A week or two ago, we had a thread about charge videos and that Leopard attack video got mentioned again. There was also the umpteenth mention of Mark Sullivan's videos.

I COULD STAND IT NO MORE.

I called up Outdoor Visions and ordered his "Africa's Black Death" video. I've not seen anything but the cover at shows and such, so I decided I needed it for my library.

I don't know why the guy gets such a bad rap. He comes across as very likeable. He treated his clients very well, and seemed to do a fantastic job of judging the trophies.

I don't think I saw him do anything unethical, and he seemed to also set up his clients with some good shots.

I have a lot more respect for buff now after seeing how badly they get hammered before going down. Tougher buff than in most of my other videos... I'm sure the scenes depicted feature the ones that are most hardy and dramatic, but hey, if it were my video, I'd do it the same way.

Frankly, I had built up a distaste for the guy without ever really knowing anything about him except what I've read here. I've learned once again, it's aways best to draw ones own conclusions.

From what I've seen so far, I give him the nod.



[ 08-15-2002, 05:25: Message edited by: Africa2003 ]

Here we go....

Watch the tape again. Listen more closely. It's come to you.

George

Yes, and if you got the money he will sell you a charge, go figure!

I'm with GeorgeS and Atkinson on this one. At 20 grand plus I'll be damned if I'm gonna let the buffalo decide how he's gonna die. I'm going to set the ground rules, and rule #1 is first clear shot that presents itself, the lead starts flying.

[ 08-15-2002, 06:26: Message edited by: mikeh375 ]

Africa2003 - Why-O-Why would you want to do this to us??!! Don't you get it.. they are all shooting blanks, and the buff charges are done with smoke and mirrors.

In any event, Mark thanks you for buying him another beer...

Africa2003,

I enjoyed "Black Death" too. Its a little over the top, but I have to admit that I quite enjoyed it. Watched it a couple times. Thought to myself, he's different all right, and not really my style, but why the bad rap?

You really should compare it to "Shot to Death" or "Death at my Feet" before you form your final opinion MS's videos, though.

Canuck

[ 08-15-2002, 07:37: Message edited by: Canuck ]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Read what Mr. Sullivan has to say:

http://www.nitroexpress.tv/index.html

Regards,

Terry

I have seen both Black Death and another one (can't remember the name but it features our own Allen Day).I found them very entertaining and I liked them alot-I've probibly seen Black Death 30 times and the one with Allen in it 10 times.

All that I don't like,and this is confirmed by the link posted by T Carr,is that he promotes "wounding" the cape buffalo,when he should be promoting trying to get one shot,quick,clean kills.I thought the wish of every hunter was to try to get a one shot,"drop dead in their tracks instantly" kill.I know that's what I want when I shoot any game animal,big or small.

Thanks Terry. That pretty much sums up a lot of the monologue from "Death at My Feet".

You know, and I mean this seriously, if he could provoke charges from un-injured buffalo I would hardly disagree with him. Then it really would be a kill-or-be-killed encounter. Otherwise, the buffalo doesn't actually get to choose how it is going to die, it just gets the opportunity to try and take MS to the after life with it. Its fate was sealed with the first 600 grain slug sent its way.

Whoah...this feels like deja vu all over again.

Canuck

[ 08-15-2002, 08:25: Message edited by: Canuck ]

Didn't Sullivan loose his licsense for a while in Tanzania for endangering clients?

Gentlemen,

"featuring my unique manner and method of hunting dangerous game"

"The main purpose of this book was to delve deeper into what lies behind my dangerous game hunting philosophy."

"I explain how I give the wounded buffalo or rogue bull hippo the choice of how he is to die in battle, in full charge."

"Although it is fair to say that there are many excellent professional hunters in the business, the way I know and practice hunting dangerous game stands alone."

"Many self-proclaimed high thinkers in safari circles have sorely criticized my technique and style, but I could never aspire to be the best in my profession unless I could hunt on my own terms. I am driven by my passion and self-belief for what I know is right."

"The very scenario I just described lies at the root of why my method of hunting has conjured such a dichotomous response of boo's and cheers. My numerous critics would have you believe that I am unethical and immoral for not killing the wounded Black Death immediately when first spotted. Obviously, I disagree.

What could possibly be more ethical or moral than to give the wounded beast a fighting chance, knowing full well that if I do not stop his charge, I will die? What more can I do to show my respect than to offer my life in return? This is a serious matter, because if I fail to kill him, I assure you, he will kill me. Death is certain to become one of us."

"See for yourself -- I encourage you to watch my movies and come to your own conclusion. Then and only then will you know what I say is true."

Well, I did watch the movies, and I did form my own opinion, and I did arrive at the conslusion that you are the most unethical PH to grace Africa, and a bloody shame to this great profession.

I noticed he did not try any of his macho bull shit when the Spanish client wounded the lion.

Jason

I believe the best video for Cape Buff one can buy is through Cabelas and is called "Hunting the Cape Buffallo." Its well worth the money.

It features hunting right around Lake Kariba with PH Rainer Joesch. It has 7 buff hunts in all, and they are all fair chase, real hunting, no BS. They also have some good info on the Cape Buff. There are two hunters total, one shoots 4, one shoots 3.

I have watched this video countless times, atleast twenty, and enjoy it every time. Once again this video is very good, very informative, and down to Earth hunting.

Buell

I have read the link Terry posted and I must say that Mark Sullivan comes across as a most distasteful and unethical character, and I am ashamed to be thought of as a "hunter" along side someone like him.

I know the man who filmed Death at my feet. He
told me he would never film for Sullivan again.
I asked him why? Why too many chances. The
elephant was wounded trying took make him charge,
along with countless buff.

Terry,

Thanks for the link ...I think. I dislike the man even more now than before.

What a narcissistic piece of work this guy is.

What happens to the buffalo if the buffalo wins? TTS

Eventually the buffalo/hippo/elephant WILL win....

TTS,

The Buff retires & makes a fortune selling video's of the event !

Peter

I do not wish any ill will on the man, but I do detest him. He is not a lover of wildlife, rather an abuser.

He can not be a hunter. A hunter respects his quarry. He can not be a hunter because I could not accept that he is the same as me.

He is not a hunter, he is simply a whore.

Well said, Wendell.

I met MS a few years ago at SCI, and I decided then I'd never hunt with him. I also refuse to buy his videos. Anyone who does is supporting him.

Sullivan certainly seems to have become a "legend in his own mind." It's a shame that he has become such a megalomaniac; underneath it all, he's probably a very skilled hunter and PH.

It would be interesting to hunt with him and form a first-hand opinion. However, when the day comes that I am finally able to realize my lifelong dream of a 21 day, full-bag Tanzania safari, it will not be with Mark Sullivan. I'm not interested in becoming an unwitting co-star in one of his future productions, filmed at my expense.

Wendell, I wish you'd stop pussyfooting around and tell us what you REALLY think!

I guess you won't be booking hunts for him anytime soon!

Well, I've heard from his friends, and his detractors, and I'm trying to find a position here.

I guess the sticking point for me is, "Does he INTENTIONALLY wound the buffalo so that a follow-up charge can be provoked, or does he just decide to approach a wounded one face-to-face, and see if it charges?

Does anybody have a used MS cape buff video you would like to sell? I'm not paying his retail prices just to see if he's a jerk or not.

Email me if you want to get rid of one of his tapes for my "research".

Rick.fox@quintiles.com

Rick.

The best thing is to vote with your wallet. Don't buy his book or his videos. When his sales drop, he'll have to try to outdo himself. Somebody will get hurt or killed, and that will be the end of it.

The unfortunate thing is that there are enough people who don't know better to keep his products on the market for quite a while. Most people I know who have hunted Cape buffalo wouldn't hunt with him, didn't buy a second MS video, and don't think he does much for our image.

George

I have every one of the MS tapes, and am very happy with them. They have been professionally put together, and make for some very exciting viewing. In particular, I feel the effect of shots on the various DG species is very helpful.
MS only takes 'liberties' whilst hunting with friends, and I sure they come to some sort of arrangement. On his tapes, I have noticed several hunters who obviously do not want back up shots, take their trophies without any help what so ever.
There is a danger here, that if we do not agree with something, it automatically becomes wrong, and unethical.
Matondo.

Quote (been posted before) from Terrys link
"I explain how I give the wounded buffalo or rogue bull hippo the choice of how he is to die in battle, in full charge."

I only have 1 question... What happens if they decide to go the other way?

To me this line "...I give the wounded ..." says everything I need to know! I believe unethical is the best choice of terms for me.

Dangerous game or non-dangerous game, to activly wound and then take a chance of loseing the animal is beyond belief.

Sitting here in stunned disbelief!

Greg

ALL QUITE ON THE SET, lIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!
Black Death: take 1

Wendell,

quote:

---

What a narcissistic piece of work this guy is.

---

And I thought you were just another pretty face.

Regards,

Terry

Boy, when i first posted this, I had an inkling that it might spark some conversation!

MS, CB and PHC are always a sure bet.

Funny, on the Black Death Video I didn't pick up too much of this. Natuarally I'll have to watch it again and pay more attention. Ibelieve that was his first film, right? Maybe he was on good behavior.

Thanks for the feedback, that was fun.

Saeed, that was an impressive collection of quotes. Sure makes him SOUND like a wiener doesn't it?

""Many self-proclaimed high thinkers in safari circles have sorely criticized my technique and style, but I could never aspire to be the best in my profession unless I could hunt on my own terms. I am driven by my passion and self-belief for what I know is right.""

That's odd, I thought he was driven by his ego!

Micky,
Yes he did have a problem with his license and he now has to hunt under the tutledge of another PH I am told....Also, he lost his license in Canada and thats a matter of record. He stays booked solid however, and has a high success rate. Will sell a charging Buff hunt to anyone who has the bucks. Be aware that this is what I have been told, by a person who certainly should be in the know..I have no first hand knowledge of this and don't care.

I won't go into the details as he is my competition and I don't want to be accused of professional jealousy. However, he is not someone I would associate myself with.

I think the normally polite and courteous Saeed said it all.
Peter.

To induce intentional, malicious suffering for the perverse intoxication of his ego is absolutely repugnant. Then to puff his chest out about how he engages in mano-y-mano death battle he styles as "ethical" that always ends in his personal glorification really points out what a shallow, callous person he is. I bet he kicks dogs, steals candy from children, and hassles old ladies in the rainy season just to keep his "skills" sharp.

Very sad.

Clay

Ray, I dont need to "buy a charge" I can ****-up all by myself!

I have three of his videos, and enjoy them for the entertainment factor, and whatever can be learned from them (aside from the wounded-too-long scenes, of which I don't care for.)
In the videos I've seen, I haven't detected where he advocates the wounding, on purpose, of buffalo. Where does he say this?
I've seen a few hunters who muffed their shots, Where that begat a wounded buffalo, but it appears to be quite unintentional. no one is perfect. A few hunters here have spoken of where they needed more then one shot to down their bufallo. It happens. So, not having all of his videos, and not personally knowing him, can someone tell me where he states the wounding of buff on purpose, just to provoke a charge? Or is it when one sees wounded buff is where one assumes it happens? Fill me in, please. ~~~Suluuq