These comments about CB being run off by rude posters is a joke.

The guy is way too focused on his bottom line to post here. The only well known who does anything for free is John Barsness at 24 hour.

craig boddington
new member
Posted 05 March 2005 08:22
I'm the unluckiest guy in the world with leopard, but I think the hilly country in Masailand produces monsters, as does the whole block between northern Transvaal and southeastern Zimbabwe. Those cats are educated and very hard to hunt, but there are real monsters in that region. First day I was in camp with Barrie Duckworth in '79 my partner, Ron Norman (who arrived earlier) pitched up with a huge cat he took with Roger Whittall. I saw it on the cattle scales: 225 pounds! I don't think many areas are capable of producing leopards that large.
craig boddington
new member
Posted 25 February 2005 09:25
The problem with Africa is that North America would fit into Africa a half-dozen times. The place is huge, and no one (not even James Mellon) has hunted it all even once. There are some experienced PH's who have hunted as many as a half-dozen countries, and there are amateurs who have hunted a dozen countries or more. There are certainly experts on certain African animals, 'cause they don't change their habits much from one area to another. But there really aren't any true "African experts," and I don't think any real PH would ever claim to be.

AZ Writer,
Don't know if he was "run off by a rude poster" but Craig did post here for awhile and dispensed some good advice. Pity he doesn't still. We are none the richer for his leaving.

bwanamrm:

I might be wrong, and it wouldn't be the first time, but if I recall correctly, CB only came here to "defend his good name." I think the posts you refer to were part of that effort.

I don't know how "they" do it. If I did, I'd be "there" with them!

CB has made hunting and guns his business and he's good at it...really good at it. He's an opinion maker and product manufacturers want their product in his hands. Not only will they give him the product but they will pay him to use it...pay him with cash or comp him a trip, etc. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it, in fact I envy him greatly. Opinion makers and celebrities of all types get comped all kind of goodies including cars, travel, jewelry, etc. I don't begrudge Gweneth Paltrow because designers throw clothes at her.

Heck, I'm almost a complete nobody in my business but I've been comped enough trips, event tickets, meals, software, etc that they might easily add up to a bongo hunt or two. Unfortunately though, it wasn't a bongo hunt because I'm not smart enough to figure out how to make a living at hunting, fishing or guns.

Anybody at the top 1% of their profession is going to get a lot of attention, for better or for worse. Whether one likes CB's work or not (and I certainly do) he's at the pinnacle of his profession.

I used own part of a G&O operation in BC. Over the years we had 3 writers come on hunts and write articles about the operation. One writer owned his own magazine and the other 2 are well known and respected writers for a number of Outdoor Mags.

All three got deductions in the price based on their ability to deliver an article or articles in Hunting Mags about the operation. Two got 50% off and the third got 100% off and was able to shoot 2 bears.

They all paid for their own transportation and licenses.

It was discussed with all of the writers that if the hunts were not successful, it was hunting, that they would not write a negative article. The two writers even had contracts that we signed, with some modifications, listing what each of us expected from the arrangement.

We were told by all three that a positive report would be filed no matter what happened as it was easy to excentuate the positive and down play the negative.

This worked out well for us as we got a lot of additional exposure and the money we spent was much less than buying adds in the mags.

I have no problem with writers looking for a quid pro quo, why not? As readers, we need to realize this everytime we pick up a magazine.

Hey, if you are a fan of the man (CB), then I am sure he is everything good to you (gag).

I am a fan of no man. I learn from others as they learn from me...

But to get all ga-ga over someone's lifestyle, exploits and expertise is parasitic at best..."Boddington on this..." and "Boddington on that...", geesh, get your own life, just like CB has, and enjoy it!

quote:

Originally posted by bwanamrm:
craig boddington
new member
Posted 05 March 2005 08:22
....

Don't know if he was "run off by a rude poster" but Craig did post here for awhile and dispensed some good advice. Pity he doesn't still. We are none the richer for his leaving.

I agree it is a pity. Two factors probably led him to not posting publicly. 1. Some very antagonistic posts and members even on subjects not even related to hunting and shooting. 2. A level of sycophancy. Of course a busy life might also prevent it. I would get much more done if I wasted less time here.

If I was him I would use a pseudonym and only use his real log-in when it is appropriate. Maybe he does.

I exchanged a few emails with him on hunting water buffalo at Gan Gan and also his video. He seemed like a normal polite fellow to me.

No need to rave or throw insults.

***

As for getting hunting deals. A lot of members here would get them, or could get them if they tried.

quote:

might be wrong, and it wouldn't be the first time, but if I recall correctly, CB only came here to "defend his good name." I think the posts you refer to were part of that effort.

He was here to sell one of his guns. He left after that.

OK, I can no longer abide RHSims total bullshit.

Rick, have you forgotten your own actions on your 2 and only 2, trips to Africa ?

You managed to have an accidental discharge with your rifle in a group, luckly no one was hurt but you did not learn a damn thing from your first one, hence the second one on your second trip. You shamed everyone in the party. Yes, I have friends also, and more than one person on your trips related the truth to me.

You embarrased and pissed off some of the very people whose names you now drop to further the image you strive to create here now. You ruined their hunts, they did not ruin yours, as you cried and whined about. You have not been forgotten .

Your insufferable "expertise" on your second trip drove everyone nuts.

Now you pop up on this board and start espousing all this shit about someone you know nothing about. CB is a good guy.

You need to unswell that small brain of yours and grow up.

Remember everything I have said is common knowledge among several friends.

Now come back and whine, threaten and curse. That won't change the truth...............JJ Miller

I've met him a few times and over the years and would call him an (slight) acquaintance but not a friend. I have had two or three fairly long conversations with him plus a fairly long string of e-mails over several years and have always found Craig an absolute gentleman.

When I asked him if we could quote from 'Safari Experience' for our book, he immediatly agreed and didn't request any compensation or even acknowledgement. (Although we did of course acknowledge his generosity in the book). At one point, when it looked like we had a chance of taking an area in a country that hadn't been hunted for many years he not only offered his opinion when I asked for it - but he also told us he'd be very interested in hunting the area as soon as it became available..... more to the point, he made it absolutely clear that he's be happy to pay the going rate......

This has turned into a "lets Trash Boddington fest" when the intention on my part had nothing to do with it. I met him in person at SCI 2005 and found him to be courtious and quite pleasing to deal with.

When all I asked how does a person like him ( or anyone else who is not an obvious millionaire, that we know of ) afford all the hunts he has been on? No more no less.

It is not intended to be a character assasination

If we look at African Hunter II we see reference to some of the worlds most expensive hunts in terms of specific species. At the quoted prices for species such as Lord Derby Eland and large tusked Elephant it certainly raises questions on how one gets to do all of that not only in time ( I believe him to part time in the employ of the US Military, does that not limit one to certain amount of work days per annum ? ) but also in terms of financial outlay.

I've met the man 3 times, once at a lecture, once at a safari show and once at the Atlanta airport. He always took time to speak with anyone who spoke first.

At the airport we were both returning from Africa and he seemed genuinely interested in exactly where we had been, who we hunted with and the quality of both the hunt and the animals. Not just idle chit-chat but genuine conversation.

He ain't my hero or anything but I do believe he's the real deal. Honest as well as fortunate and thankful to be where he is.

Hey All,
Boddington is doing what happens in all industries where sponsorships occur.

As I look at the various rags on my coffee table, I see my wife has several that include celebs endorsing a bunch of different products. I look at all of the different hunting mags I have and see many various "known hunters" who are sponsoring various products, lest I forget the pro athletes that get paid millions to say they drink "x" or...... you get the picture.

Boddington has written articles that attracted people, enough to give him the popularity that the corporate world noticed and decided to seek his endorsement of their products.

He is reaping the benfits of his hard work.

For everyone who find Boddingtons work unappealing, there are sufficient numbers of people with opposing viewpoints.... there has to be..... the corporate world does not work with people who do not provide a return on their investment.....

BTW, whether Boddington knows his stuff or not, if he is a nice guy or not doesnt really matter, it is the general publics perception o fhim that matters, and trust me, the coporate world knows that that perception is.

Stepping off the soap box.....Rob

quote:

Originally posted by ALF:
This has turned into a "lets Trash Boddington fest" when the intention on my part had nothing to do with it. I met him in person at SCI 2005 and found him to be courtious and quite pleasing to deal with.

When all I asked how does a person like him ( or anyone else who is not an obvious millionaire, that we know of ) afford all the hunts he has been on? No more no less.

It is not intended to be a character assasination

If we look at African Hunter II we see reference to some of the worlds most expensive hunts in terms of specific species. At the quoted prices for species such as Lord Derby Eland and large tusked Elephant it certainly raises questions on how one gets to do all of that not only in time ( I believe him to part time in the employ of the US Military, does that not limit one to certain amount of work days per annum ? ) but also in terms of financial outlay.

ALF,
Most of us know you didn't start this as a "trash CB thread" , unfortunately their are always narrow-minded folks that use a question like yours to thump their chests.

Besides his military service and pay, CB is and has been a frequent editor of several magazines, including Petersen's Hunting. He writes many feature articles and has monthly columns in others like SCI's Safari. He has book and video sales...he's a prolific author and probably gets his share of endorsements. I would imagine this plus his "freebies" and discounts add up to great hunting at affordable prices. I wish him all the best and a long and even more prolific career as a sportsman and author.

I met Boddington in the late 90's in Alaska. He
was after a Glacier Bear. It took him 3 times to do this and he spent some money.I know the outfitter well , He might have given him a brake but thats it. He the outfitter did'nt want
any publicity from him. because it is too hard to produce that bear. Boddington finaly killed a Bear. He did write an article The Valley Of
The Blue Bears. I liked him, all the guides liked him , the outfitter liked him. It took him 30 yrs to get hammered like this . You either like him or you don't Bottom Line.

Gentlemen:
I have followed Craig Boddington's writing career from the very beginning.At first I didn't think he would make it and did not agree with many things he wrote.I,as many of you, have watched him mature and improve with experience,which has also brought him great success.I personally have great respect for someone who has the balls to step out on thier own and take the bull by the horns and try to make it. It is easy for many of you to find fault ,with your 9 to 5 jobs and always wondering if you could make it on your own,but don't try. ENVY is a horrible thing.

Paul R. Kawczk

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Paul K:
ENVY is a horrible thing.

Paul: That about covers about 90% of all the negative posts on this forum. You nailed it spot on.

It's the old Russian mentality: Two farmers live side by side. One has lush, green grass and a herd of healthy, milk cows and lives in a nice, house that he built himself.

His neighbor has little or no grass and his cows are wretched, miserable beasts. So he asks God to help him, wherefore God asks "What do you want Ivan, green grass, healthy cows and a nice house like Sergei? Whereupon Ivan shouts back, "No God, burn his grass, destroy his house and shoot his cows." Yep, envy's a terrible affliction. jorge

quote:

You managed to have an accidental discharge with your rifle in a group, luckly no one was hurt but you did not learn a damn thing from your first one, hence the second one on your second trip. You shamed everyone in the party. Yes, I have friends also, and more than one person on your trips related the truth to me.


You embarrased and pissed off some of the very people whose names you now drop to further the image you strive to create here now. You ruined their hunts, they did not ruin yours, as you cried and whined about. You have not been forgotten .

Your insufferable "expertise" on your second trip drove everyone nuts.

Now you pop up on this board and start espousing all this shit about someone you know nothing about

ROTFLMAO!!!!

Envy kills (braincells)!

I bet Boddington once at a Dallas B&C awards function. He gave a seminar on bears. I attended. Being an old bear hunter from Alaska, I fully expecting to hear a bunch of pap from another writer on bears.
I was wrong. The guy knew what he was talking about.I was impressed and came away with a good impression.
I know an Alaskan Guide who hunted with him a couple time. He says he is a good guy.
I read his stuff in the B&C magazine and enjoy it. If folks read his articles and like them, good on him if he can make something from that.

CB's writing style leaves a ton to be desired (IMHO). However, I think that he does know what he is talking about and is a technically proficient writer. I only met him once, last year at DSCI. I thought he was a pecker. I went by his table, where he was promoting his new book and Boddington on Buffalo. I told him I really enjoyed one of his books (which one escapes me, no matter, I was just being polite anyway). He said great or something and half tossed one of the copies of his new book at me and said buy this and turned his back on me. I declined his offer and walked off. Later I attended his seminar and (Yawns!)... As with his writing, it was very informative and I do not doubt what he was saying, but listening to him speak was kind of like listening to an infomercial at 3:00 in the morning that will not end. Now maybe he was having an off day when I met him. Maybe he is a great guy. But I digress, I think the original question was - how does he do it? He works his ass off. I wish I had his connections and his job(s). He probably works a schedule that would send most into a coma. So what if he gets compted hunts (wouldn't you take them if you had the opportunity, I sure would, especially if it were my job to hunt and write about it). Regardless of anything else, he has worked his ass off to get were he is today and I wish him all the luck in the world.

i hunted with a very well known writer once, he was a great guy, we talked about this topic-he brought it up. he said that while he isnt blessed with $$$ he is blessed with opportunity. we all have our blessings.

quote:

Originally posted by LV Eric:
he said that while he isnt blessed with $$$ he is blessed with opportunity. we all have our blessings.

I am sure if anyone here wanted discounted hunts, or better, and was willing to try to write several dozen good publishable articles a year and get them published in various magazines around the world, it would not be too long before outfitters started saying to you, "come and hunt with me for half price .....". Getting them below cost or free is more of an effort however.

A published article is worth more than a couple dozen advertisements.

Gents, I have met Craig and Brittany and spent time with them on a couple of occassions. They are straight forward normal people like any of us. I am neither pro or con on celebrities. I could care less about that type of thing. What I do know is who I like and dislike. I like them. I may not always agree with Craig on his opinion of things and there is nothing wrong with that. It dosnt make him a good or bad guy. It is his character and mannerism that I like. He is always polite, friendly, and has been a gentleman where I have been concerned. Brittany is a charmer and down to earth. Wether I agree with Craigs opinion on a subject or not is also pretty irrelevant. The man has way more experience than me and I have to respect that. He has always taken the time to share that knowledge with me when I have asked him about a particular hunting area I know he has recently been on. HE has also paid his dues over the last 30 years both in the corps and as a writer. He didnt just arrive at where he is overnight. He has busted his ass to get to this point. He had some advantages in family connections and money from the beginning but he took those gifts and worked with them to get to where he is. All this bashing I see is nothing but petty jealousy in my book.

As far as him being run off I doubt it. He has better things to do with his time than spend it here much to our loss. As far as that goes anyone (well almost) we loose from this site is a loss to all of us.

Well stated Mike!


Geoff

JJ Miller,

I sent you a PM. And, just for the public record here on AR...

I take offense to your third party accusations of what occurred on my 2 hunts to Africa. I never said I had anymore than 2 hunts to Africa, as you inferred. I have had many hunts in different areas of the US, that I may have referred to at times.

If you believe all that BS you were told, then you are as much a fool as they are...

I do not fear the truth and I am very grateful for the 2 experiences to hunt in RSA.

Here's hoping you and yours well this holiday season.

quote:

Originally posted by JJ_Miller:
OK, I can no longer abide RHSims total bullshit.

Rick, have you forgotten your own actions on your 2 and only 2, trips to Africa ?

You managed to have an accidental discharge with your rifle in a group, luckly no one was hurt but you did not learn a damn thing from your first one, hence the second one on your second trip. You shamed everyone in the party. Yes, I have friends also, and more than one person on your trips related the truth to me.

You embarrased and pissed off some of the very people whose names you now drop to further the image you strive to create here now. You ruined their hunts, they did not ruin yours, as you cried and whined about. You have not been forgotten .

Your insufferable "expertise" on your second trip drove everyone nuts.

Now you pop up on this board and start espousing all this shit about someone you know nothing about. CB is a good guy.

You need to unswell that small brain of yours and grow up.

Remember everything I have said is common knowledge among several friends.

Now come back and whine, threaten and curse. That won't change the truth...............JJ Miller

George

Before I booked my first african hunt in 1994 I talked to Craig at the Petersens booth at SCI. He offered a few suggestions and comments and agreed with my choice of Safari companies. Ill never forget what he told me," If your only going to Africa once try to hunt buffalo if you can possibly afford it. After our trip I sent him photos as per his request and he promptly returned a note commenting on them and congratulating me on a fine 18 1/2 " bushbuck. He took the time to hand write a note which I still have to a guy he didnt know and might never again meet. I respect not only that but also his service to this country.

Buy the VHS or DVD of "Boddington on Buffalo" and besides the best 3 hours you will ever spend in front of a television, it will show you what the guy is like. I would welcome him in my hunting camp, as would nearly all of us, and that is very high praise indeed.

FWIW I am about half of the way through his new Buffalo book and it is excellent. He does so well because he continues to produce good reading about subjects that interest many, many people. I love to read about Africa (and hunting/shooting in general) and am thankful that we have a guy like Boddington around.

I just don't get why a nice guy, who loves Africa as much as he obviously does, get trashed by people who have the same passion.


Doug

dougaboy: see my post andthe one tight above it. The answer's easy. jorge

He is the modern day Jack OConner. Corporate sponsored hunts with the best in the business.

Remember that Ole Jack did not go on his own bush wacking adventures. He was on fully guided and supported hunts every step of the way. The guides chosen and the areas he hunted were the best of the best to assure success for his Outdoor life articles. Those outfitters chosen scouted and watched game for days and weeks before his arrival to be 100% certain of his success.

Jack was an English Professor certainly with less means then Boddington by the cost of living scale in each era. However the most impressive thing about Jack was that he did everything with a typewriter not a word processor. Imagine how hard this would be without spell check, grammer check, cut and paste, memory storage, Laptops etc etc. As good as Jacks reputation was as a hunter and gun writer he was far more impressive to me with his typewriter!

JJ, you couldn't be more wrong about Jack O'Connor, and I can tell that you really aren't that familiar with his writings. The truth is, O'Connor outfitted his own mule deer, Coues deer, black bear, elk and pronghorn hunts long, long before he ever hired any guide, and even in the early days he when he did hire Mexican "guides" in Sonora, he really commandeered and outfitted his own camp. The idea that he was some sort of four-eyed wimp college professor, disguised as a hunter, who couldn't or didn't cut it in the bush on his own it totally erroneous, and anyone I've known who actually knew O'Connor would vouch for the fact that he was tough, enduring, bush-saavy, and a superb shot.

I have been in a Coues deer camp in Sonora with Craig Boddington, and I'll tell you all this: Craig is a very gracious, down-to-earth, and "regular" sort of guy who is easy to get along with, a pleasure to be encamped with, and he is also an extremely bush-saavy, capable hunter who knows his way around, and you can bet your bag of marbles on that fact. He's hunted more game in more places with more different rifles than any other gunwriter who has preceeded him, and he's also hunted far, far more that he's ever actually written about. I, for one, do not begrudge his notoriety of success, and I never would.

Craig is very much the real deal, but he also gets sniped at by some jealous, petty, sniveling pricks, and unfortunately, that's the treatement he was handed when he visited us here on prior occasions.........

AD

Yeah right allen , it never matters what I write here you always have a jealous agenda of your own. Deal with your insecurity on your own get some help dude.

You don't have a direct line to Oconners past and sole knowledge of his hunts. I happened to work for several outfitters that are old enough to have had him in their camps. I listened to the stories of massive preperation as if some royalty was coming to hunt and the many thoushands of dollars and massive scouting operations that were poured into his hunts that were never used on a "normal" hunt.

What in the world ever made you think that you have some exclusive knowlede base on all that matters in this field?

You make a great post now and again and I do agree with much of what you have written and many of your opinions. But you have one of the most elitest attitudes I have ever seen. It's the same on every site you visit. It's getting old!

JJ, you couldn't bring anything to the table that I could ever be jealous of, and that's the plain truth. If you think otherwise, the only person you're fooling around here is yourself, but in your case, I can see how that would be easy enough to do.......

What I stated about O'Connor is the truth, and I'll certainly stand by what I said.

AD

"How do they do it" Luck, hard work and the ability to string words and sentences together in a way that is enjoyable and informative.

something most people don't have the ability to do, especially after reading some of the things written by people here.

Craig worked hard to get where he is at funding hunts out of his pocket and working hard, I certainly don't begrudge him in any way. If you think writing is easy, pen something and post it here for people to rip apart with their own mediocre opinions, and expertise.

Any writer who gets to a point in their career where they can get free hunts, is certainly deserving of it. jj

Bwanajcj-



Happy Thanksgiving. I spit out a whole mouthful of bushmill's when I read your post. Carry on.

I have always enjoyed reading Boddington's works.

And frankly, I don't really care how he takes the hunts he does. If for no other reason than the more hunts he goes on, the more he has to write about. The more he has to write about, the more opportunities I have to read something that takes my mind off the daily grind. And if he gets a free or discounted hunt, so much the better; I stand to loose nothing but possibly gain something new to read...