For those that might not already be aware, Craig Boddington has a show, Tracks Across Africa. Show runs on The Outdoor Channel, on Monday (1:30 p.m.), Wednesday (8:00 a.m.) and Friday (10:30 p.m.). Times are EST. This week is a buffalo hunt in the Zumbezi Valley. Show has been running for a while but I did not realize it was out there until today.

For others that have seen the show, is it any good?

MJines

I first saw it last Friday. It is EXCELLENT!!! I thought it was a lot better than Safari Hunters Journal on the Men's Channel. It may even be better than Under Wildskies Africa on ESPN2. I was at the Houston Safari Club show last weekend and I bought his new DVD "Boddington on Buffalo" as well as his new book "Buffalo". Craig graciously signed both of them and we got to visit for a few minutes. I really like his writing style and his new DVD is the best buffalo info out there! His show is filmed much the same way as the DVD is. I have the TIVO set to record all the episodes from now on.

I have watched all of the Tracks Across Africa shows. The show is generally pretty good, I like the way they have added some general information segments to the show in addition to the hunting. However, I think that the quality of the video is not great. It appears a bit washed out - the color is not sharp. Is it just me, or does Boddington not have a real high Q Score?

The show on today was the best one so far, "Bachelor Bulls in the Zambezi Valley."

Regards,

Terry

P.S.
Between the two videos Boddington shot with Chifuti Safaris and now these TV shows, I suspect Chifuti may have to buy half of the quota in all of ZIM just to keep up with the demand.

I enjoy his books too. His new DVD, Boddington on Leopard is also quite good. Nice to see some good African hunting shows coming out, Dangerous Game is also a good new show. This will certainly feed my addiction to the "All Death Channel" as my wife refers to it.

I enjoy his books too. His new DVD, Boddington on Leopard is also quite good. Nice to see some good African hunting shows coming out, Dangerous Game is also a good new show. This will certainly feed my addiction to the "All Death Channel" as my wife refers to it.

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quote:

Originally posted by T.Carr:
However, I think that the quality of the video is not great. It appears a bit washed out - the color is not sharp. Is it just me, or does Boddington not have a real high Q Score?

The production values seem to be a little low. Maybe if the shows lasts they can get some better equipment. I keep waiting for the part in each opening segment where he stops and says "Hi, I'm Craig Boddington."

Don't get me wrong -- he is informative, it is good to have more African hunting on TV, and the more dangerous game the better.

quote:

Originally posted by T.Carr:
...Is it just me, or does Boddington not have a real high Q Score?

Terry, sorry to be thick, but what is a "Q score"?? (I take you are not referring to IQ??)

- mike

guys, do not critisise any hunting shows as we here in Australia would love to have the opurtunity to have such shows available to us.

"The Q Score is a way to measure the familiarity and appeal of a brand, company, celebrity, cartoon character or television show. The higher the Q Score, the more well-known and well thought of the item or person being scored is. The Q Score is primarily used by the marketing, advertising and public relations industries. Q Score is used in popular discussions of a person or product's overall fame, popularity, or likeability."

In this context, what I meant is that Boddington does not look comfortable in front of the camera. His presentation is a bit flat and awkward. He probably rates pretty highly in the "fame" portion of the Q Score. He is a bit lacking in the "appeal" and "likeability" parts of his Q Score, at least as to how he comes across on film.

In person, he may be a hell of a nice guy. However, he is not a "natural" when it comes to being in front of the camera. Quite frankly, neither is the PH, Andrew Dawson.

However, I would rate Doug McNeil from the Dangerous Game series as having a high Q Score. My wife thinks Doug is cute.

Regards,

Terry

I really enjoy the shows, although I hardly watch this one becasue the times are not convenient for me. Terry, I agree with your observations, Craig's just a "regular" guy and I think he is at his best when he writes. jorge

have seen a few episodes and liked them. i like DG much better though. i liked UWSA for the classic guns Makris uses and especially the season w/Ross Seyfried, but i am very pissed w/them right now because of thier rip off magazine that i subscribed to.

I like the show. Straight to the point, not alot of filler. Dry at times but still informative. I am just happy it is not whitetail hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
This will certainly feed my addiction to the "All Death Channel" as my wife refers to it.

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I have saw Craig Boddington's show once and read a book or two of his and I personally think the he acts like a Gentleman.
Also thought the same of Doug Mcneil in the Dangerous Game show.

Personally I could care less about either one of them's Q score. I think we need more people on tv who act like normal everyday people.

quote:

Originally posted by T.Carr:
In person, he may be a hell of a nice guy. However, he is not a "natural" when it comes to being in front of the camera. Quite frankly, neither is the PH, Andrew Dawson.

Thanks Terry. If Boddingtons DVDs are anything to go by, I have to agree with your assessment. I enjoy the DVDs, but I probably enjoy Boddington's "narrative" scenes the least.

- mike

I don't want people to think I am being critical of Boddington or that I don't appreciate every African hunting show on TV (except for Cindy Garrison, but that is a whole other issue). What I was doing was critiquing the show. God, I would hate to think of how I would appear on camera if I had to do what Boddington does.

Also, since Chifuti has pretty much taken over Swainsons, and I am hunting with Swainsons this season. I want to amend a comment I made previously. I think Andrew Dawson is charismatic and looks great on TV.

Regards,

Terry

quote:

Originally posted by T.Carr:
Also, since Chifuti has pretty much taken over Swainsons, and I am hunting with Swainsons this season. I want to amend a comment I made previously. I think Andrew Dawson is charismatic and looks great on TV.

Regards,

Terry

I actually quite enjoyed He's In the Tree that he is featured in and need to watch the Boddington remix now. But it does look like booking a hunt with him may be just a bit more difficult now.

Is it possible to get DVDs of the Boddington TV show? For those of us in Europe, it would be nice to see some of the television offerings you have in the USA.

Wink, you can buy the guns and ammo tv show that Boddington is in from www.huntingmag.com.
I am not sure of anyone selling the other shows.

Wink,

If you will buy me DVD recorder, I will copy them from TIVO and send you a DVD. I also send you a DVD of the Dangerous Game TV show (all 8 espisodes). Are European format DVDs the same as in the US?

Chifuti Safaris has a video for sale on their website called "Tracks Across Africa". Don't know if this is the same as the TV show (it is only 60 minutes long - so it couldn't cover all of the shows.) Chifuti Products

regards,

Terry

quote:

Wink,

If you will buy me DVD recorder, I will copy them from TIVO and send you a DVD. I also send you a DVD of the Dangerous Game TV show (all 8 espisodes). Are European format DVDs the same as in the US?

Terry
Do you want the answer to that before or after
ya get the free DVD.

As for the General, Had coffee with him in Dallas, talked more about The Corps than hunting
Again in Houston, Just a great guy IMO. HogKiller had dinner with him and felt the same.
He signed my books "Semper Fi" Craig

Enjoyed meeting him very much.

I have the "Tracks Across Africa" Video. It is NOT the same as Boddington's series. It is very good though. It has a good mix of Plains Game hunting in the Eastern Cape and Dangerous Game hunting in the Zambezi Valley. I bought it from Outdoor Visions.

D99, thanks for the link. Terry, I think I will try just buying the DVD for the time being but thanks for taking the time to make an offer!

What's the definition of a critic?

Someone who never made it themselves.

Boddington is doing it, not just talking about it on the internet.

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:
What's the definition of a critic?

Someone who never made it themselves.

Boddington is doing it, not just talking about it on the internet.

Ouch! Just because I don't have my own show does not mean I am not at expert at watching television. I have devoted much of my life to perfecting the art of watching television, and I bet I have more experience at that than Boddington!

Charles,

I'm just being a grumpy critic.

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:
Charles,

I'm just being a grumpy critic.

No problem -- in addition to being an expert televsion watcher I am an extraodinary grouch!

I'm glad this did not turn into a "Boddington Bashing" post. The show is using some of the footage of Boddington on Buffalo which I thought was excellent. I personally think the show and both videos Buffalo and Leopard are well made and filmed. As for Boddington, it is doubtful that we will again see an American gun writer who has the African experience of Boddington. I believe his "Safari Rifles" is the standard that all other books about African game rifles will be judged against. I just don't want him to get so rich off royalties that he just goes hunting and quits writing.

he is a good hunter, writer and when we talk about hunting here and there but never get arount to it, he is going here here and there and hunts it and travels here and there and enjoys it. if i got the chance to substitute for him i do it asap and not regret it ever and ever .

I rather see a man such as Boddington on an outdoor show whom knows not how to act or pose for the cameras than past prime movie actors or aging beautys.
I dare say Boddington has hunted Afri. more than any of us and has found a way to make a living from it. Congrads on the show Craig!