mark was there, his wife calmed him down a bit, and said lets just see how it goes.... At lunch they met, and...... by day 2 all were great friends. We all went out in an airboat one day, and Mark annoyed a huge 15 foot salt water crocodile in shallow water with a pole, it launched, charged and bit the aluminium boat... (my hunter barrelled out of his seat super fast..) so different levels of comfort zone. Yes Mark loves close encounters, and the excitement of a close up DG hunt.
All us PHs who pursue DG know that each day there is a slim chance that we could get injured bad or killed... yet we still do it. We learn, we listen and never stop learning. Some do not come home from the hill. Every hunt is different.
What we experienced at camp and dinners, was Marks passion for Hunting dangerous game is amazing, his ability to describe Africa, the terrain, the animals, the whole experiences, is amazing. His knowledge of big rifles is amazing. His willingness to help people is great. Some people want to hunt with a PH like this, and they have had fantastic hunts, and become best of friends with Mark. International hunters attend shows to meet with PHs whom they feel they can gell with, and enjoy time with. Some people seek to hunt with me and my team... some will not.
Thank you CZDeisel for this topic.
Back in the DVD sales era, he accidently learnt that a buffalo charge on film, generated huge interest.. so he pushed hunters closer to get that excitement on film, and he pushed the follow up faster than 95% of PHs, which we all know can cause a charge.. which he wanted on film, and it has made him very good dollars. Thats his job. I don't do that... most don't do that. But he sold 1000s of DVD, it was his business, his income. Well done I say, to be successful at the business of hunt DVD sales.
If you don't like it, so be it. But I admire/d his skills to shoot a charging animal. Many times I have stopped charges where if I miss I could have been killed. I have learnt that I must NOT miss the brain.. So now, myself and my guides practice hitting a coming target, which is very difficult, as most people fire when the sights are on, and pull or yank the trigger.. this will not work as the animal is coming forward, and close angles make it change quickly. SO, one must follow the target and with a lead so as to hit it. Personally, I have had 416, 404, 465 and 500 caliber projectiles hit the head at less than 10 yards and with almost no effect, each just missing the brain by 1/2" or an 1" and in half the instances, had no effect on the speed of the Buffalo still coming for me. My next shots have had to be spot on. So... what I have personally learnt, which Mark has learnt well before me... is to aim, follow, squeeze the shot, and hit the brain... then the Buffalo is down for good.
One of our training things, is place 3 water bottles at 15, 10 and 5 yards... then I yell at the guide as if a charge is going down.. and they rush to fire... results.. often misses. So we do it again and again untill we hit all three, fast and including some fast reloading aswell.
So, if anything, thank you Mark for helping hunters to learn how to stop charges, how to load better, how to get back on target better, and shoot the brain... you have saved some lives.
Like some others, yes I would love to hunt some Cape Buffalo and Hippos with Mark, it would be a great hunt.. yes I would ask to stop my own Buffalo, and yes I know he has excellent skills beside me.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I’m not the one trying to stop a discussion. If your hunting impacts mine whether it’s wounded animals, trophy imports, bad press, etc doing whatever you want is no longer acceptable. I’ve wrote a lot of well thought out arguments on the topics you’ve brought up. However, I’ll assume you chose not to read them because they don’t agree with your viewpoint. You did however bring them into this argument.

You claim to not be the one trying to stop a discussion, but you’re also the person who believes that anybody who supports Mark Sullivan and follows his ideologies should be stopped (and you said so yourself on this very thread).

I’ve read each and every point you’ve made on this thread. And mine are:

Wounded animals- Hunting properly with long range equipment or relatively lighter calibers produces none. Only individual hunter proficiency can determine this. And such can never be used as a litmus test for enacting a law. Even hunting at short range while using heavier calibers tends to produce wounded animals if the hunter is careless. Rather than trying to get laws to ban a certain kind of hunting, it’s more sound for the hunters themselves to be more careful regardless of how they go about hunting.

Bad Press- Press is after hunters these days simply for existing. And hunters turning against other hunters only emboldens them.

Trophy Imports- The people pushing for bans on trophy imports don’t like any form of hunting regardless of the form. They want to see it all banned. Whether you take that kudu with a .243 or a .375. Whether you shot it at 60 yards or 600.

 

[Flbt]

I’m not the one trying to stop a discussion. If your hunting impacts mine whether it’s wounded animals, trophy imports, bad press, etc doing whatever you want is no longer acceptable. I’ve wrote a lot of well thought out arguments on the topics you’ve brought up. However, I’ll assume you chose not to read them because they don’t agree with your viewpoint. You did however bring them into this argument.

But that’s the problem. No one agrees to every thing. Some not even most things.
They all effect every one else to some point.
People like to bow hunt.
Others think the stick and string is cruel

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

But that’s just there opinion.

That is true. As the opposing viewpoints. All opinions are not equal. The morally relativistic argument has less merit.. IMO…

 

[Flbt]

I’m not the one trying to stop a discussion. If your hunting impacts mine whether it’s wounded animals, trophy imports, bad press, etc doing whatever you want is no longer acceptable. I’ve wrote a lot of well thought out arguments on the topics you’ve brought up. However, I’ll assume you chose not to read them because they don’t agree with your viewpoint. You did however bring them into this argument.

Harder to get tags because of hunter success rate in there to?

 

[375Fox]

You claim to not be the one trying to stop a discussion, but you’re also the person who believes that anybody who supports Mark Sullivan and follows his ideologies should be stopped (and you said so yourself on this very thread).

I’ve read each and every point you’ve made on this thread. And mine are:

Wounded animals- Hunting properly with long range equipment or relatively lighter calibers produces none. Only individual hunter proficiency can determine this. And such can never be used as a litmus test for enacting a law. Even hunting at short range while using heavier calibers tends to produce wounded animals if the hunter is careless. Rather than trying to get laws to ban a certain kind of hunting, it’s more sound for the hunters themselves to be more careful regardless of how they go about hunting.

Bad Press- Press is after hunters these days simply for existing. And hunters turning against other hunters only emboldens them.

Trophy Imports- The people pushing for bans on trophy imports don’t like any form of hunting regardless of the form. They want to see it all banned. Whether you take that kudu with a .243 or a .375. Whether you shot it at 60 yards or 600.

You clearly have not read my posts. I challenge you to quote me. My posts state I don’t know what draws people to hunt with a PH like Mark Sullivan. I will not understand the hero worship by some.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Hi All, I read up to page 10... lots of opinion stuff.. and so I then went straight to write this.
This is my personal take, and some experience with Mark Sullivan. So dont take it to seriously, as we are all different. He does life different that most, so do I, so do many.
I met Mark and his wife at another hunters camp... my USA client jumped up and down when we arrived and he heard Mark was there, his wife calmed him down a bit, and said lets just see how it goes.... At lunch they met, and...... by day 2 all were great friends. We all went out in an airboat one day, and Mark annoyed a huge 15 foot salt water crocodile in shallow water with a pole, it launched, charged and bit the aluminium boat... (my hunter barrelled out of his seat super fast..) so different levels of comfort zone. Yes Mark loves close encounters, and the excitement of a close up DG hunt.
All us PHs who pursue DG know that each day there is a slim chance that we could get injured bad or killed... yet we still do it. We learn, we listen and never stop learning. Some do not come home from the hill. Every hunt is different.
What we experienced at camp and dinners, was Marks passion for Hunting dangerous game is amazing, his ability to describe Africa, the terrain, the animals, the whole experiences, is amazing. His knowledge of big rifles is amazing. His willingness to help people is great. Some people want to hunt with a PH like this, and they have had fantastic hunts, and become best of friends with Mark. International hunters attend shows to meet with PHs whom they feel they can gell with, and enjoy time with. Some people seek to hunt with me and my team... some will not.
Thank you CZDeisel for this topic.
Back in the DVD sales era, he accidently learnt that a buffalo charge on film, generated huge interest.. so he pushed hunters closer to get that excitement on film, and he pushed the follow up faster than 95% of PHs, which we all know can cause a charge.. which he wanted on film, and it has made him very good dollars. Thats his job. I don't do that... most don't do that. But he sold 1000s of DVD, it was his business, his income. Well done I say, to be successful at the business of hunt DVD sales.
If you don't like it, so be it. But I admire/d his skills to shoot a charging animal. Many times I have stopped charges where if I miss I could have been killed. I have learnt that I must NOT miss the brain.. So now, myself and my guides practice hitting a coming target, which is very difficult, as most people fire when the sights are on, and pull or yank the trigger.. this will not work as the animal is coming forward, and close angles make it change quickly. SO, one must follow the target and with a lead so as to hit it. Personally, I have had 416, 404, 465 and 500 caliber projectiles hit the head at less than 10 yards and with almost no effect, each just missing the brain by 1/2" or an 1" and in half the instances, had no effect on the speed of the Buffalo still coming for me. My next shots have had to be spot on. So... what I have personally learnt, which Mark has learnt well before me... is to aim, follow, squeeze the shot, and hit the brain... then the Buffalo is down for good.
One of our training things, is place 3 water bottles at 15, 10 and 5 yards... then I yell at the guide as if a charge is going down.. and they rush to fire... results.. often misses. So we do it again and again untill we hit all three, fast and including some fast reloading aswell.
So, if anything, thank you Mark for helping hunters to learn how to stop charges, how to load better, how to get back on target better, and shoot the brain... you have saved some lives.
Like some others, yes I would love to hunt some Cape Buffalo and Hippos with Mark, it would be a great hunt.. yes I would ask to stop my own Buffalo, and yes I know he has excellent skills beside me.

Yeah, well in my former life (career) I too did do life (things) different than many. I still do. Remember, "we only get so many heartbeats in life". Not my quote. Like I said before, I don't know Mark Sullivan at all, but if I'm hunting something (FOUR legged) that can kill me or others with me, I want someone like Mark Sullivan as a backup. Regardless of all the drama, innuendos, nonsense, etc., I want experience, fortitude and savvy backing me up. I'll take care of the TWO legged ones myself.

 

[Muting the Goat]

View attachment 696080
Mark has shot several elephant but faced only one charge (which he is honest enough to admit). At least one elephant hunt appeared on one of his DVDs although I’ll need to recheck in order to see which one. To put matters into perspective for those who’ve never hunted in Tanzania… elephant hunts there aren’t easy on one’s pocket. Out of all of Mark’s clients, people have hunted elephant with him the least in Tanzania (relatively speaking). And he’s quick to admit that.

View attachment 696081
Out of the six charging hippopotamus that Mark has shot on video, not a single one was wounded.

Out of the nine charging Cape buffalo which Mark has shot on video, he only stops the charge himself on three of those nine (one where the client is crippled and can’t do the follow up himself, one where the client runs out of ammunition & one where the client shoots first but misses). I don’t know about other people. But under those circumstances, I’d be damned pleased if my white hunter stepped in. On other times, he & the client both shoot together. So there’s no possible way that he “Shoots The Client’s Buffalo”.

People seem to like dragging some of Mark’s statements into an overtly literal context. I find this hypocritical considering that a lot of us (myself included) are Donald Trump supporters. We’ve learnt that even if the good President’s way of saying things might often be a little … unconventional, he has a very well thought out manner of doing things. Mark is the same. His words can sometimes be a bit witty or sarcastic, but the bottom line is those who’ve actually hunted with him and/or know him in real life are quite fond of him. As I myself would eventually find out, this is not without reason.

I’ve been very patient & very civilized defending my friend on these forums for the last few weeks. Some of Mark’s critics have been at least fair enough to admit that some of their negative perceptions about him are a bit too harsh. Others might not like his personality. That’s fine too. No two personalities are totally compatible. But (not pointing any fingers) some people are far too blinded by their hate and petty vindictiveness towards an African white hunter who is actually doing pretty well for himself at the age of 76. Some people take issue with Mark comparing his hunts to “Battle”. Yet those same people have no issue hunting game with a telescopic sighted .375 Holland & Holland Magnum and then comparing it to “Dueling an mortal with a rapier.” Like, seriously ?! At least Mark gets close to his quarry before he shoots them. If anything, that’s closer to a duel than sniping them from the safety of a distance where the quarry doesn’t even know we are there (although I myself often hunt via this manner as well and see nothing morally wrong about it). Some people are comparing anybody defending Mark to “Cultists”. What does that make his accusers ? It makes them no different to the the perpetrators of the Salem Witch Trials.

To the neutral people reading this thread, I’ll point something out to you which you’ll eventually come to agree with me on. The people who are blindly hateful towards Mark Sullivan, are also the same elitists who:
1) Want to see long range rifle hunting & ballistic turrets banned (yet themselves have no issue hunting with telescopic sights)
2) Want a complete ban on Captive Bred Lion hunting without even remotely wanting to acknowledge that (if properly done) it can have some benefits
3) Take issue if certain calibers are used on certain game animals (regardless of how successful the hunter is).

One might wonder why these three things are being mentioned in this post. But it’s to paint a better picture of some of Mark’s haters. These people are not the friends of the hunting industry. They are elitists who think that any style of hunting which they themselves do not practice, is unethical. They are the kinds who get happy when there are more restrictions being placed on hunting. And more than one hundred Mark Sullivans, these elitists are the biggest threat to the hunting industry. My words might sound harsh, but they’re true.

Very well said!

 

[Hunter-Habib]

You clearly have not read my posts. I challenge you to quote me. My posts state I don’t know what draws people to hunt with a PH like Mark Sullivan. I will not understand the hero worship by some.

Then, what do you call this ?
Post in thread 'Mark Sullivan the Expose’' https://www.africahunting.com/threads/mark-sullivan-the-expose’.93522/post-1441012

You're basically saying that allowing any support for his ideas is wrong. In other words, we should not be allowed to support him.

If you don't understand the "Hero Worship", I don't understand the stake burning either. What you might consider to be "Hero Worship", I consider to be loyalty to a friend who has had his reputation repeatedly slandered and villainized by people who have never met him. Let alone hunted with him. And I would do the same for any fellow hunter. Not just Mark Sullivan.