Both Aaron and Surestrike pinned my feelings pretty good. Going too much, an "un-pleasurable" trip or two and there ya go.

When I resume, North America will probably see more of my tracks than will Africa. I still have a couple sheep and a goat to kill while I'm still able to, not only climb but enjoy the climbing.

Steve

quote:

I still have a couple sheep and a goat to kill while I'm still able to, not only climb but enjoy the climbing.

Ditto!

My "solo" (My wife did ride into base camp and help me pack it out after I killed my goat so it wasn't a solo hunt in purist form.) but it was a public land on a draw goat hunt two years ago and it brought me a great sense of accomplishment, pride and joy. I climbed two 14ers and did some very technical 13'ers requiring ropes and harness this summer. I very much enjoy the physical and mental challenges of being in above the tree line on hard technical steep rock.

I'd like to hunt some sheep and goats while my body is still able, and willing as well. I'll tell you what guys and girls if you want to get into seriously great shape and gain some incredible endurance start tackling the high peaks with a heavy pack on your back.

+1

Got to love those mountains, goats, ibex, and sheep!!!

Brett

Back to Watts.

Anyone can lose their zest for hunting.
I did temporarily after a horrible 2006 safari. That is his business.

I bought one of his DVD's. It was way too over the top for my liking . Watched it once and never again . When Fire & Ice came out it told me all I needed to know as did the Bwana Moja name.

quote:

Originally posted by BrettAKSCI:
+1

Got to love those mountains, goats, ibex, and sheep!!!

Brett

Exactly right Brett! Like you, Steve and SureStrike, its just time for a change for a bit - for me at least. Doing my Desert Bighorn next month, and Stone sheep in August - 2014. I really enjoyed the Ibex hunt in Pakistan, so I booked all 4 Ibex of Spain for December of this year too. Been missing some of the northern hunts I've done in the past - but Africa isn't done for me, just the desire is less for right now.

But SureStrike & Steve, I will say this - bad hunts/experiences are going happen. You just gotta get over that, cause we've all had em. Surestrike, we talked about a buff hunt together some day - we should make it happen sometime? Otherwise, come out east or we can do one together in the mtns too.

We definitely do Aaron, on all of the above. I'm super interested in a toad of a mule deer buck. Maybe next season?

I only wish Marc had quit AFTER putting out his Ethiopia trip on DVD. His work ethic yielded some really nice animals, on film, for whoever wanted to enjoy. Maybe he expected to rock the hunting world like CNN reporting and his other ventures. When the fan club didn't materialize, being a star somewhere else might have been appealing. Anyhow, thanks for all the film, Marc!

quote:

Originally posted by surestrike:
We definitely do Aaron, on all of the above. I'm super interested in a toad of a mule deer buck. Maybe next season?

He's got them for sure! Thinking I'll probably go back for another one myself next year.

It'd be fun to share a camp.

quote:

Originally posted by BNagel:
... Maybe he expected to rock the hunting world like CNN reporting and his other ventures. When the fan club didn't materialize, being a star somewhere else might have been appealing. ...

I expect that's not far off the mark (so to speak).

I have not heard from or spoken with Mark for quite some time. My wife and I have always received a warm welcome from Mark whenever we had a chance to connect. He and my wife always enjoyed discussing Mark’s Native American roots. I hope all works out well for him and his family.

Shawn

Folks, I never considered Marc Watts to be a HUNTER, but considered him a SHOOTER! IMO he was never interested in the HUNT, but was only interested in precision shots even if made from the back of the hunting car and/or cared about the tape measure. It seemed to me the animals he shot were considered simply paper targets that moved.

The fact is, he was a very accomplished SHOOTER, but not a hunter, IMO! His films never really seemed to get my attention enough to watch them more than once, so I promptly gave them away after watching them. They seemed to me no better than watching someone shooting at targets from a bench rest. Just not my type of film.

Then his film came out named “FIRE and ICE” with Andrew Dawson where he pulled the RACE CARD and that did it for me!

I could be totally wrong in that opinion, but none the less that is where I stand on Mr. Watts! I’m sure he is a nice guy in person, but I simply do not consider him to be what I would call a HUNTER!

PS: In regard to his name “BWANA MOJA” , he did not give himself that name. That was given to him by the trackers in the Lower Lupande concession in the Luangwa Valley of Zambia, and mean BWANA ONE SHOT! As I said he was, and I assume still a real SHOOTER!

............................................................wait till I dig my fox hole!
........... ..........

Mac you said it all perfectly.

Mike

I've never seen any of his videos. 'Did hear about his edicts on race relations during the Dawson hunt - they're still talking about it. Left a HEFTY tip though. After all guys, no matter how passionate we are about African Hunting, this is first and foremost a business. All the blokes that didn't want to take him hunting were laughing...until they saw the cash.

Type A++ personality.

What happened between him and Andrew Dawson that you say he pulled out the Race Card?

I never saw any of his tapes but I did meet him and talked with him a bit and he seemed like a nice guy but a bit full of himself

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
Folks, I never considered Marc Watts to be a HUNTER, but considered him a SHOOTER! IMO he was never interested in the HUNT, but was only interested in precision shots even if made from the back of the hunting car and/or cared about the tape measure. It seemed to me the animals he shot were considered simply paper targets that moved.

The fact is, he was a very accomplished SHOOTER, but not a hunter, IMO! His films never really seemed to get my attention enough to watch them more than once, so I promptly gave them away after watching them. They seemed to me no better than watching someone shooting at targets from a bench rest. Just not my type of film.

Then his film came out named “FIRE and ICE” with Andrew Dawson where he pulled the RACE CARD and that did it for me!

I could be totally wrong in that opinion, but none the less that is where I stand on Mr. Watts! I’m sure he is a nice guy in person, but I simply do not consider him to be what I would call a HUNTER!

PS: In regard to his name “BWANA MOJO” , he did not give himself that name. That was given to him by the trackers in the Lower Lupande concession in the Luangwa Valley of Zambia, and mean BWANA ONE SHOT! As I said he was, and I assume still a real SHOOTER!

............................................................wait till I dig my fox hole!
........... ..........

I think we can take that sort of thing from trackers with a large dose of salt.

The number of times our trackers kept calling me "one one" is hard to remember.

Even the best of us do miss and wound animals on a hunt.

We just don't show it on film

Mark was in the video business to make money.

He did try to "fan the flames" to sell videos(race card with Dawson).

He did omit "uncomfortable truths" such as loosing a buffalo with Dawson(as reported by CB).

He was the best narrator that safari videos has ever had.

He was VERY generous to me and my family.

.....But the bottom line is that you guys who are standing on a "livings mans grave" are nothing more than hyenas. I may be wrong, but I seem to remember that some of you "hyenas"(Mac) are the same guys who defended R.A. as though he was the second coming of Christ and accused those of us who told the truth of being "hyenas" for telling calling out your buddy Ray.

Mark may have left hunting for good but that does not change the fact that he is a good man. And for that matter a real man. I truly wonder how many of you "guys" would say the garbage you are posting here to Mark's face. It is so easy to be a tough guy on the internet......Shoot, you little girls did not post this garbage when he was still posting here, much less say it to his face! Are you cowardS?.....

You should realize that whatever thrill you get out of calling Mark Watts names is balanced by the fact that those of us "who matter" see you for the vermin you are.

Someone whom I truly respect PMed me and told me to delete the above message before it was read by the AR regulars. I reviewed my post and I can't see a single reason to retract.

Mark Watts is a public figure and he choose to make himself such. If you want to nail him feel free. Really, if you truly feel the need, feel free to speak your piece.

But if you are simply jumping on the bandwagon, think about how YOU might compare to a hyena: did you attack Mark while he was here, and able to defend himself, or did you wait until he was gone to jump on his carcass?

Hey Jason,

I mostly agree with your last post. The exception being that I too didn't respond well to the race undertones in the "Fire and Ice" episode with Andrew Dawson. And on that one my friend, I certainly would speak my mind to Marc's face! I'll also say that whether or not we acknowledge it, many of us are, or were, interested in hearing his perspective of hunting Africa. Honestly, it could be a rather sensitive subject to tackle and quite possibly, our objections to the way he presented it is simply a reflection of the awkwardness of the subject matter. Again, nothing that I wouldn't be willing to discuss with him in person.

But I do hear what you are saying. It's really a bit discouraging as a matter of fact. Personally, I enjoy making videos and sharing them with others. Reason being is that I generally enjoy watching other guys videos unless they show something that is blatantly disrespectful or in poor taste. It seems that the members here can no longer just enjoy a DVD, show, or even short video clip for the pure enjoyment of it's original intent without calling into question ulterior motives. The responses are just so predictable in every case. There will be several posts of support before the first derogatory post is made calling out the guy for "being over the top", "all about him", or just "pandering to the camera" which I learned today, is just not cricket, even when the guy is producing his own TV show!

You can see the result of this attitude every time you sign into AR these days. There will be very little traffic in terms of new threads or comments on existing threads. In times not so distant past, upon signing in, there would be a flurry of activity which would cycle through the pages quite rapidly. Now, it seems most new posts, especially if a video or reference to an article, or god forbid, a full hunt report, is quickly analyzed, then torn apart with indignation of superiority!

I honestly thought it a bit odd to read some of the comments here concerning Bwana Mojo considering that it really hasn't been all that long ago that he was still posting, albeit few and far between in his later activity. I'm really expecting Marc to pop up here any day and make a response to this thread. If he is indeed done with hunting for good, I'm actually disappointed but I do understand that motivations change, desires wain, but passion usually continues to burn, if only a simmer, and maybe he'll return to our ranks eventually.

Not all of us are motivated by the same things in hunting. Maybe he was motivated solely by the thought of making money with his DVDs without really having a pure hunter's desire to be afield and experience the wild places. Somehow that seems a bit off base to me as there are quite a few guys putting shows and videos out on the market and they all seem to indicate that it's a tough way of paying the bills, not to mention getting wealthy. All of those guys that I know, do it more for the love of the activity than for monetary motivations. In any case, and especially if he HAS moved on and given up hunting altogether, I'm not sure why we need to pick at Marc's bones here? Sure, I've enjoyed other video series more than his, but I've enjoyed his offerings as well. He recorded some very interesting hunts in interesting places.

Todd,

There are many members here on AR who are just like you.

They like to share their hunts with other members, some at great expenses to themselves.

That is the whole idea behind AR.

To share what we do with other like minded people from other countries.

Trouble starts the minute the "Hollywood" mentality sets in.

The purpose of the hunt changes.

Instead of a hunt being videoed, and the results shared. A prepared story is hatched, and a video is made to fit that story.

And reality be damned.

We have seen it happen time and again.

Just as in Hollywood movies.

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:
Someone whom I truly respect PMed me and told me to delete the above message before it was read by the AR regulars. I reviewed my post and I can't see a single reason to retract.

Mark Watts is a public figure and he choose to make himself such. If you want to nail him feel free. Really, if you truly feel the need, feel free to speak your piece.

But if you are simply jumping on the bandwagon, think about how YOU might compare to a hyena: did you attack Mark while he was here, and able to defend himself, or did you wait until he was gone to jump on his carcass?

.

No reason for you to retract your statement whatsoever

At least try getting the guy's handle name right - MOJO and MOJA have two distinctively separate meanings!

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:
.....But the bottom line is that you guys who are standing on a "livings mans grave" are nothing more than hyenas. I may be wrong, but I seem to remember that some of you "hyenas"(Mac) are the same guys who defended R.A. as though he was the second coming of Christ and accused those of us who told the truth of being "hyenas" for telling calling out your buddy Ray.<<<SNIP

SNIP>>>>You should realize that whatever thrill you get out of calling Mark Watts names is balanced by the fact that those of us "who matter" see you for the vermin you are.

JBrown, Please highlight anything I posted in my above post that is not absolutely true, if it is not too much trouble.

Mr. Brown if you will read my post with an open mind, you will see that I said he was a nice guy IMO, but was simply not what I would call a true HUNTER, but was a very accomplished shooter. Whether you like it or not, that is my opinion. Nowhere in my post did I call Mark names, as it seems you are fond of doing with your description of me personally, in
(parentheses).

In regard to Ray, the other party involved in his problem was simply not believed at that time, and the dialog in most posts indicated that belief at that time. Things have changed over the last few years, and minds have changed, not because of that event, but from others. It is true that some of us were misled in some cases.

My post above says nothing but the fact that I did not and still don't consider Mark Watts to be a true hunter, but do not short his shooting skill in any way. The pulling of RACE CARD thing is one thing I simply cannot abide in anyone,the other is name calling, they have no place in hunting. We have enough problems without that IMO! The only person that I'm aware of Saeed banning was because of a racial comment made about him personally.

I do not think you should delete your post or any part of it. It simply tells others the quality of your character. You see, there are two sides to every coin!

...............................................................Good day sir!

Mac,

What was the racial connotation regarding the Fire & Ice video??

Marc Watts, Bwana Moja,
"Media Maker" ... done with the hunting phase ... on to the next ...

As Saeed said, even the best will "miss the mark" occasionally.

I will not discuss the Hollywood race card played on Andrew Dawson in "Fire and Ice" as I thought so little about it that I do not recall.
Do a search. It was beat to death, not worth repeating.
I did collect most of Marc's videos, and a book, and enjoyed them all. Will not give them away like I did my Mark Sullivan collection.
Thanks for the reminder to try to finish my Marc Watts collection.
He is working as some sort of agent/sports media director capacity in Southern California, associated with NFL Network now, eh?





http://www.marcwatts.com/

NFL NETWORK
Marc works today as the Director of on-air Media Talent for the NFL Network, based in Culver City, California ...

Saeed,

I appreciate works of fiction as much as I do straight documentaries. I'm not put off by a bit of artistic license when it comes to videos, shows, DVDs and / or articles and books. I can separate the two without difficulty and still enjoy them. Ivan Carter's "when lead and steel hold sway over fang and claw" intro comes to mind. Even though the opening forward to the movie "The Ghost and The Darkness" states that everything in the movie is "absolutely true", we don't really believe that literally; and it's a damn good movie to boot!

Without a bit of artistic license, my next hunt report would read as the typical "here's what we did on day 1", followed by "here's what we did on day 2", etc. I prefer a story told instead of a straight regurgitation of a daily journal. I also like a bit of creative editing and some background music on my videos to break up the monotony of the camera man just following me around all day. Not to say my way is better. Not to say that at all, but rather to suggest that hunting shows, with the mute button engaged, often appear to be near carbon copies of each other and a bit of dramatic flair is something I can take in stride, if not outright welcome, and still enjoy the production.

The point of my previous post was that for some reason, it seems many of the members here can't just enjoy a bit of entertainment for the sake of being entertained. Whatever it be, a video clip, DVD, show, or article / book, it has to be parsed out, sentence for sentence, scene for scene, looking for some evil motive running counter to the absolute pureness of whatever that particular member feels gives him superiority of motivation for hunting in the first place. It's predictable and boring to see it occur over and over and over again.

Personally, I enjoy being entertained. A little showmanship doesn't automatically turn me off. In the case of "Bwana Moja" (with an A, not an O [thanks for the correction fujimoto!] ) I only objected when it became a "race card" issue. Otherwise, I've enjoyed his productions, just as I've enjoyed most of Sullivan's productions, for what they are; entertainment, rather than a strict documentary of days afield. For some reason, when the other guys' video is MUCH better than my own, I just don't feel the need to disparage his in order to feel good about myself.

I do not know Marc. I have spoken to him when I made a comment on AR he took offense to. He contacted me via PM and we discussed his concern. He misunderstood my comment as it was not derogatory just poorly phrased.

I hope he continues to hunt. He seems a good guy, just a bit lost in what he really wants to be when he grows up, like most of us.

His videos were ok. I reviewed a few of them on AR. Not my favorite, but ok.

He appears to me to be a driven,somewhat tortured soul. He at times seems to be trying to "measure up" to some up achievable standard and then feels bad when he falls short.

At least he is aiming high as you have to aim high to hit high.

I wish him the best and hope he gets his "mojo" back.

I was prepared to dislike Marc based on what I'd heard about his video style. Then he came on here and acted like a gentleman. That's good enough for me and if he has moved on to something new then I wish him all the best. I still won't buy a video though.

Dean

who?

So did Mr. Watts say something anti hunting (which is what I gathered early in this thread, although it was not stated just what it was...) or did he just decide that he was going to do "something else" now, which is what the later posts seem to be saying?

I have heard him comment here on AR that he was no longer in the hunting business, and I have heard some of the other stuff- family wise, that's not anti hunting, that's just losing the desire to hunt. If that is the case, its his prerogative to walk away and still be proud of what he did.

If he is now being a hypocrite and attacking the folks that fed him (by buying his books/videos) because they don't fit in with his new crowd, then I would like to know that as well.

Duckear,

Are you suggesting proof read first, post second? My post, wonder WTH?, proof read, then edit system is far more common.

Dean

Wouldn't it be nice if people actually found out the facts before spurting off their version of the story as fact.
Where has responsibility for ones actions gone?

Marc Watts and Andrew Dawson: Fire and Ice in Zim

http://forums.accuratereloadin...=631102595#631102595

Mark Watts - Drama Queen?

http://forums.accuratereloadin...1043/m/879105897/p/1

Marc Watts in Zimbabwe

http://forums.accuratereloadin...=755106725#755106725