I feel Boddington cannot jump the fence and discuss the topics on this forum and still have a friend or sponser left. That means he does a great job getting the information out without pissing on everyone's shoes, just few.
Any comment???

For example, I have read several articles where he talks about flubbing shots, missing animals or poor shooting in general. My friend suggests he downplays his own abilities to avoid appearing as a braggart or too cocky. He's an exceptional marksman and is as good in the field tracking, stalking and field dressing as any guide or outfitter. He's not just along for the ride.

He also claims to not be very mechanical, but my source also says he's very good at working on rifles and diagnosing problems.

He's also in outstanding physical condition.

I've asked why he doesn't pipe up and defend him here, and he said one, he doesn't think he needs defending, and two he doesn't want to betray his privacy that way.

Just so you don't think I'm suggesting we build a statue of the man, I heard from another guy who shared a camp with him in Africa that he could be a little surly sometimes. He suggested that anybody who has been divorced as many times as Boddington may have a rough edge to him.

I think he's as good as anybody out there, and is certainly prolific. He must write during every waking moment.

I also like Clay Harvey's writing style. What ever happened to him anyway?

The hunters world would be much better with more Boddingtons roaming around.
I read some chapter of "Safaris Rifles" for 18th time every single day.
I'm a great fan of him.
Just my 2 cents.

The only "fault" I find with Boddington's writing, and this is a fault of almost every active writer today, is that you find "almost" the same article in a variety of magazines...especially if you write for any of the Petersen magazine....but how can you fault a writer who has written a decent article on varmint hunting, for example, of spinning it off and making money by submitting pieces that are kissing cousins for content to a variety of magazines and even trade journals.

Give the guy a break I'd share a camp with him anytime.

I also know a guy that has hunted with the General a few times and he said almost the exact same thing! Is your friend Namibian?

quote:

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Originally posted by DB Bill:
The only "fault" I find with Boddington's writing, and this is a fault of almost every active writer today, is that you find "almost" the same article in a variety of magazines...

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It isn't just today's writers. I'm in the middle of the first of a two-volume collection of Elmer Keith's magazine columns. The columns are reprrinted in chronological order, and some of them are nearly exact duplicates; others have entire sections of several paragraphs cut and pasted verbatim.

They're still entertaining.

I guess if it's worth saying, it's worth saying again.

All in all, he accurately reports what he experiences. And his level of experience makes him a pretty damn good hunter in my opinion.

Boddington is the best all-round gunwriter out there. I'd be deliriously happy to share a campfire with him.

[This message has been edited by Nickudu (edited 02-15-2002).]

The good General is quite a bit younger than I, and I have followed his writeing since his earliest contributions. This was a time when nearly all rifles had come out with push feed actions, and no body knew the difference. Boddington had a handicap that caused him to have to use push feed rifles because no suitable CRF rifles could be found for the southpaw. This fact has caused him to be labeled as a whore for the gun manufacturers. The fact is IMO, he simply has never seen a rifle he cannot find some good in, I understand this as I'm much the same way, though I have deffinent preferences, I like them all, some more than others, as most of you do. His main thing is HUNTING, and writeing about HUNTING. This, and the fact that he is basicly a shy person, and not one prone to honk his own horn, has made him seem defensless to some. I don't see it that way at all. I believe there are few people today who could hold a light for him to run by.

His articles being posted in many magazines, is not the fault of Boddington, but Peterson publising gurus who only look at the bottom line, and most have no background in hunting, or firearms, but simply think in terms of $$$$$$$! Once the article is turned over to Peterson, it belongs to them to do with as they please.

Recently he posted on one of the forums, and was drummed off the forum like a leper, and did not return, yet the bad mouthing went on for days. Thank God for the mostly positive posts here on Saeeds forum. This shows the class that has always been evident here.

I'm one who enjoys his writeing, and talking to him in person. He is a class act IMO!

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..Mac >>>===(x)===>
also DUGABOY1
DUGABOY DESIGNS
Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art

quote:

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Originally posted by DB Bill:
<snip>

The only "fault" I find with Boddington's writing, and this is a fault of almost every active writer today, is that you find "almost" the same article in a variety of magazines...especially if you write for any of the Petersen magazine....but how can you fault a writer who has written a decent article on varmint hunting, for example, of spinning it off and making money by submitting pieces that are kissing cousins for content to a variety of magazines and even trade journals.

Give the guy a break I'd share a camp with him anytime.

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Bill & Forum Fellows,

I know Craig enough to talk to on a social basis, I don't work with him. He always talks to my wife about left-hand rifles because she is a lefty too.

Magazine writers are taught to use the same material for as many articles as they can. Because publishers pay relatively little for each article, you need a multiplier effect to help your revenue.

The only down side I see to Craig's stuff is he is over-exposed in today's market. You can't open a magazine without him looking our at you. The quality of his work is excellent though.

jim dodd

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"if you are to busy to
hunt, you are too busy."

[This message has been edited by HunterJim (edited 02-15-2002).]

[This message has been edited by HunterJim (edited 02-15-2002).]

quote:

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Originally posted by biggametv:
It is but one man's opinion, but at the end of the day, I believe Boddington will be remembered as THE Africa/hunting author of our time.

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I'LL SECOND THE ABOVE STATEMENT !

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..Mac >>>===(x)===>
also DUGABOY1
DUGABOY DESIGNS
Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art

I do not think though that he is any "great" African hunter.Take any person off this board who can hit a pie plate at 100 yards with a rifle of suitable caliber,and stick someone who will pay for his hunts behind him and they can do EVERYTHING that Boddington has done so far.

It does not take talent or a high IQ.It takes money and time.Boddington has both.

There was a guy on TV the other day that had certainly taken more game than Boddington had ever dreamed of-his trophy room was larger than most people's houses and was stacked to the brim with mounts.He has hunted all over the world,and has taken high scoring SCI and Rowland Ward trophys.

He openly admits to not being a very good hunter.All his hunts are done with a licensed guide,no matter what the game.He also openly admits to not knowing much about guns-he owns six but only hunts with two,a plastic Remington 30/06 and some sort of 375 H&H.

This guy has taken more game than probibly most people on this board combined,but he is no great hunter.He simply has lots of time and lots of money.

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I'm out to wrong rights,depress the opressed,and generaly make an ass of myself!

Given the choice, I would rather share a campfire with him than most of his detractors. Come to think of it, I'd rather share a campfire with some of his books than most of the detractors.

Lets see, he's engineered his career so that he can do what he wants and gets paid for it. He goes all over the world and hunts in places most people couldn't find with an atlas. He counts among his friends some of the most well respected people in the hunting "industry". And he certainly has more hands-on experience with Africa, hunting and guns than any other outdoor writer.

But if he writes an article that the reader doesn't agree with, he's branded a whore and accused of being on the payroll of whatever company he's writing about?????

As for me, I think some of the Boddington Haters Union members need to get a life. There are far more important things to worry about.

Joe

[This message has been edited by JMac (edited 02-15-2002).]

One question though??? Does he ever hunt alone? I mean I can recall him hunting in all sorts of situations and places around the world, but I don't ever recall anything where he actually goes out alone and hunts, even if only for the humble Whitetail on public land....

Bottom line, I enjoy his writing and always take notice of what he says, even if I don't always agree. I generally always get something from his writing's and would be more than happy to share a campfire with him...maybe he should just decrease his magazine work and concentrate more on books???

Pete

quote:

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Originally posted by Pete E:

One question though??? Does he ever hunt alone? I mean I can recall him hunting in all sorts of situations and places around the world, but I don't ever recall anything where he actually goes out alone and hunts, even if only for the humble Whitetail on public land....
Pete

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Pete,
I think the problem with the Gen hunting alone today is his lack of "TIME" more than anything else. The logistics of even a deer hunt in remote country is a time consumeing thing, time I think Creag doesn't have to spare. The time to do camp chores alone will cut deeply into his writeing time. He takes a laptop on all hunts, and writes in the evenings, while the camp hands are takeing care of things like gathering fire wood, cleaning the dishes, and grooming the horses.

You can talk to anyone who has hunted with Boddington, and they will tell you he is more than up to the mark, when it comes to hunting. In the case of Africa, not only the legistics of running a camp in the bush, but the law, in most cases, require you to be outfitted, and guided, if you are an alien. A 21 day un-outfitted hunt done on your own in Africa would cost you 40 days because of the prior, and post preperation alone, not to mention the work of around 15 people normally in a Safari camp in the bush, not to mention not haveing a concession. With the constraints on his time it is a wonder to me he finds time to hunt at all!

Brian M,
I have my doubts that your guy on TV has that much more game under his belt than the BODD, I think you are too young to remember when Craig was just a little 2nd Luetenant in the Marine Corps, mailing his little freelance articles into the magazines from the four corners of the Earth, where he was stationed at the time. He did several Safaris on his own because he was close to the hunting by being stationed there. I have nowhere near the amount of so-called exotic game species to my credit,that Craig has, and if I had mounted everything I had taken, I could fill the "ASTRO DOME" with mounts, yet I only have 18 or so mounts in my home, and a few in sporting goods stores, and friend's gun shops.

It simply it has become PC, I think, to bash any writer in the hunting, and gun fields. I simply cannot understand why people will say things about them on the world net, that they wouldn't say to their face.

My grand father told me, when I was a kid, (a long time ago) "Son, decide what you like to do, then find a way to get somebody to pay you to do it, and you will die a happy man" C. Boddington has done that, and most of his detractors, I suspect, do most of their hunting on the computer, and are simply "GREEN WITH ENVY", noting more!

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..Mac >>>===(x)===>
also DUGABOY1
DUGABOY DESIGNS
Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art

I can see where your coming from with regards the time and logistics issues but I would love to hear him talk about some more "everyday hunts" even if they did occur sometime in his past....Please don't take this as a critisim, more as just a "wish"..In my book he does a pretty good job all things considered...

Regards,

Pete

I do not like his articles for the following reasons:

1. Lack of specifics. Vague information is not helpful.

2. Lack of constructive criticism. He loves every gun, every scope, every cartridge, every hunt, etc.

Consequently I learn nothing from his writing.

I may not always agree with what he writes, but I did like my first impression of him.

Mac

Good points...I guess what I'm really looking for is something where he stands on his own two feet rather than relies on guides or PH's. I don't doubt that he can't stand on his own as a hunter and as Mac said earlier there are certainly good reasons why he uses the services of others.

If nothing else these threads show how hard it is for a writer to please everybody who reads the magazines!

Regards,

Peter

quote:

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Originally posted by 500grains:
...He loves every gun, every scope, every cartridge, every hunt, etc.

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Well hell, so do I! It's called passion.

-- Mats

I have a great respect for the man and the fact that he had the where to fore to jump into an outhouse of gunscribes and come out smelling like a rose....

He is a scholer and a gentleman and an all around bad influence on folks who crave Africa....He draws them to the dark continent like flys on poop!!

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

One also remember that Boddington is still relitively young.There are multi-millionaires in their 80s that have been hunting the world over since the 1950s and have probibly killed ten times as much game as Boddington.

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I'm out to wrong rights,depress the opressed,and generaly make an ass of myself!

[This message has been edited by Brian M (edited 02-17-2002).]