Thoughts on Craig Boddington?

[Rubberhead]

Just read "Where Lions Roar". Not bad. It was a little dry but I never had to re-read anything because it was confusing.

 

[sestoppelman]

I think my favorite book of his is the hard to find and pricey Search for the Spiral Horns. Big heavy book and a very good read.

 

[Vinootz]

Been reading his work for decades; and still do. His personal economy is none of my business. Bankruptcy is a legal option. It’s no big deal to give away a few things that can’t be attached. If you’re not intentionally running bankruptcy scams, it’s part of business and life . I laugh at overly righteous comments. Grow up already- lol.

 

[C.W. Richter]

'Reminds one of the DemMSM'ers picking on Trump's bankruptcy (Casino entity, at a time when no fewer than 4 others did the exact same in an Obama-esque recession-Joe's mentor on Recessions.) Those bankruptcy laws were enacted to make a legal process which protect creditors, business owners and the economy. It's not to be taken lightly, and there are varying degrees (diff. Chapters) of bankruptcy ranging from reorganization (v. typical for big business) or going "belly-up," which is more common for individuals with much less at stake (much more absorbable) to creditors. It's no laughing matter, and it doesn't surprise me as a result of covid, wokeness/DEI and Bidenomics! These people are certainly NOT allied with those involved the shooting sports and hunting industry (and hunters themselves!) My business once got "douched" by the liquidation laws (essentially the bankruptcy of the insurance company world.) Luckily, we were very near to the end of the project, and the client/property owner recognized the value in finishing up, so he paid the back rent as well as expenses going forward! Otherwise, i'd probably not have had to pay any taxes for 2 years. lol

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Bumping a thread this old? We are between hunting seasons. I don't have much to do with influencers. Not sure I have ever read any of Ruark's stuff and only what Hemingway wrote that was required in English class. No magazines in my house except the ones in rifles. I only subscribe to SCI because I'm a measurer for taxidermy purposes and their literature comes with membership. I have looked at some of Boddington's articles but yet to find one that interested me enough to finish. But that says more about me than him.

I will say the business of his daughter shooting the tracker had some fishy fallout. The fund raising to pay for medical bills because Boddington was so poor was tough to sell.

 

[mark-hunter]

I will say the business of his daughter shooting the tracker had some fishy fallout. The fund raising to pay for medical bills because Boddington was so poor was tough to sell.

Now, the question is how the fallout should be handled?

I often (unfortunately) see hunting accidents, in my country at least 5 or 6 per year, that get to daily news. Two accidents happened in my former hunting club.

So, what generally happens is:
Hunter is wounded or accidentally killed by another hunter.
Then, the hunter who made accident gets arrested and charged. Loses guns, and facing prison.
Usually gets light to medium prison sentence.
He gets out of prison, and thats it.

Family of the killed or wounded person himself has option to press private charges for some compensation. Sometimes this happens
Maybe they get compensated maybe not.
Two families involved generally dont communicate or make public statements.

I have never seen making public fund raiser by the family of the hunter who made accident.
I have never seen public statements, and transparent explanation to the public of what has happened, or what has been done to assist. All sides are focused on forthcoming trial, and grief and sit in opposite camps under lawyers advice, dont say nothing in public. They follow.

I have never seen this, except in this case!

Gun accidents are not so common. But car accidents happen daily, and with fatalities.
Basically, very similar situation except there is a car, and no rifle involved.
So, what is expected from a car driver causing accident with injury or fatality to do?

So, I dont know what a person should really do in this type of situation.

My impression is that CB family did very well. Much above that I would expect.

(There is a thread and statements from family on this forum, which to me looks very transparent and honest)

Very important, before judging the man, or daughter, shouldn't we check how the tracker has been treated and are there any consequences, and what bills are paid:

We dont know what happened later to tracker who was wounded. How was the hospital? Rehabilitation bills? Final outcome? There is only hearsay around on the forum.

 

[Wheels]

I have never seen making public fund raiser by the family of the hunter who made accident.
I have never seen public statements, and transparent explanation to the public of what has happened, or what has been done to assist. All sides are focused on forthcoming trial, and grief and sit in opposite camps under lawyers advice, dont say nothing in public. They follow.

I have never seen this, except in this case!

When Tim Herald accidentally shot his PH Stu Taylor, he told the story of what happened and shared the recorded video of the accident. Herald went public in soliciting funds for Taylor. Unfortunately thing went south after that. There may be other instances but this accident comes readily to mind.

 

[meigsbucks]

I always held CB in high esteem. His show, Tracks Across Africa, was a must watch for me. His book Safari Rifles and several of his videos helped me plan my first safari.
My only personal contact with him was at SCI in 2020. I stopped by his booth to say “Hi” and thank him for his contributions to making my safaris a success. There were only a couple of other people loitering by the booth, so he wasn’t busy and all I wanted was maybe 30 seconds of his time. He said Hi and I started to talk and he interrupted and said: “ Are you going to buy a book?” I said I had a few already and he walked away. The incident just rubbed me the wrong way.

 

[Manny R]

I don't have any bad comments about CB. I have met him a couple times at the DSC in seminars and walking past his booth saying Hello.
He is a Promoter of his books and a paid consultant for outfitters. If you wish to get endorse as one of his outfitters be prepared to waive all fees when he is hunting with you and be prepared not only to pay him a commission for any hunter he sends but he also gets a fee for his endorsements.
Don't get me wrong about him but this is the way he makes a living by writing books and endorsing PH's and their area.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I don't have any bad comments about CB. I have met him a couple times at the DSC in seminars and walking past his booth saying Hello.
He is a Promoter of his books and a paid consultant for outfitters. If you wish to get endorse as one of his outfitters be prepared to waive all fees when he is hunting with you and be prepared not only to pay him a commission for any hunter he sends but he also gets a fee for his endorsements.
Don't get me wrong about him but this is the way he makes a living by writing books and endorsing PH's and their area.

Such is the life of an influencer. Some might think it's worth it. Not me.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Such is the life of an influencer. Some might think it's worth it. Not me.

@Ontario Hunter
Same people say I'm an effluencer because they think I talk a bit of shit now and then especially about the 243
Bob

 

[Tom Leoni]

I honestly don't understand the acharnement with which some keep harping on Craig Boddington, especially with regards to his personal life. No shot at anyone here or on the other (25-page!) thread, also because I have better use for my braincells than to keep track of who said what and where.

All I can say is, as someone who has worked in the gun industry for 20+ years, I would stake my reputation on his professionalism, knowledge and integrity. This sentiment seems to be widely shared, as evidenced by the universal respect with which he is regarded among his peers.

As a writer, he has done as much for me to kindle and fuel my passion for big-game hunting as any author alive today, perhaps more. He is credible, entertaining, and strikes a perfect balance between technical and descriptive. If there's a big-game animal you're thinking of hunting anywhere on Earth, you can bet he's done it and written something useful and worthwhile about it.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I personally don't know Craig Boddington and have never met him. I have never read one of his books and the only videos of his I've watched are the ones that occasionally pop up here. I did send him an email about a year ago referencing a photo I saw here from the DSC or SCI show of him and the owner of the outfit I hunted with in Africa in 2022. He actually personally replied to my email a few days later which I wasn't expecting. I was actually impressed and I'm not easily impressed to say the least about most anything. He sells books, videos and endorses hunting outfits around the world. I guess he makes/supplements his living that way? More power to him.

 

[MS 9x56]

I respect Craig for his service to his country. I think he was a product of his time. I used to think he never met a magnum he didn’t like. He seems to have mellowed in his old age and even uses a 30-30 from time to time. I think it was a tragedy what happened on that hunt with his daughter and my heart goes out to them both. They have to live with that for the rest of their lives. Who among us knows how they would react in the same situation? On the other hand he is why I have never owned a magnum in any caliber and why I do my best to hunt close. I don’t judge, but he was far from my favorite writer. Just color me an Elmer fan.

 

[CoElkHunter]

@Ontario Hunter
Same people say I'm an effluencer because they think I talk a bit of shit now and then especially about the 243
Bob

Yeah Bob, but you're an influencer when it comes to promoting your proprietary Australian wildcats the .25 Samurai, 6.5 RSE (Rising Sun Express) and the .35 BNE (Banzai Nelson Express) based on the 7.7 Jap cartridge in Arisaka 99 actions. We're waiting to see the fruits of your labor. LOL

 

[MS 9x56]

@Ontario Hunter
Same people say I'm an effluencer because they think I talk a bit of shit now and then especially about the 243
Bob

You the man Bob

 

[CoElkHunter]

I respect Craig for his service to his country. I think he was a product of his time. I used to think he never met a magnum he didn’t like. He seems to have mellowed in his old age and even uses a 30-30 from time to time. I think it was a tragedy what happened on that hunt with his daughter and my heart goes out to them both. They have to live with that for the rest of their lives. Who among us knows how they would react in the same situation? On the other hand he is why I have never owned a magnum in any caliber and why I do my best to hunt close. I don’t judge, but he was far from my favorite writer. Just color me an Elmer fan.

Well, if you're an Elmer "Magnum" Keith fan like I am, you'll go out and buy as many Magnums as you can find pronto! LOL

 

[Uncontrolled_round_feed]

@Ontario Hunter
Same people say I'm an effluencer because they think I talk a bit of shit now and then especially about the 243
Bob

Well, @Bob Nelson 35Whelen, I have a nice peep sighted FN Mauser I’m not using and am leaning towards sending it to JES for a 35 Whelen rebore job mostly because of how much I enjoy your posts.
You might be an influencer yet.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I honestly don't understand some of these posts. 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.

Craig Boddington and I met twice at hunting conventions. I found him to be very down to earth, laid back & passionate about hunting. A true gentleman.

I'll add a word about Mark Sullivan, as well. 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. 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.

So yeah. Craig Boddington, Mark Sullivan. 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.

You can even take my opinion on Craig Boddington and Mark Sullivan with a pinch of salt. As a matter of fact, I encourage you to. You have that right.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

What is this site’s general opinion on Craig Boddington? I ask this as I’ve rarely seen him being talked out and when he is talked about, people have an oddly negative opinion of him. I’m not sure why, exactly. He doesn’t seem to be very smug (unlike a certain Mark Sullivan) and vast majority of his hunts, at least from what I’ve seen, are fair chase and ethical for the most part. Feel free to give your honest opinion.

I've only met him once, and that was some years ago. We talked buffalo.for a little bit, and he signed a copy of a book for me. He seemed like a good guy.to.me.