Reading Ivan Carter's recent post on animal charges and backing up client shots got me to thinking: Every generation of Professional Hunters creates but a handful whose names will rank with the all-time greats. And in that mix there will be both the famous (due to their personality, industry, clients, marketing savvy, luck, etc.) and infamous (notorious for their exploits, treatment of clients, hunting style or ethics, or perhaps their lawlessness). Whatever the reason, they are the PHs whose exploits and persona become the fodder of writers like Boddington and Capstick and the topic of endless campfire debates.

Certainly not an exhaustive list, but as examples these historical (i.e, dead or retired) legends include storied – and in some cases controversial – men such as:

• Frederick Selous
• R.J. Cunninghame
• Alan Black
• Bill Judd
• Walter D. M. "Karamoja" Bell
• Baron Brør von Blixen-Finecke
• Denys Finch-Hatton
• William Harris
• William Cotton Oswell
• Frederick Burnham
• James Sutherland
• John "Pondoro" Taylor
• Samuel Baker
• Ian Nyschens
• John A. Hunter
• Philip Percival
• Frank "Bunny" Allen
• Harry Selby
• Peter Hathaway Capstick
• Finn Aagaard
• Tony Dyer
• Roger Whittall
• Gordon Cundhill
• Tony Henley

Of course, there are others, but hopefully the point is made. So with these 'legends' serving as a predicate, who among today's active PHs are destined to join their ranks? Who's name will merit inclusion with these men when some enterprising writer from a succeeding generation sets out to list the 'legendary professional hunters' of all time, including ours? They may be brilliant or brave or resourceful or controversial; but what they will all have in common is extraordinary renown and reputation.

If you will excuse my temerity for even trying (and with apologies to those whose names I omit through oversight or ignorance), let me suggest – as a start – the following names for consideration as 'living legends' or 'legends in the making':

• Richard Harland
• Peter Johnstone
• James "Buzz" Charlton
• Søren Lindstrom
• Ivan Carter
• Tony Sanchez-Ariño
• Andrew Dawson
• Mark DeWet
• John Sharp
• Jeff Rann
• Johan Calitz
• Mark Sullivan
• Steve "Shakari" Robinson
• Kevin Robertson
• Robin Hurt
• Geoff Broome

While a topic like this is bound to incite controversy, that is not my intention (this time, anyway). The goal of this post is to generate discussion about the current crop of professional hunters, and who among them our children and their children will be reading about when they start their careers as African hunters.

And who among us hasn't daydreamed of what it would have been like to hunt with the likes of Percival or Selby. Yet, their heirs are among us today, those select few and special PHs that future hunters will bemoan not having had a chance to hunt with. By discussing and debating who they are today, some of us might get an opportunity future hunters will envy.

Don't forget Luke Samaras and Gordon Cundhill.

I think Johan Calitz and Ivan Carter will be right up there, so will Soren.

Would be even more interesting to do something akin to the NCAA college football coaches poll, let the PHs vote on who in their fraternity are likely to be the legends of this era. I wonder if the PHs list and the clients' list would be anywhere close to being the same.

I'd put Harland & Sanchez Arino in the first catagory and should say I most certainly wouldn't even put myself in the second catagory at all...... I might be a legend in my own lunch time but nothing more!

Thanks very much indeed for the compliment though!

I actually think that most of the big legends have turned out that way because they wrote their memoirs which got their name out to a much wider audience which in turn bought them further fame.

There's also a fair number of wonderfully skilled younger PHs out there such as Wikus Groenawald & Jason van Aarde who may well in turn become famous.... I certainly hope so because they well deserve it!

I would add to the contemporaries...

1) Paddy Curtis
2) Nigel Theisen
3) Pete Barnard

And after I go to Zambia...I'll bet I will add Andrew Baldry.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
I would add to the contemporaries...

1) Paddy Curtis
2) Nigel Theisen
3) Pete Barnard

I also would nominate Nigel and was about to..... but I'd forgotten how to spell his surname and was just looking it up when Lane posted it!

I don't know the other two though.

Andrew Holmberg, Sten Cedergren and Ken Stewart to name a few should be up there in the first catagory.

I guess we should also appreciate that not all on the first list were PHs. Some were explorers/elephant hunters.

I'd also add John Nicholson, Jon Speed, Alexander Lake, Brian Herne, John Kingsley Heath & Ken Stewart (in no particular order) to that first list.

Angelo Dacey-Sudan

Nassos Roussos-Ethiopia

Jeff Rann-Botswana

Just have to say if PHC is there, what about Teddy and Robert or any other African lore writters. I thought this was about PH's not story tellers and I will say among story tellers PHC was among the best.

Norm Crooks.

I will say in all the hunts I have done I have hunted with only a few PH's - when you find a good one stick with him, eh.

A man doesn't need to be a legend, or even a passing celebrity, to be an excellent professional hunter.

Some of the best professionals hunting today are virtual unknowns and are quite happy to stay that way.

Also Ian Goss & Brian Marsh.

I don't know why no one has mentioned it yet.
This really not comparing apples with apples at all.

DAM Steve was hard enough to house break while hunting NOW he's a legend!!!!!!!! well maybe in his mind. but we all know his mind is a vast open space sometimes. just ask Susan if you can get her to stop laughing after she read this. Lord some one please define legend for me my side hurts from laughing

I really think you would have to include Frank Bowker. He was one of the founders of the modern safari hunting in RSA.

Hook,

Like I said. Maybe a legend in my own lunchtime but nothing more!

Certainly not in the same league as those others mentioned.

Likewise Lou Tonks.

Then there's Tony Tompkinson & Ron Thomson.

What about Ronnie Blackbeard???

I don't know so NOT nominating.

I have been told by good source...that he may have taken more lion than any other PH alive today. ~300 maybe

Also...Alan Lowe gets a nomination from me for the first group.

Your right I have seen you eat and that was a experience. I can testify that you are one of the most humble non self absorbed people I know. but do not let that go to your head

What about Lou Hallamore?

And of course our very own Don Heath.

No end of 'em really.

Kai Uwe Denker?

quote:

A man doesn't need to be a legend, or even a passing celebrity, to be an excellent professional hunter.

Some of the best professionals hunting today are virtual unknowns and are quite happy to stay that way.

Mike

Exactly! Being well known does not equal a great man in the bush. Garry Kelly is the best PH I've ever hunted with and I don't expect anybody will be writing any books about him.

Mark

Can't forget Nicky Blunt ! Or his former employer, George Angelides.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
And of course our very own Don Heath.

No end of 'em really.

quote:

Exactly! Being well known does not equal a great man in the bush. Garry Kelly is the best PH I've ever hunted with and I don't expect anybody will be writing any books about him.

And...vice versa.

quote:

Originally posted by cable68:
Kai Uwe Denker?

+1

I was going to point out that you simply can't leave him off the list.



KPete
I don't like your list.

It seems kinda silly to lump truely great PHs like Harry Selby(longest career as a PH, never scratched by a DG animal, never had a client scratced) with guys lick PHC who did some PHing, but really are only known through their writing.

Finn Aagaard is my all-time favorite gunwriter bar none, and a great person, but I don't think he belongs on the list. He is also the most honest gunwriters I have had the pleasure to read.

Unlike Finn, several of the PHs on your list who went on to write greatly exaggerated their exploits.

IMO it is downright distasteful to include infamous PHs(whose names I won't mention) with the truely legendary PHs.

Oh, and George Hoffman deserves a place on your list for more than some of the names you included.

And Roy Vincent. He is pretty well know aside from being Saeed's PH of choice.

Volker Grelmann?(I know I butchered his name. Sorry)

Jan Oelofse?

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Would be even more interesting to do something akin to the NCAA college football coaches poll, let the PHs vote on who in their fraternity are likely to be the legends of this era. I wonder if the PHs list and the clients' list would be anywhere close to being the same.

I agree with Mike on this one! I think client hunters tend to only vote for PHs they've hunted with, or those that great books have been written by, or about them.

The PHs, I think, will have some real insight into the true reps of most other PHs that the public in general may not have!

I did not see Wally Johnson on the list.

How we make comparisons for a PH of today that has 10 days to accomplise what the early hunters had 2-3 months to do. We also have much better means of transportation today. I am in the construction business as was my father and grandfather. Neither ever heard of most of the equipment we use today. This is an excerise in futlity.

Darrell Ragar

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
eighty-nine posts, and nobody mentioned Fin Aagard?

Rich

Try reading the first post!

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Would be even more interesting to do something akin to the NCAA college football coaches poll, let the PHs vote on who in their fraternity are likely to be the legends of this era. I wonder if the PHs list and the clients' list would be anywhere close to being the same.

I agree with Mike on this one! I think client hunters tend to only vote for PHs they've hunted with, or those that great books have been written by, or about them.

The PHs, I think, will have some real insight into the true reps of most other PHs that the public in general may not have!

With the clients and general public voting, this really amounts to little more than a popularity contest, as opposed to who the truly great modern day PHs are. I am not suggested that some on the popularity list would not also be on the modern day greats list, but this is more about who I have hunted with, seen a video of or read a book by than anything else. All that said, it is interesting nonetheless.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:...this is more about who I have hunted with, seen a video of or read a book by than anything else.

Or, who I am trying to butter up!

Wait, did that just sound like Will?

Another very interesting poll would be for PHs to list their top ten clients and their bottom ten clients in terms of ability, attitude, personality, etc. That would light up the internet!

Yes, indeed!

Oh well, neither of my two upcoming Ph's are mention here. Am I worried? Nope!!

Frostbit,

sorry, I got lost in that "Top Three Hundred of All Time" ranking. We need to alphabetize them.

Rich