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Posted by RIP recently on the Chifuti Safaris thread: “Mark Watts will be using him [Andrew Dawson] on the upcoming Sable Trail production by the one-shot wonder. He can't be at all like MS if the prima donna's seek him out.†And taken from the Sable Trails Productions website Newsletter: “Sometime in the next two months, Kira (executive producer), Tom (editor), and I will start editing our new release, ‘Fire and Ice: Zimbabwe’s Perfectly Shot Dangerous Game.’ I finished the fourth and final draft of the script while I was in Botswana. It’s an emotional narrative of a PH and client who struggle for harmony and friendship throughout the entire hunt. They battle heritage, ego, personalities and shot placement preference in a dramatic conflict that threatens at times to doom the safari. In a credit to both men, they put their differences aside to eventually triumph in harvesting a long list of Zimbabwe game and agree to hunt one day again………. The Zimbabwe release is the first ever safari hunting DVD that extensively probes the minds of client and PH in conflict. It’s raw, emotional, and at some times, difficult to watch, but it is real and a story that must be told.†Sable Trail Productions RIP, do you or anyone else have inside information as to what went on during this safari? Is Andrew Dawson the difficult PH spoken of? No doubt Marc has played up the melodramatics for this video, but I’d be curious as to the rest of the story, or at least a preview if anyone has anything to offer. Personally, I really enjoy all the Boddington videos and TV shows, but I’m tiring of the continued return to Chifuti and Andrew Dawson. It sounds like they’ll be back at it for a Boddington on Elephant next spring with, none other than Andrew Dawson. Someone is pimping that guy pretty hard. As for Marc Watts, I’ve only seen one of his productions, and wouldn’t mind seeing some more. Also from the newsletter, it looks like he had a hell of a Botswana hunt with Johan Calitz. | ||
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After watching Marc Watts first two videos, I will never watch another. In fact, I sent them back to Marc personally and told him that I had never seen a worse display of sportsmanship in my life. Marc shoots many animals from the vehicle and on many occasions, actually laughs after the animal is shot. i.e. Ostrich. His videos are exactly what the anti's need for fuel, and to place a negative light on all hunters in general. | |||
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I spoke with Marc about this safari in Zimbabwe at the SCI convention, at the time not knowing who he hunted with. His comments were to the effect it was a strained relationship. His comment was something about a black client and a 5th generation Rhodesian PH. I didnt push the subject as I sensed it was something best left alone. | |||
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I got the feeling while watching his film with PH Peter Chipman, who is black, that Mark tends to blame anything that doesn't go exactly as he wants it to, will be a racial problem in his mind! Safari hunting, and hunting in general is not the place for these things! I don't care if my PH is white black, or polkadotted, I'm color blind, and he better be!  ....Mac >>>===(x)===> MacD37, ...and DUGABOY1 DRSS Charter member "If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982 Hands of Old Elmer Keith  | |||
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Me too, I am actually leaving in 7 days for Zambia to hunt with Peter Chipman.... I am excited to just be going there.... the color thing is silly, just dont get it.... | |||
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Well boys, I don't know Marc Watts from Thomas Edison, but if he helps bring more blacks into the sport of hunting, I am all for it. The more inclusion, the better off we all are. | |||
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Agreed, Add woman, young people, anyone we can possibly share our heritage with, welcome all. | |||
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OOPS! MARC WATTS, not Mark. My typo. I better let it go at that. I don't know anything more, but the radar screen is warmed up. It seems Andrew Dawson is working on a rep. | |||
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Gentlemen, After reading the SCI article by Marc about his lion safari in Tanz and seeing the promotions for his videos I would hazard to say that the problem was most likely Marc's and not the PH. I thought he came off an egotistical chest beater who completly misses the point of hunting in the SCI article. Another 2 cents... Brett | |||
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That's interesting that there was a conflict. I've been lucky enough to hunt quite a bit with Boddington and I don't picture him hunting much with a PH that was "difficult" (unless in fact it is a skin pigmentation situation). On the other hand, I've bumped into Marc at several sporting clays tournaments and even squadded with him for the NV State Championship a few years ago. He wasn't having the best weekend with his shooting and he was nothing but easy going and pleasant to be around. He had no blame or negativity that I can remember for anything. In fact he was a laugh a minute and our group had a great time shooting together. While I haven't seen any of Marc's videos, it would be interesting to see if the recent one shines some light on the issue. (As an aside: It cracks me up to see him associated with the "perfectly shot" phrase becuase he has really struggled to win his way up in the competititive classes. Maybe he's much better with a rifle.) Kyler | |||
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Marc Watts seems to me to have a huge ego, as do many "personalities" and "celebrities." Not that he's necessarily a bad guy. I wouldn't say that, since I don't know him personally. But as they say, I would bet, based only on the persona he projects, that he will be gravely disappointed three days after he dies. He also shoots at game from too far away and for no good reason (as in his recent Safari magazine story on his over 500 yard shot on a zebra, that he took on a bet, IIRC), as though he needs to prove altogether too much. I'm afraid I wouldn't like him at all. An egotist with a chip on his shoulder can't be anything but trouble, especially on safari. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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Well, I'm glad this hasn't turned into a total bash fest of either of the two in question. My interest in Watts was in his video shot in the same Zambia area my family hunted in last fall. I must admit I paid more attention to the area, PH, and animals than to Watt's antics. My guess would be that any disagreements might stem from Watts as a hotdog client. I'd sure hate to think race would be an issue for either of them. And if they produce and release the thing, you can bet that both come out respectable in the end. And the puffed up conflict probably won't hurt sales either. Brian | |||
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Yep, you got it. "Plan B" is the "Fire and Ice" theme to promote sales. This will mean there were no spectacular events in the safari and he is falling back on a story line of conflict for interest and SALES. Maybe Marc Watts and Andrew Dawson were in kahoots in concocting this drama.  The 500 yard zebra shot, as Marc Watts explained himself, was "Plan B" when he feared he wasn't going to get the lion in the Zambia video, "The Mane Event" or whatever. Thus he succeeded in plans A and B in that video and it must have been really good for sales. That's business.  | |||
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I think Mark Watts is full of shit. I watched his two video's and from them, one would think that all of the shots in Zambia were only offered at long distances. I was nieve enough to take that fact to heart when I went on my Zambia trip. It was a real surprise to find that most of the shots were at under a hundred yards. Much shorter distances than you would have anticipated and reflected in the video. I had set my rifles to shoot at 200 to 300 yards and had to resight everything once we got going. If a client has enough money to hire the finest PH's and hunt in the "Primere" hunting blocks in all of Africa for as much time as is needed, it is very hard NOT to have a great hunt. That is a fact. And it doesn't matter who the hunter is. The basic difference in personal hunt verses a corporate hunt is that so much more time and money is available and on the table and that asset is usually not available to the common man. Those hunts should not be the benchmark of success for the average hunter. square shooter | |||
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Interesting that this topic just started. Since last night I watched "The Mane Event". I didn't like the fact that he was taking such long shots at some of the game, but that is to each his own. I did notice that a couple of those long shots were more luck than anything. The one that I remember is a broad side shot at a hartebeest, aiming at the chest and hitting it in the neck. It worked but I think that was more luck than anything. The other thing I really didn't like was the length of time between shots on the buffalo. It seemed that he would shoot and then wait for a couple minutes and see if the shot had any effect and if it was still alive then he would shoot again. But only if it was broadside. Not how I would have done it, I try and put as many bullets into a animal as I can to end its suffering, does not matter if it is a deer or a coyote or anything. If he was like that in Zim, then that might be the conflict. Just my thought. | |||
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 It took me a minute, but I got it.  Regards, Terry  Msasi haogopi mwiba [A hunter is not afraid of thorns] | |||
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I think I got it, but it could be something else. I reckon we'll all have to assume we got the right meaning. | |||
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Rob, you will like Peter, he is a great guy, and his concession, the LOWER LUPANDE, is one of the best in Zambia. I've not hunted that concession, but i have hunted the UPPER LUPANDE, and it is great as well! In fact most of the Luangwa Valley is tops. Good Luck on your hunt, with Chippie! ....Mac >>>===(x)===> MacD37, ...and DUGABOY1 DRSS Charter member "If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982 Hands of Old Elmer Keith | |||
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Thanks Mac, I am pretty excited... just getting last minute things ready.... off in 7 days!!!!!!!!! I hope to be able to provide a great report when I get back! Anything I should know before I go?? | |||
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Sorry, late to this post, just got back from the NWT, addressing this post and a similar one: https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1411043/m/722107425 I was in the Sapi camp a few weeks after Marc Watt's hunt, and although there was some interesting insights from others, Andrew didn't give any indication that there was any tension or hostility. I could be wrong, but likely a "clever spin" to develop a needed story-line as pointed out, playing off the race card (one of the stated reasons why Watts hunted with Peter Chipman was due to his nationality). Likely something to it, but I'd suspect more due to having two strong-minded, successful people hunting together. And the dynamics between hunter/PH is something that we discuss here a lot, so he's not far off the mark. Reg the new video, the only thing Andrew Dawson seemed to be dealing with was the pressure and stress of so many high-profile hunts in a row (Marc's, Surefire/CraigB's, Cabelas, BassPro Shops). Not sure about the other video's, but the shooting he did on Cameron's buffalo hunt was absolutely required. I didn't hunt with Andrew, but around camp I found him to be a nice even-tempered guy, running a business in a competitive and challenging environment, matter-of-fact but certainly anything but a "show-off". He had his lovely wife and two kids in camp with him. I have been told by an AR trusted source and have personally seen thus far that his word is good. I think much of his recent success is based on the snowball effect, which is not a bad thing. Everybody changes and I have been wrong about people before on occasion, but IMO judging a person based solely on what you THINK you see on a DVD or TV show - good or bad - is not a great idea. I would happily hunt with Andrew. Reg Marc Watts, I also followed him into Masailand and the Luangwa Valley with Peter, and what I WILL comment on is that the trackers and native camp staff absolutely loved and idolized him. He quickly learned each one of their names and spoke to them often during the trip, and took each one aside after the hunt and personally gave them a tip and some kind words regarding their effort. Regards, Bill PS- Rob, hope you have a GREAT hunt and enjoy Zambia as much as I did. Good luck! | |||
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Marc Watts must be a pretty incredible type A person. Recall he was a CNN reporter/anchor on the scene in RSA during the early 1990's when they were having all the turmoil and drama with apartheid and Nelson Mandela. He has ownership in several businesses, including the new John Rigby of California, hence he pimps those rifles in his videos, etc. That's business. | |||
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First off, I've never seen any of his hunting videos. I never will. I certainly wouldn't pay to watch him do anything. I've been squaded with him several times while shooting Sporting Clays. It wasn't ever a pleasant experience. If things went wrong, even a little bit, it was always someone else's fault or the equipment [I watch him fling his "Collector Grade, $8,000 Model 21" 3-4 yards into the back of the pick up.] I've hunted birds with him. Again squaded with he and his dog, in the clean up session after a "tower shoot". We got to watch him race after his dog to be the one to kick up the birds and get the shots while my clients and I watched in wonderment.[After taking NO shots in the entire session, we were rewarded though - by being able to watch his dog, after having quite enough of the miserably cold and sleety day, simply turn around and walk back to the truck - ignoring the screaming and shouting owner and all his threats  ]He is incredible, but "Loved and Idolized" ... well, not here. Now, all this said, he may be the best hunter and marksman in all of Africa. But these are really just videos - for sale - paying for a neat safari. Not a bad plan if you can find anyone to buy them. Les | |||
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Bill, Thanks... I'll tell Peter and Sarge you said hello and that you sent them (I'll provide) a bag of Baby Ruths.... | |||
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I have met Marc several times, but never hunted with him. He has always been what I would consider a "good guy", without any bravado showing. And FWIW, I, for one, am glad you guys don't judge my ability with rifle or bow based on my prowess with a shotgun. *************************Conservationist. Reformed Attorney. Producer of Outdoor Media. www.stevescott.tv | |||
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