I just finished watching this week's presentation of "Tracks Across Africa" where Craig Boddington was hunting nyala and Cape buffalo in coastal Mozambique, & I gotta say that this program is without a doubt my favorite half hour of television each week. I say this because it's always exciting to get to see a little of African hunting at least once a week, but as in today's episode, it's always so realistic & honest in it's production. Today Craig made a stalk on a nyala, made possibly a bad shot on the first shot, & missed the next two shots, & the nyala was not recovered - something we've all done in our hunting experiences. Now, most any other TV hunting show would probably just not have aired this portion of a hunt - they all want you to think nothing like this ever happens to them. But with the great group that creates & produces this wonderful program, they let you see it all - good or not so good. Mr. Boddington, Mr. Fulson & all that are involved in bringing us this great show, THANKS FOR THE BEST OUTDOOR SHOW on the Outdoor channel.

One of the things I've always appreciated about Boddington is that he doesn't cover the warts. Anyone who hasn't screwed up a shot hasn't been there very long. As pissed off as you are at yourself when you pull such a trick, it would take balls to air it and not leave it on the cutting room floor. Kudos to Craig.

I agree it is a very solid program with honest sportsmanship portrayed.
I didn't think the hit was all that bad and It looked like the 3rd shot also connected but hard to say why it was lost.
Did you see or hear which caliber was being used? I sometimes wonder if a heavier bullet or heavier caliber wouldn't have made the difference on the marginal shots.
Frank

I thought it was a great show as well.

I'm sure Turnbull wasn't happy that his rifle and the .475 Turnbull made a very poor showing on that Buff! How many times did Craig fire, 6!?

also, his first shot on the buffalo was too far back. It was a good thing the buff ran in an arc in the open so that another 5 or 6 rounds from the lever-action could be put in him. It's probably easy to lose concentration doing all those hunts every few weeks.
I'm a bit of the opinion that journalists who make themselves the main character of all their hunting stories and who become "experts" by reason of all the hunts that they have gone on to sell a story and make money by killing something have become more like a narcisstic prostitute than like either a sportsman or a journalist or an adventurer.

I agree that "Tracks" is professionally produced and is reality based. Dave Fulson is coming to a Big Bore shoot in April to film some of our action. Hopefully some of the footage will make it onto "Tracks".

quote:

I'm a bit of the opinion that journalists who make themselves the main character of all their hunting stories and who become "experts" by reason of all the hunts that they have gone on to sell a story and make money by killing something have become more like a narcisstic prostitute than like either a sportsman or a journalist or an adventurer.

I don't believe I read this. Are you calling Craig a whore? If that is your intent, I strongly suggest caution in your tone. Craig Boddington was a Colonel of Marines who served in Iraq and Afganistan and was on the selection list for Brigadier General when he retired.

I've had the pleasure of meeting him on many occasions and have always found him to be a non-pretentious and enthusiastic person who enjoys hunting and. He has never been hesitant to admit to a miss or a poorly placed shot and is always willing to talk hunting without professing expertise - which he clearly has in abundance.

Craig hardly makes himself the "main character" and if you watch the program you would certainly know this. More often than not it is another hunter, possibly even his wife or daughter, who is the primary shooter.

The internet allows anyone to voice any opinion they want, and I suggest yours is like a rectum.

Semper Fi

Big talk from an anonymous source?
I stand by my opinion on the similiarities. Even though Craig may be a pleasant or brave person, most of his articles and TV shows over the years have featured primarily himself, not other hunters, and the fact remains that what the rest of us do for pleasure and at our own expense, these kinds of Journalists are doing for profit. These animals on the hunts are being killed so that the "hunter" can earn money.. Believe it.

quote:

Originally posted by SGraves155:
also, his first shot on the buffalo was too far back. It was a good thing the buff ran in an arc in the open so that another 5 or 6 rounds from the lever-action could be put in him. It's probably easy to lose concentration doing all those hunts every few weeks.
I'm a bit of the opinion that journalists who make themselves the main character of all their hunting stories and who become "experts" by reason of all the hunts that they have gone on to sell a story and make money by killing something have become more like a narcisstic prostitute than like either a sportsman or a journalist or an adventurer.

The first shot was a frontal chest shot, right on the money. As to your second statement, don't know who pissed in your wheaties, but aside from being wrong-twice- Craig is a pretty nice fellow, I fond his books and TV shows very entertaining and professional and your post has no redeeming social value...jorge

quote:

and your post has no redeeming social value...jorge

Hell, Here's a good place to add Jim WhatsHis name, the Muzzleloader, into the same pot.

do you fellows see a difference a woman's love you've earned, and a woman's love which you paid for? The gals who make money at it don't deserve the same respect. This analogy is obviously lost on some readers.

I don't have HDTV, so maybe you saw the shot hit. I saw the nearside backleg kick, which would be an unusual reaction for a shot that wasn't a little too far back.

Steve,

I fail to see your problem. Every professional hunting or fishing guide "kills" for PROFIT. Virtually every outdoors magazine features hunts. These magazines are sold for PROFIT. Every outdoor equipment provider (Walmart, Cabela's, etc.) provide items to hunters for PROFIT. If it weren't for PROFIT, hunting would be nigh non-existant.

quote:

Originally posted by Caretaker:
Steve,

I fail to see your problem. Every professional hunting or fishing guide "kills" for PROFIT. Virtually every outdoors magazine features hunts. These magazines are sold for PROFIT. Every outdoor equipment provider (Walmart, Cabela's, etc.) provide items to hunters for PROFIT. If it weren't for PROFIT, hunting would be nigh non-existant.

I disagree. The PH's are earning a living helping others try to hunt. The others are paying for something they love to do. The old Ivory hunters were hunting for money, and were killing for money, but they made no bones about it (and theirs was a very dangerous profession).
Selling magazines to interested readers about the hunts of others is different than going out every two weeks specifically to kill something so you can write another article or have another TV show.

What the rest of us do for Love, these guys are doing for money. Simple as that.

Sgraves,

What do you have against an honest person making an honest living. Are ya a bit jealous? You think that if you go to africa and it is not on TV, that somehow you are a better person or a better hunter?


False integrity is no integrity at all.

quote:

Originally posted by SG Olds:
Sgraves,

What do you have against an honest person making an honest living. Are ya a bit jealous? You think that if you go to africa and it is not on TV, that somehow you are a better person or a better hunter?


False integrity is no integrity at all.

When the "honest living" involves personally killing game animals for profit, Is it really so honest?

quote:

Originally posted by SGraves155:

quote:

Originally posted by SG Olds:
Sgraves,

What do you have against an honest person making an honest living. Are ya a bit jealous? You think that if you go to africa and it is not on TV, that somehow you are a better person or a better hunter?


False integrity is no integrity at all.

When the "honest living" involves the killing of game animals for profit, Is it really so honest?

Perfectly honest. So is killing them to mount them on your wall. Seems to me you have issues, but don't tell me are you one of those who only kills what he eats?? And the previous poster had you pegged. jorge

quote:

Originally posted by SGraves155:

quote:

Originally posted by SG Olds:
Sgraves,

What do you have against an honest person making an honest living. Are ya a bit jealous? You think that if you go to africa and it is not on TV, that somehow you are a better person or a better hunter?


False integrity is no integrity at all.

When the "honest living" involves the killing of game animals for profit, Is it really so honest?

To earn that honest living the PH/Outfitter has to earn a profit. Otherwise he is losing or at breakeven and then he has earned nothing for him and his family to live off of.

Neither reason nor logic nor truth shall deter SGraves155 from his self-appointed rant.

This is worse than the anti-PHC shit that's been floated on AR. In Craig Boddington's case however he is a contemporary and known personally or casually by many who frequent here. His bona fides are current and verifiable. He has even been known to post here himself, without profit.

So I guess Ivan Carter, who also frequents AR and participates with CB on DVD and TV is also a whore, according to the warped thinking of SGraves155. Perhaps he means to include any PH who has ever written a book, such as Peter Flack , Peter Johnstone, John Kingsley-Heath, Coenraad Vermaak, Tony Sanchez-Arino, and countless others who have "conspired" with CB to make a profit by writing of their experiences in concert with CB as whores?

Give me a break, please! And go get a reality based life instead of the fantasy world you've created on the internet. In other words, PISS OFF!

I find Craig to be a hunter with a genuine passion for the sport. I'd share a camp with him anytime!

quote:

So I guess Ivan Carter, who also frequents AR and participates with CB on DVD and TV is also a whore, according to the warped thinking of SGraves155. Perhaps he means to include any PH who has ever written a book, such as Peter Flack , Peter Johnstone, John Kingsley-Heath, Coenraad Vermaak, Tony Sanchez-Arino, and countless others who have "conspired" with CB to make a profit by writing of their experiences in concert with CB?

Nope, in that particuliar case CB is being a real journalist, and the Professional Hunter's, who I respect, are telling some of their and their hunter's stories.

Here we go again. Whenever a Boddington, or any other hunting journalist, comes up someone gets his panties in a knot and has to bad mouth him. It seems to bother some people that others have found a way to make a living doing what they have to pay to do. Craig Boddington seems to be a particular lightning rod.
Personally, I find him to be one of the better outdoor writers/personalities because he appears to genuinely like hunting and isn't afraid to admit that he makes mistakes now and again. I agree that tracks across Africa is one of the better hunting shows.

This reminds me of a saying my dog training buddy uses all the time with dense people:

"Line breeding only works with dogs".

Yeah, it's truly amazing that so many adults can respond with insults, but without logic, or much attempt at responding to reasoned opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by SG Olds:
This reminds me of a saying my dog training buddy uses all the time with dense people:

"Line breeding only works with dogs".

EXACTLY CORRECT!!!

Whores deserve every bit of respect that anyone else making living deserves. They work hard for their money. In fact, without whores, who knows if people would have ever developed the culture we know today?! They were there to supply sex so that men could have time when they weren't trying to get some from non-whores to do other things, thereby advancing society. So this really is a non-argument. Pick a new segment of society to which to compare Mr. Boddington.

p.s. I'm not saying women never advanced society

Some folks really do appreciate 'em---

Just don't call 'em by that name!

Obviously SGgraves155 has never slept with a whore before. For christ sakes a man has to do something for a living. Just as well be hunting.

Yes, insults will not get it done. But you have to admit they can be funny.

Seriously, you must simply accept that you are on a moral plane that Boddington and most of us will never attain. We are simply not as great nor as good as thou. I recommmend you sit quietly, do not respond further and just know that you are right.

How is that?

Perhaps it was just being raised in an ethic environment that considered killing for pay and sex for pay as something considerably less than desirable for society. There are plenty of places where those actions are perfectly OK.

Steve, I'm not going to pile on in this case, but I think you're way off base in criticizing Craig Boddington in this manner, and you're being way too harsh and overbroad in your condemnation of the profit motive in general.

On the other hand, if you want to criticize the Marky-Marks, Sullivan and Watts, who are IMHO the mindless masters of moronic self-promotion, then we could hunker down and dish some dirt!

quote:

Originally posted by SG Olds:
Yes, insults will not get it done. But you have to admit they can be funny.

Seriously, you must simply accept that you are on a moral plane that Boddington and most of us will never attain. We are simply not as great nor as good as thou. I recommmend you sit quietly, do not respond further and just know that you are right.

How is that?

Sorry, I've got the day off, and somebodies gonna suffer.

MR, I've impugned an icon for many.

Thick skin can be fun.

CB appears to have many more admirers than detractors.

Still, most of us get our fill of killing with just a few game animals a year. Wonder if CB or JS get tired of it.

I'd like to try moving this thread in a different direction. We will see how that goes...

I have been enjoying the Tracks across Africa series lately through the DVD's. I don't get the programs over the air. I purchased the three year set of DVD's through the silent auction while at the DSC convention, and can honestly say I hadn't seen a single episode until then. I am really enjoying these shows, and believe them to be first class. Kudos to Boddington and his sponsors.

Maybe it is the result of watching these episodes "back to back", but I have been shocked by the number of times the PH shoots just momentarily after Boddington, or whoever is hunting that day. Immediate follow-up shots by the PH seems to be the order of the day, regardless of the game being hunted. In well over 2/3rd of the kill scenes, the hunter is back-up immediately by the PH. This has not been my personal expereince in Africa, and I would be quite offended if my PH was as quick on the trigger. Is what we are seeing on these videos more of the norm? It is certainly a conversation I would have with any of the PH's shown on these videos before ever booking with them. Whether it is Ian Gibson, Ivan Carter, or any of several other PH's regularly featured on this show, they seem to be remarkably quick on the trigger.

Thoughts?

Bill

Like I said, his first shot was right on the mark center of chest. The rest of his rant is garbage. jorge

If I could get paid to have sex and hunt, I'd figure I've peaked in this life and would die with a smile on my face... and only hope that the next one can be half as good!

BTW, good on ya Craig.. I can say that I would love to HUNT for a living!! And if by hunting that means KILLING for the camera, so be it.. It'd be a helluva way to get paid.

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:
Like I said, his first shot was right on the mark center of chest. The rest of his rant is garbage. jorge

Did you see the back-leg kick?
The "rants" here (emotionally charged, logic-lacking challenges) seem to be from others. I simply am saying certain journalists more nearly resemble prostitutes than they do real journalists, sportsmen, or adventurers.

Journalists should report on the actions of others, not be trying to be something else, then report on it. At least IMHO.

Sportsmen should not be making money at their "sport". "Sport" is something you do for fun, and for honor, not for profit.

Adventurers don't have planes, photographers, travel agents, and editors at their beck and call.

Prostitutes trade something that should be a valuable/treasured personal commodity (ie, sex, or in this case, the life of a game animal) for money.

Prostitutes can be pleasant, or brave, or do other things honorably, but it is what it is.
This thread is still being hijacked. Apologies to Frank and llamapacker.

Boddington translated a good grasp of the English language and a bunch of experience that he paid for into magazine articles and then books that gained him some notice by the public. That led to TV shows and DVDs and yes he gets to go hunting on someone elses dime now. I'd bet he's not going as frequently as it looks, it's all in the editing.
My wife ordered a book from Safari Press that the Postal Service managed to demolish. Boddington (or someone who writes like him) engaged in very polite e-mail correspondence that resolved the situation.
Like PHC, Mr. Boddington's articles, books, DVDs and TV show serve to build interest in hunting. Like a NASCAR driver he's usually shown wearing, shooting or illuminating with a product from one of his sponsors. And his "pit crew" is usually outfitted in similar fashion. I'm also sure he's got a safe full of rifles that he would love to take out and play with instead of some upstart from Ruger or Hornady.
He's living the life a lot of us would like to try if we could only put a sentence together without so much effort.

Yes, I have no doubt that he would be a capable journalist, even without hunting.
PHC got his hunting experience and stories before he started making money from them (the silly videos in his old-age notwithstanding). He didn't kill in order to write a story about it. That's the difference. Motive.

quote:

Originally posted by SGraves155:
Yes, I have no doubt that he would be a capable journalist, even without hunting.
PHC got his experience and stories before he started making money from them (the silly videos in his old-age notwithstanding). He didn't kill in order to write a story about it. That's the difference. Motive.

True, but ten years from now no one will be defending whether he actually hunted in Africa or stole his stories in a bar. Hell, the man's got the cajones to show himself missing / wounding / loosing game on his own show. That puts him on a differnt plane than most of the other hunt show goobers, at least in my humble opinion.

Will CB and JS be remembered as the two who killed sport-hunting by killing game animals every two weeks/month in order to fill their pockets, get their endorsements, satisfy their pride, and put their names in the record-book?

They are easy, dare I say deserving, targets for the anti-hunters.

Damn Frank see what you started, you know you can't post something positive about someone on here with out getting some jackass up a snit.

Now back to the real world how are you and Joyce doing. I am still trying to get things worked out with Mark for this fall or late summer. Burning a little late night oil to make a few quid.