I just returned from a ten day safari with Mark Sullivan. We hunted an OA near the villages of Ngarambe and Tapika. Everything good you’ve heard about Mark is true. He’s a fabulous hunter, dedicated to serving his clients and one of the funniest people I’ve ever been around. With all of his stories and jokes there was never a dull moment.

In the short time I was there Mark taught me more about “hunting” and “myself” than I ever expected. The experience was priceless! After the initial shots were fired, Mark and I walked to within 10 paces of a spectacular grand warrior just like in the movies! The buffalo then determined how our battle would conclude.

When it comes to the “art” of hunting dangerous game Mark is fearless. The thrill of walking-up and facing death is as I imagined it would be and is not for the faint of heart. In those moments you will understand your strengths and define areas which you should better refine. Mark’s hunting style is his and his alone, but I would hunt with him every year for the rest of my life if I could.

Mark tells me he plans to conduct a series of three six-day “Dangerous Game Seminars” in South Africa beginning April 2012. What do you think? Good idea or bad?

Seminars would be open to professional hunters and non-professionals, men and women from around the world. Mark will share with you "his" extensive knowledge on how to stop charging buffalo and hippo dead in their tracks. He will also explain specifics of how to hunt and deal with lion, leopard and elephant! Everything you’ve always wanted to know, but were afraid to ask. Now you can live the dream. You can’t get "this" information from anyone else.

To hold a spot for this seminar without obligation send an email to:

Mark Sullivan
Deathby600@aol.com
Shawn Joyce
Shawn@DiizcheSafariAdventures.com

We will create a contact list with your information and offer first right of refusal in the order of names received. At minimum, please include your name and preferred email address. We will also collect your telephone and mailing information should you wish to provide additional contact information.

Class size will likely be limited to sixteen seats at each of the three six-day seminars. Mark assured me he will post a new thread with more specifics when he returns from Tanzania in November 2011. He will provide details about cost, dates, venue, and seminar content.

This seminar and its content is a project of Mark’s. My involvement is simply a desire to share this information with my fellow AR members that might have an interest in attending or learning more.

preview of things to come




Congratulations on a great buffalo express.

Dave

Damn fine bull and I really like Mark. I've met him more than a few times. He's a hoot to be around. If I could afford it, I'd hunt with him in a heartbeat.

Congrats to you!

Great looking bull!!

Nice pitch too but I'm a bit confused.... some questions.

1. If Mark has a hunting style "that is his and his alone"... why does he want to share it with me?? I wouldnt want to plagiarise his hunting style, after all!

2. "Everything you’ve always wanted to know, but were afraid to ask. Now you can live the dream. You can’t get this information from anyone else." - How does one man gather such insight in how to kill an animal (to put it in a nutshell), to the exclusion of everyone else??

3. Will we receive complimentary steak knives?

Congratulation on a great looking bull and it is good to hear that you enjoyed your safari.

Another client happy to pay and have his arse kissed.

I have never hunted with Mark. But I have spoken with him at the Harrisburg sports show at length. His choice of hunting is the double rifle and as close as possible. One should read his book "Fear No Death" he explains why and how. He talks about some of the best shots he has hunted with.
One of the best with a double rifle is an AR member and from Abilene, Tx.
Love him or hate him he puts his clients on quality animals. His photos and clients keep him in the safari business.
He is a straight shooter and not afraid to call a spade a spade. He is a dangerous game hunter and very good at it.

Mike

No need to waste my money on him as "I do not need to decide how my money (and self respect) needs to die".

Fine buffalo. I would love to hear the details of your hunt. In my opinion, the maligning Mark receives from others is unjustified. His book is excellent for its candor, a virtue most modern gun and hunting writers have sold to sponsors. And as for his clients kissing his arse, I can assure you that one of his very satisfied clients from Abilene is not going to kiss anyone's arse and has done more dangerous game hunting than most men dream of in a life time.

Great Buff and lovely rifles. What more could one ask for.

Good buff. Good rifles. Good hunt. congrats.

Great buffalo,Congratulations!

MS is not my first choice, but it is evident he impressed you and that is what counts! Again congratulations on your enjoyment of your safari, and your choice of dangerous game rifles!

Did Mark shoot this buff too or what?

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
No need to waste my money on him as "I do not need to decide how my money (and self respect) needs to die".

good post

A fine buffalo and sounds like you had a great safari with Mark. Well done... where were you hunting or did I miss it? Thanks!

It isn't clear but it appears that you are some way involved with Mark in this endeavor?

465H&H

quote:

one of us

Posted Aug 20, 7:08 AM Hide Post
Did Mark shoot this buff too or what?

That's the first thing I thought, but then I looked again and didn't see a hole in the buffalo's forehead.

quote:

That's the first thing I thought, but then I looked again and didn't see a hole in the buffalo's forehead

You aren't the only one who mag'ed up the pic to look for the hole.

That's a great bull, congrats.

quote:

Originally posted by samir:

quote:

one of us

Posted Aug 20, 7:08 AM Hide Post
Did Mark shoot this buff too or what?

That's the first thing I thought, but then I looked again and didn't see a hole in the buffalo's forehead.

I don't think that is an easy task that can be done repeatedly,especially in a limited time frame on a moving target.

Mark catches a lot of crap from many directions. I've never met him personally but I know 7 or 8 guys who have either hunted or shot rifles with him. To a man, each one that has had first person experience with him has had nothing but praise for Mr. Sullivan.

It's a small sampling of folks but somehow I suspect there is more to him than his on screen personality!

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:
Mark catches a lot of crap from many directions. I've never met him personally but I know 7 or 8 guys who have either hunted or shot rifles with him. To a man, each one that has had first person experience with him has had nothing but praise for Mr. Sullivan.

It's a small sampling of folks but somehow I suspect there is more to him than his on screen personality!

One on one most people are easy enough to get along with but some of the marketing hype, b.s., etc...is just hard to get past.

Great looking bull. Congrats!

Interesting photo composition.

quote:

Originally posted by samir:

quote:

one of us

Posted Aug 20, 7:08 AM Hide Post
Did Mark shoot this buff too or what?

That's the first thing I thought, but then I looked again and didn't see a hole in the buffalo's forehead.

There is a hairless dent between the eyes, unless that was a previous practise shot.

In all honesty I have heard nothing but good stuff about him from people who have hunted with him and he definitely has a clarity about his way of doing things that very few people will ever enjoy. I'd probably like to hang out with him and shoot the shit and his doubles but I'm not sure I could buy into the 'warrior' type of mentality of the hunt itself.

One thing also, it is stated above

"After the initial shots were fired, Mark and I walked to within 10 paces of a spectacular grand warrior just like in the movies!"

This seems to indicate the 'initial shots' were not expected to kill the buffalo but to get him in a position where he could be approached. This reminds me of a picador and banderilla in a bullfight, whose jobs are to prepare the bull for the final tercio, although in that case the 'warrior' is killed with a sword through the heart, not a 600 Nitro slug through the brains.

I can't decide my favorite part:

1. the "after the initial shots...". What did you two do, call Pizza Hut and have them deliver?

2. or the chance to pay a chunk of dough to be like mark. That should be a large gathering...

Most people just kill their game cleanly up front.

How much is he paying you to shill for him? How many rounds did you fire? How many did mark fire? Who fired the last shot?


Rich

Excellent animal. Congrats.

Good to read what people who have actually hunted with Mr. Sullivan have to say, as opposed to those who judge by video and innuendo. I have been guilty of that, and I regret it.

Those things said, I am 62 years old. The idea that I require either a professional hunter or a game animal to learn who I am is so preposterous as to require no further comment.

Good hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
I can't decide my favorite part:

1. the "after the initial shots...". What did you two do, call Pizza Hut and have them deliver?

2. or the chance to pay a chunk of dough to be like mark. That should be a large gathering...

Most people just kill their game cleanly up front.

How much is he paying you to shill for him? How many rounds did you fire? How many did mark fire? Who fired the last shot?


Rich

Not to be as caustic as Rich, but did you fire the first shot or did Mark? Where did you hit him? Did Mark shoot almost simultaneously? If not, that's a very good thing. When you went to finish the buffalo, same questions, but less important, because it's my understanding that many PHs will shoot almost simultaneously with the client at a wounded buffalo.

I have no ill will or preconceived notions of Mark Sullivan, but won't hunt with any PH who shoots almost simultaneously in either the first situation or the second unless I can feel the animals breath on me. After all I'm paying for a DG hunt. If the PH wants to shoot an animal, he can pay for the hunt.

Congrats on the great buff. Glad you and Mark got along well. Different strokes for different folks. I personally don't want anything to do with him after talking with him at SCI. We all view things differently and let's just say that my way and his way could not be farther apart.

What a great animal. Thank you for sharing. I would like to read more, did you put in a hunting report?
Unless his teaching seminar is going to include an actual "shoot", would it be conceivable that he will offer a seminar in the states at some time? I believe a novice and some genuinely experienced hunters would enjoy an evening or multi-day seminar as well.
Frank

Just a fly on the wall here but it seems the OP didn't post this to field questions.

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
Just a fly on the wall here but it seems the OP didn't post this to field questions.

That should be obvious as he hasn't answered any of the posted questions.

465H&H

A great buffalo, congratulations. I would like to hear more.

Congrats.. Really nice buff.

Well Done. Thanks for sharing

Well done!

I am planning to book a hunt wit MS in the not too distant future!

Good job!

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
I can't decide my favorite part:

1. the "after the initial shots...". What did you two do, call Pizza Hut and have them deliver?

2. or the chance to pay a chunk of dough to be like mark. That should be a large gathering...

Most people just kill their game cleanly up front.

How much is he paying you to shill for him? How many rounds did you fire? How many did mark fire? Who fired the last shot?


Rich

I guess my desire to put a buff down with one shot has been a waste. I guess I have to start doing it differently. "Initial Shots"??? Please...

Mark is a controversial character for sure. If I were to judge him solely by his videos, I'd condemn his Hollywood macho act as a detriment to the sport. Though I've never shared a camp with him, I've met him and enjoyed several long conversations, the last being at the Sea Cliffs Hotel in Dar Es Salaam.

It OP is obviously impressed with him, and seems to have a little "Khaki Fever". I've known many African PH's over the years that have impressed me no end. MS is not the be all to end all, but I never got the impression that he ever thought he was. Actually, his reverence for some the titans of the industry such as John Kingsley-Heath was quite refreshing.

Sullivan has managed to use a bigger variety of big doubles on DG than anyone else I can think of in the past 40 years. That is good experience he can share.

Like Capstick, Sullivan will be controversial. Some will love him, and book with him. I'll pass.

With Mark's reputation among PHs, I can't seeing him drawing a large audience to his seminars. but I could be wrong about that.

465H&H

Perhaps I am being a bit "caustic".

That said, why would anyone pay out thousands of dollars, and sit in a SAA plane for nineteen hours, just to shoot at an animal, and then watch mark kill it for you? You would be almost as involved staying home and watching one or two of his videos.

I would really like to hear one of his clients post on the African Hunting Forum that mark got him in place on a Buff or Hippo, and let him kill the animal cleanly with one shot, or one and a follow up (not by mark).

Has anyone ever hunted with mark where he (mark) did not fire a shot (especially the final killing shot?)

regards,

Rich