quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Shockey...? You have a rather strange sense of humor.

I watched about six minutes of one of his shows. "Hi, I am world famous, but incredibly humble, urbane and witty at the same time JS, and I am here in ____________ with my ___________________(17 item list of sponsors), to hunt____.

He is worse than listening to a NASCAR driver rattle off his list of enablers.

Rich

He is hardly worse than anyone else.

The question was asked, who gives a crap?

I DO CARE WHEN SOMEONE IS DOING THE FOLLOWING:

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Moja:
...preserving our rights to safari hunt, paving the way for the industry to run smoothly, standing up for our freedoms in the face of tremendous adversity, bridging the gap between Africa and the rest of the safari world, educating the hunters and non-hunters about true conservation, opening doors to safari destinations that have been closed off in the past and fighting to keep safari doors open that the antis want to close. This is what it's all about.
.

quote:

Stephen Palos

Mark Sullivans Hunting Videos where the only hunting videos for sale in a recent Cabelas shooting catalog

Do you think that they would have anything in their catalog that didn't sell or didn't sell well?

I think one issue in this discussion is semantics--use of words like "powerful" and "industry."

The question, in my opinion, is too broad--or put another way, should be broken into parts.

There is a difference between "powerful" and "influential." There is also a difference between the segments of the industry being addressed.

One question might be, "Who would be on a list of people (currently living) exerting the most influence on people hunting or considering hunting in Africa?" That list would encompass writers, organization leaders, and perhaps some outfitters or PHs.

Another question could be, "Who has the most power to control the availability and destiny of safari hunting?" That list might easily contain persons many of us have never heard of: heads of game departments, policy and lawmakers in individual African countries, even leaders and political figures. CITES could also be on that list.

So, there could be at least TWO lists: one comprised of those who encourage and promote African hunting, and another of those who have the power to control, expand or limit the industry.

There might also be sub-lists, but let's not get too far down in the weeds!

quote:

Originally posted by Nitro Express:
I think one issue in this discussion is semantics--use of words like "powerful" and "industry."

The question, in my opinion, is too broad--or put another way, should be broken into parts.

There is a difference between "powerful" and "influential." There is also a difference between the segments of the industry being addressed.

One question might be, "Who would be on a list of people (currently living) exerting the most influence on people hunting or considering hunting in Africa?" That list would encompass writers, organization leaders, and perhaps some outfitters or PHs.

Another question could be, "Who has the most power to control the availability and destiny of safari hunting?" That list might easily contain persons many of us have never heard of: heads of game departments, policy and lawmakers in individual African countries, even leaders and political figures. CITES could also be on that list.

So, there could be at least TWO lists: one comprised of those who encourage and promote African hunting, and another of those who have the power to control, expand or limit the industry.

There might also be sub-lists, but let's not get too far down in the weeds!

Agreed. Criteria is the important factor here. Comparing apples with apples

quote:

"Who has the most power to control the availability and destiny of safari hunting?" That list might easily contain persons many of us have never heard of: heads of game departments, policy and lawmakers in individual African countries, even leaders and political figures.

Talking of power: How many hunters who were out in the field at the time, barely half way through their safari remember being informed at the breakfast table by their PH that: "the Minister of Wildlife has as of yesterday raised the trophy fees by a mind boggling 300%"?

Not even the gentlemen in the Top 10 were able to do anything about it.

quote:

Originally posted by boltshooter:
The question was asked, who gives a crap?

I DO CARE WHEN SOMEONE IS DOING THE FOLLOWING:

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Moja:
...preserving our rights to safari hunt, paving the way for the industry to run smoothly, standing up for our freedoms in the face of tremendous adversity, bridging the gap between Africa and the rest of the safari world, educating the hunters and non-hunters about true conservation, opening doors to safari destinations that have been closed off in the past and fighting to keep safari doors open that the antis want to close. This is what it's all about.
.

Hey Bolt Shooter,
My intentions were to imply, that this list of so called "powerful people" is bogus!

The ministers of Environment and Tourism or parks are the powerful people, bc guess what, they are the people who sign hunting permits, they decide who gets cites export permits, blah blah blah. That list is all fine and good if you're trying to find names of people who've been making headlines or tv shows in the past few years. I know some of them, and I like them, have spent time in a hunting camp with a few...but they don't have any power when you really start looking at the nuts and bolts of the situation.

How about SAPS, they could easily stop issuing gun permits, USFW could ban all imported sport trophies from a disease/homeland security aspect, the list goes on....

How about this, the US State Dept could ban US people going to ZIMBABWE tomorrow...and that goes for RSA, NAM, TANZ.... and then what would happen to the Safari Biz?????

Again, this list is a farce, and funny enough you took so much offense, I've had some messages that supported my claim of "WHO GIVES A CRAP!" because thats how most people who are informed about safari issues, and know who the real movers and shakers are think after reading the TOP 10 post above!

Not sure about top ten but folks who certainly have an influence:

Alan Bersin, Commissioner, United States Customs and Border Protection

John Scanlon, CITES Secretary-General

Rowan Gould, United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s Deputy Director (Acting Director) for Operations

Ken Salazar, Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior


Consider the respective counterparts from other countries.

OryxHunter,

I acknowledge your superior knowledge because you:

quote:

Originally posted by Oryxhunter1983:
are informed about safari issues, and know who the real movers and shakers are

Bolt,
I appreciate the "Jab".

I don't claim to have "superior knowledge"...just some common sense. In my post above and in CLEM's post, I think we make a really good point that "Craig B, and Jim shockey" who are great people, and represent the sport well, don't really match up to Government People.

Last time I checked they can't sign or issue any type of quotas, permits, ect....

But feel free to throw stones at me...I'll use my "superior knowledge" to dodge them!

No hard feelings buddy!

quote:

Originally posted by tendrams:
The top ten most "powerful people" in the hunting industry are not PHs, writers, clients, or even hunting block "owners". Anyone who has ever lived or worked in Africa or the developing world generally will tell you that the most powerful people are most often the mid level government bureaucrats who have the ability to push an agenda to their boss or, if not properly compensated or treated with kid gloves in some other way, make activities stop on a dime for absolutely no reason. They may not be glamorous or rich or make the covers of magazines, but in terms of power and influence, these guys make any first world gun writer or lawyer or booking agent look like amateur hour.

Well put.

Those nameless african bureaucrats that can turn on or off thousands of square miles to hunting with the stroke of a pen are the most powerful.

These two should be in the top 10

Mark Sullivan: Like him or not, has likely exposed more hunters to the thrills of African hunting than any other on that list. Mark has more cajones than the rest combined and everybody knows it.

Andrew Dawson: A very successful Safari operator that in the midst of the worst socio-ecnomic downfall recorded in an African country has managed to keep a very high level operation running and in doing so has protected a vast area of the Zambezi valley from poachers and their like. Men like Dawson don't come along very often, and most never have to operate under such circumstances.

I know Andrew would appreciate the words Jeff. Also, I think John Jackson is the most overlooked player in the safari industry. He is in the trenches like NO ONE ELSE in MHO.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Marc,

I'd think John Jackson might have rated a very high place in your Top 10.

Mark

I agree, but I would also have thought that at least one member of the CIC should be on the list, i.e. Wollscheid, Schramm or Baldus
http://www.cic-wildlife.org/up...c_flyer_en_final.pdf

Take Wayne LaPierre off the list and add John Jackson.

Interesting. I guess I am not very in-tune with who's wielding the most influence on the safari 'scene'. You have inspired me to do some googling and find out exactly what some of these folks have done "...preserving our rights to safari hunt, paving the way for the industry to run smoothly, standing up for our freedoms in the face of tremendous adversity, bridging the gap between Africa and the rest of the safari world, educating the hunters and non-hunters about true conservation, opening doors to safari destinations that have been closed off in the past and fighting to keep safari doors open that the antis want to close.".

If you have links, or other info that you can share, please do.

ps: Glad to see at least one Canuck on the list, btw. LOL.

I dispute!