quote:

Originally posted by Die Ou Jagter:
This forum and the hunting fraternity are like a family, siblings can knock the snot out of each other but let an outsider step in or say anything derogitory and they have the whole family to contend with, JMO.

Ain't that the truth.

JPK

Very true. As I take the time to get to know forum members personally, I find that many of them are great people that I am pleased to meet and associate with.

quote:

Now let's move on to some of the more important hunting matters of the day, such as whether Craig got married!

Marc: He did! I met his wife in Dallas.

As to my comments, like others here, I appreciate your candor and well-reasoned response. Having said that, I did think your videos could be toned down a bit and I don't agree with your long shots at game. But hell it's your money! Also, the "grapevine" can often-times be a bad thing, but your issues with Dawson were all the buzz for a while. As to the ego thing, well, let's just say I'm a worst offender than you'll ever be. Please continue to post here and DO tell us if you and Sullivan have a video in the works. jorge

Marc, Broadcast quality of a film is one thing, and content is another! I have two of your films, and the one with Peter Chipman is OK, mainly because I know Peter, to be a top of the line PH, and enjoy any film he is involved with. Beyond that, I find your films to be a little "LOOK AT ME" much like Mr. Sullivan's. I think I'd enjoy your films more if there were a little more hunting, and stalking, than long range target shooting. You are a fine rifleman, and your long range expertise is outstanding, but it is simply that, in my mind, hunting is not a contest between rifle and target, as much as a contest between man, and beast, getting in close quarters, which requires as much skill as learning to shoot long range, and is much more exciting to watch on film!

This is nothing more than a difference of style, and neither is all wrong, or right! However, it is my ardent belief that if you and Mark Sullivan hook up, you will have something to write about, for sure, Too bad you've already use the title ""FIRE AND ICE" because I think you will have need of it again!
........Good hunting

I think Mark Sullivan is the second most expensive outfitter in Tanzania after Robin Hurt.

At what I am guessing is about $2700 a day, that's a lot to pay for the bastard to shoot my hippo.

D99, I am not a fan of Mark S but no need to use profanity to describe a person.

anybody got a picture of this guy "sable trail
' he sounds familiar but I can not place his face I have met mark sullivan and know what he looks like but just cant place this guy. I have seen a lot of videos but dont own any just wondering if I have seen his.

FWIW- I think if you do engage Mark Sullivan for a hunt it would be FAR too much drama for me!

quote:

Originally posted by CRUSHER:
anybody got a picture of this guy "sable trail
' he sounds familiar but I can not place his face I have met mark sullivan and know what he looks like but just cant place this guy. I have seen a lot of videos but dont own any just wondering if I have seen his.

All his pictures are copy righted so they can't be transported to this forum! Google sabletrailsproductions, and click on Marc Watts, for pictures.

The guy is not really a bad guy, he just has an ego the size of a house, and, IMO, his films are boring! One may as well be watching a guy shooting at long-range paper targets, on a firing range. Very little emphasis on hunting, only shooting! Like MS’s films sell with staged danger, Watts’s films will sell to accuracy freaks, who think the accuracy of a rifle is all that is needed to be a big game hunter, and as long as a rifle will print all it’s shots on a dime, at 1000 yds nothing else is important. This is plainly demonstrated by his use of Push-feed rifles, to hunt dangerous game, then shooting them from half a mile away.

There is no question Marc’s shooting is top notch! That point was never in question, but the point is, dangerous game is not dangerous at even 100 yds, much less 400 yds, so what is the point beyond “SHOOTING� That can be done much cheaper on a 1000 yd target range, on paper targets, where he can use a shooting bench, rather that a hunting car, to rest his rifle on! Though his shooting skill is far above the average big game hunter, his skill is easier to apply, because the animals are so far away they think they are safe, and stand still! Sort of like a paper target on a firing range. The only true hunting I’ve seen in the films I’ve seen, are the ones where he used a double rifle to shoot his Buffalo, with Peter Chipman, and that was a gut shot, that let the buffalo get into the long grass, giving the lions a free meal.

I was simply bored with his sniping, but could tolerate his films, till I saw the so-called “FIRE AND ICE†reference which IMO, damaged Andrew’s reputation with many, unjustly painting him as a bigot! Marc can say it has been smoothed over, if he wants, but you can't un-ring the bell, as is evidenced on this, and other web-sites. People were judging Anderw Dawson, as the problem, without any other evidence other than Marc’s words! That use of the race card did it for me! Shabby!

Beyond the accusations against Andrew’s reputation, I simply don’t understand the point of his hunts, but that is not to say I could do better, in the shooting department, however, I’d bet money there are those here, me included, who can get closer to the animal without spooking him into flight! Close enough so the Dangerous animal is truly dangerous, and not simply a target!

In closing, this is only one old mans opinion, but it is the only one I have on this subject! As Jeffeoso, says Opinions differ!

Hello Mr. Watts,
From your comments on this tread it appears that your intentions in your DVDs and the public perceptions are at odds. You say "there are too many enemies on the other side", but Mr. Watts, your videos are the enemy! If how far the animal is away from you or exactly where the bullit hit is, "What it's all about", we are in terrible trouble with the none hunting public. You would be surprised how many non hunters come in contact with hunting DVDs and videos. I don't say anti hunters, they are hopeless. I mean those that don't hunt, but up until now, respect what we do. Don't ever think the non hunting public isn't important. They are the vast majority and we do live in democracies. They are the only reason we are still hunting.
Although you have been on eighteen safaris you seem very new to hunting. May I ask, "When did you begin hunting?"
As others have said, your DVD quality is excellent, and with a positive image of hunting they would be good product. Good luck with your next one, but please not with Mark Sullivan.
Respectfully,
Jim

Marc Watts and me at SCI 2006

quote:

Originally posted by Die Ou Jagter:
D99, I am not a fan of Mark S but no need to use profanity to describe a person.

Bastard is profane?

It's my second favorite descriptive noun after SOB.

The lingo where I work would embaress a harlot!

Not too many people make Marc look small but that's a big viking!

I am not a small man, but I think Christer and Per (MR Rigby) could eat Marc Watts in one bite!

Damn big folks in Vikinglands!

Here is another one of the small Americans

I saw Watts in Sullivan's booth at SCI. It seemed like a little theater with two actors on stage performing. Gross. They are an interesting pair. One guy, MS, has balls the size of grapefruits and an ego to match, shoots from five yards, and will eventually die in the bush by hippo or buff. The other, who cares. There were hundreds of others there who can match him shot for shot on the distance stuff and thousands who don't need to as they know how to hunt.

Different strokes, I reckon.

I appreciate Watts coming here and explaining. I then read his article "Fire and Ice".
Unfortunately, I found the article not very interesting since there was little hunting, vague references to disagreements, and not much else. The article "taught" nothing, had no "story line", built no anticipation and had lots of comments about the author's personality which, at least from the article, I figure could be annoying to anyone spending 14 days with Watts.

Conversely, I found little overtly objectionable except that Watts was in a big hurry and although he had "only" eighteen prior safari experiences, he seemed to believe he was of equal to superior judgment of his PH. One of my PH buddies hunted over 220 days last year, mostly for DG. He's been doing that for 15 years. I've gone on 11 or 12 safaris. I don't know crap. Maybe I'll be an expert when I get to 18, too.

Wait a minute. I wondered what someone would think of me if they only read one article that I wrote. So, I found and read some other Watts stuff and looked at a video. It wasn't so bad. Maybe "Fire and Ice" was just not his best effort. In his other works, he comes over as a quite likable chap, warts and all (like we all have). Not that he'd ever wish me in his camp, if I were so lucky, I think we'd get along and I could learn from his enthusiasm.

Write another article Mr. Watts. This time, explain how a "type A" hunter can get along with a "type A" PH... where to make the compromises and accommodations... and how to pick someone compatable in the first place.. 'cause a couple of weeks of days and nights together can strain any safari the poor PH's who have me hunt with them.



JMHO

quote:

Originally posted by D99:

quote:

Originally posted by Ahmed Sultan:
Yukon I admit that I don't know about common shooting skills in your area. But in our area there is alot of mountain hunting and 300 yard shots on ibex and urial are normal and taken by hunters with average shooting skills. Perhaps that is why I don’t think that normal shots i.e. 125 yards on African game (which is much larger) require that much of shooting skills.

When I was in Tajikistan a hunter from Canada Shot his MP from a distance above 800 Yards that in my book is above average and not common shooting skills.

800 yards is a long ways to be shooting, especially on a $35,000 hunting trophy.

I'm new here and have never been to Africa nor any other exotic hunting location. I have hunted Blacktail Deer, Mule Deer, Roosevelt Elk, Black Bear and Cougar in the Oregon Cascades for 45 yrs. I pride myself on my long range accuracy with both rifle and pistol.

A 300 yd shot on any game animal is acceptable for a competent hunter/shooter. However, an 800 yd shot, or even the attempt, on a game animal shows lack of effort in stalking(laziness), disrespect for the animal and greed. In my part of the country, these traits are reserved for the Hotdogging, "hold my beer and watch this" crowd. A true "Hunter" would never attempt it. Hunting isn't about killing.