I have only posted a couple of "hunt reports" here on AR in the past but will never do so again. In light of some of the current goings on and others in the past, the way some have been treated while trying to share their hunts and dreams with the rest of us is really sad. What should be a fourm that gives us all a place to share some of our greatest adventures has turned into a place where we can expect to be critized to no end and made to feel like scum for doing so.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Larry, the regional forums are as bad or worse.

My question is, do the folks that protest the loudest over another persons choice of what to shoot, really have that high a standard of personal ethics.

Some how I really doubt it.

If it is a dead issue, why did you post anything??????

We can spot the BS a mile away. Keep on posting and ignore the that criticize.

quote:

If it is a dead issue, why did you post anything??????

Dont you think its gones on long enough there

will be likes or dislikes of what we do no

matter what sport or way of life that

simple.Did he shoot a young lion yes did others

disagree with it yes thats it now we have 4

threads on this subject so people are for it

some against it.I see it as its better he shot

the younger lion instead of an older pride male

expecially if the pride had cubs due to the

fact on 1 trigger pull you take more then 1 lion.

I have been around AR since about 2001. Just have never posted a lot. There is lot of experience and information here. It is mostly good guys but the see saw gets tilted some too.

But this kind of thing is not new at all.

Look at what happened to Allen Day. The guy had lots of knowledge, and was helpful, generous with his information, and mostly presented it gentlmanly. He had been on more hunts than most of the yellers. They some how or another tried to say he was elitist over his Echols rifles, and all that crud. Hell even his shoes - somehow he was looking down on them for his recommending Russells to someone else who asked. Sure they have an opinion - but you know what they say. Of course Allen got cross with Saeed ( who is also gentlmanly and beings it his board and it here at his luxury and I respect that ) and that ultimatley was the last straw for an excellent contributor and hunter. But he was finished and tired of it before that. Allen put me on to Mark Penrod very early. And he was right as Mark was up and coming and a top guy.

I have seen threads where folks argue with Will who has killed more elephants those folks will ever see. All added together.

Or Jack Belk. The guy knows Mausers - and he is not around any more. And he did bring up the Remington safety issue 10 years ago or more. Before he was an expert witness in the case. Whether it is right or wrong ... well more to do on that.

I dont post our hunts as usually they involve or family and friends so its more private. I would not let a few opinions stop me should I want to though. Just like you have done.

You may remember my thread on the book Gemsbok. I just was looking for what it would be - not any of their input on whether I really want to persue or not or whether its ethical or any other yada yada yada. Your inputs were well recieved and thanks.

In any event do what you want. But only because that is what you want to do. There are a lot more guys on this board that dont just stand up and scream.

What you have to remember is that this is a forum, and by very nature of that word, everything posted here (or on any other forum for that matter) is open to everyone who subscribes or is a member to discuss. As always there will be fantastic discussions, mediocre discussions, and just plain dumb discussions, where everyone is entitled to their opinion and we hope keep their opinions in good taste. We will never all agree and why should we expect that anyway, it would be a damn boring world if we did.

If anyone does not like being questioned about their knowledge or hunting story or photos or anything else, then don't enter a forum, write a book about it and don't read the reviews.

Dear Larry

There are some guy's, girls that post here that have really provided us new shooter with some really great information. That did not need to be learnt the hard way.

I always read who posted the reply, that way I can just skip all the poor taste replies.

Thanks once again to all the positive posters.

I am sure there are some non hunters who just love to cause trouble.

I will keep reporting here. I will be praised and criticized just like anyone else. I am sure some criticism will be deserved and some praise won't. But I like telling stories, and I like hearing them just as much. I look forward to seeing peoples reports on here in the future, and I may even stick my nose out with un-needed remarks and praise. Bottom line is I hope yall are all having fun, both in your adventures and writing these reports, and I look forward to this being a campfire and not a bunch of people jerking each other off.

Larry,

I am a good example? Or is that a contradiction of terms? Should be I am a bad example?

Whatever.

Often I post my opinions thinking that my views are cast in stone only to discover that I am in the minority.

A good example is if you remember I had a stab at you regarding youngsters hunting. I was proven by the masses to be totally out of line and that was a steep learning curve for me. So much so that I subsequently reversed my opinion by 360 degrees and now take great pride in teaching the little buggers how to hunt in Africa. My sons included.

I am sure you can quote many other examples here and whilst I will always have a go at an operator or PH for wrong doing (and especially if I feel the hunter has been hard done by) I am not scared of criticism even if it is not necessarily constructive.

Varying opinions and mixed emotions often makes for a vibrant debate but that is not really my intention. My posts are often about awareness.

Note I am a little more cautious to what I post these days.

Don't let a few people mess up something you enjoy.

It is not "required" to post anything. This is for fun only. Too many of us take this forum way too seriously (see posts by Ray Atkinson, Carmelo and some of our recent internet bullies).

On a hunt report, I would think it is good manners to compliment the writer or just not comment. Choices are made on what to shoot and what not to shoot. It is a done deal and the animal is dead. One man's trophy is another man's ho hum.

We are not all "trophy" hunters. Nearly every animal I shoot is a trophy to me, but they are not measured and I really do not care what others think about them. It is my hunt anyway.

I suggest that we all try to live by the rule that all cultures value - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".

And, one of my mother's favorite rules - "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all."

Another comment on trip reports -

I recently posted a report on a trip to Zambia. I called it Part 2 and I never posted a Part 1.
That was because Part 1 was very negative on the outfitter/safari company. I did not post the report as it would have put the "good" outfitter in a tough situation with the bad one. I can explain reasons but deferred from causing a stink in public. The bad outfitter has been found out and is seeing the fruits of his labors now with less bookings. I do not need to air out the problem here and will not do so.

Bad news travels very fast as well as bad hunt reports.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Sellers:
I have only posted a couple of "hunt reports" here on AR in the past but will never do so again. In light of some of the current goings on and others in the past, the way some have been treated while trying to share their hunts and dreams with the rest of us is really sad. What should be a fourm that gives us all a place to share some of our greatest adventures has turned into a place where we can expect to be critized to no end and made to feel like scum for doing so.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Larry your post above is exactly why I never post a hunting report! Other than when some one asks a particular question in regard to how something was done. Then it is simply an answer with an example that is worth exactly what the questioner paid for it, and is not subject to agreement by that person or anyone else!

I simply do not think I owe the reader anything! It makes no difference what you post because there will always be someone who wants to take issue with it. IMO it is free for them to take or leave! Simply stated there is always someone who enjoys stirring the pot to see what pops out!
................I'm too old to worry about what others think anymore!

I am one of those people that may never hunt Africa but check in almost daily to see what is new on AR. I enjoy every hunt report especially those with a dangerous game hunt or real nice pictures. Do us a favor and post all your hunts and forget negative people.

please dont stop posting your hunts i am like most people on here that really enjoy seeing different safaris. thanks lee barnett

I can understand the sentiment. That said, I will continue to post my hunt reports. I actually get enjoyment in writing the reports, re-living the memories, going back and looking at the reports after the fact and rekindling the experiences, etc. So from my perspective the reports I do, I do to please me, if they happen to please any one else that is lagniappe. As for those that wish to criticize or point out negatives, God bless them.

I hear you. I will continue to post, as I enjoy it as a way of reliving my experience and feelings. Mostly we all slap each other on the back, fine. Sometimes somebody gets a wild hare, I'll take the chance.
I know my hunting experiences have in recent years been spawned by what others here have done. It has helped me understand what is possible and even desirable. The forum enriches me whether I am writing , or as usual, reading.
I hope I am not deprived of the taste of others' experience by some flaming. I hope I can give back a tiny fraction of what I have taken from the forum.
What the Hell is lagniappe?

quote:

Originally posted by Marty:
What the Hell is lagniappe?

I word only Southerners know. It means "a little something extra" or "a bonus", words to that effect. Some of the good old boys from Louisiana can probably chime in with a complete definition.

Lagniappe-A little something extra is a real good working definition.For instance,I go to the baker and get a dozen doughnuts, he may toss in a thirteenth at no charge. Or I buy a new car and the dealership offers free maintenance for the first year.

quote:

Originally posted by Marty:
I hope I am not deprived of the taste of others' experience by some flaming. I hope I can give back a tiny fraction of what I have taken from the forum.
What the Hell is lagniappe?

quote:

origenally posted by MJines

I can understand the sentiment. That said, I will continue to post my hunt reports. I actually get enjoyment in writing the reports, re-living the memories, going back and looking at the reports after the fact and rekindling the experiences, etc. So from my perspective the reports I do, I do to please me, if they happen to please any one else that is lagniappe. As for those that wish to criticize or point out negatives, God bless them.

Mike

I totally agree with you both! I too, enjoy reading well-written hunting reports, and they are good learning tools, as stated by Marty.

These things are like private journals that one can go back and re-read, one’s own posts, as Mike says, to re-live the experience. The fact that others enjoy them as well is a bonus (lagniappe).

The fact is, a safari is owned by the hunter who goes there, and what happens on that safari is also private property that is shared with others only if the owner wishes, or NOT!

If he/she decides to share the experience with others and is bothered by negative comments the key, I suppose, is not to read the comments on his report. That is almost impossible for me personally, so I simply do not choose to subject myself to that. Hunting happenings are like war experiences, many if told wouldn’t be believed, so in many cases these experiences are not offered, and that is a shame, because some of them are truly amazing, but will always draw a BS flag that the pot stirrers grab like a dog on a biscuit, and growl and gnaw it to the death of the report.

This is what happened Wrldhunter’s report. I believe he was so put off by those who chose to rain on his parade that he may be lost to Accurate Reloading forums permanently. That, IMO, is a tragedy if it turns out that way. There are many very good knowledgeable writers who have been so harassed that they no longer post here.

In the case of Wrldhunter’s report, though a very important issue, it shouldn’t have been hashed out in comments in the report! That is just ill mannered and there is no other way to say it!

That could have been brought up in another post on the relevant forums in the form of "Many PHs still allowing hunters to shoot young lions", without ruining the guys day in the sun, by calling him to task in his happy REPORT, or naming anyone in particular in the other forums.

I agree with what they said but not WHERE they said it. I’m not saying there should be censuring, but there is a time and place where good manners should be exercised, IMO.


There are many very good writers here on AR, like Mike Jines, and JudgeG and many others who I absolutely love reading, because they put you in the bush with them by the way they write. Like many of the professional writers these attract little criticism because their writing is clear and concise, and do not write about things they do not understand. SO, they never feel the bite that us mere mortals do.

We do have some great writers on here like the Judge,, I love the way he writes,, and how he tells the stories in person if you have the opportunity. I have never posted any of my hunts here because most are bow hunts and I get immediately jumped on and accused of wounding animals etc from the anti-bow hunters. Just not worth getting my blood pressure out of whack for it. I read all the reports that are posted, I read them for many reasons,, first for the pure enjoyment, second, to be able to congradulate a fellow hunter on a job well done, 3rd,, learn from them, see what area people are doing well in and what are the animal numbers etc 4th Learn what are the good outfits and the not so good,,

So please folks keep posting the reports, please keep sharing your DVD's of your hunts, and keep posting the pictures. And for our writers, keep submitting the magazine articles and keep writing your books.

As usual, we just need the season to get heavily underway so we get out of the cabin and go back to hunting,, a little cabin fever makes everyone a little testy

I enjoy looking at hunting reports very much.I also enjoy looking at custom rifles,trophy rooms, etc...It does not really matter who posts them.The way I know that I've seen a good one is when a long time goes by and I still remember the report or the image of a particular rifle.I hope also,that someone out there,weather he is an AR member or not, will remember mine.

I have posted hunt reports here on several occasions. I do it for several reasons which include trying to give you all an idea of what hunting in the area was like. Also to drum up a little support for the PH and Safari Company that I delt with. That type of info can be very interesting to someone trying to decide on where and with whom to hunt.

465H&H

Larry,

look at the denigraters. What have they accomplished that they can share here with us.

We who hunt Africa, do not envy you, we admire your accomplishments.

Envyers are small hearted people who have nothing positive to share here.

You are the Lion on his kill, they are the jackals circling around waiting to to try and steal a meal. "Do nothings" with nothing to do here except criticize those who can, and have.

Pissants all...

Rich

Rich,
Today is a day that will live in infamy: I finally agree with one of your posts in its entirety.


Regards,

Steve

Rich,

Ditto, that is right on the money.

Thanks Rich for your comments here and on the PM you sent. Much appreciated.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Larry,

look at the denigraters. What have they accomplished that they can share here with us.

We who hunt Africa, do not envy you, we admire your accomplishments.

Envyers are small hearted people who have nothing positive to share here.

You are the Lion on his kill, they are the jackals circling around waiting to to try and steal a meal. "Do nothings" with nothing to do here except criticize those who can, and have.

Pissants all...

Rich

+1 well said

Larry-

Please keep in mind that this is the internet, after all. Anyone can become an expert simply by posting. I've had my fallouts with posters who have less than one tenth of my Africa experience, but what good has it done? More than one poster in this thread has absolutely zero Africa hunting experience while others have extensive and numerous safaris in multiple countries under their belts. So my suggestion is to just learn to role with it.

BTW, I do not post hunting reports, although I will relate specific episodes when they are pertinent to the topic. And I have a personal policy of not posting trophy pics as I don't want them showing up on other venues and/or with others claiming them as their own. Others have different views. Shit happens.

Rich,Larry, Mike,

To piggyback all your sentiments. I used to be a very active poster and realy enjoyed AR. I have posted Trophy Room pics, in the Trophy Room pic forum and was called an attention whore, I post pictures of my pride and joy .500NE in the DR forum and get told I am "peeing on lesser members". I got nasty PMs from others stating the same objections. The only hunt report I ever posted resulted in being ridiculed for being unsuccessful on one species.

Like Mike, I have extensive experience from all over the world, Don't need the acceptance of AR couch potatoes to be who I am and carry on with yet another adventure or two. I had 16 African Safaris behind me before I ever even heard of it.(AR)

It ceases being fun when you feel the need to defend yourself on a forum of "supposed" like minded individuals for participation in the worlds grandest sport. Imagine how wrlhuntr felt after his first post?

A forum such as this has a certain "critical mass" point at which it either goes onward and upward or it starts it's decline. Look at the AHF and the ho-hum threads and you decide for yourselves.

I came back on to address the attack on a personal friend on the lion thread, case made, mission accomplished.

Kindest Regards

Steve

This lowly newbie took the chance of writing a "different style" hunt report made of short stories because I enjoy writing and somehow I escaped criticism for it.

I’ll probably post a report of my next scheduled African hunt in 2012 which at this point includes an attempt at Lion.

This is the internet, the dreamland of anonymity. To some folks, possibly with self esteem issues, that's a ticket to condemn. Wouldn’t bother me personally, I consider the source. If the source doesn’t have the nads to identify themselves so be it.

If a criticism occurs and it has a valid basis in fact I’ll learn from it. When I wake up the next day I’ll still be the same person. Little will change other than my knowledge base.

It’s individual and your mileage may vary.

Cheers
Jim

I have made two hunt reports that were accepted by the AR experts, but in 2010 I made a trip around the globe with a fair amount of hunting. On that hunt I did take two of my leopards with the help of dogs and that is not acceptable with majority of the AR experts so instead I just posted photos and no film or text like I did on my previous reports - Its just not worth it.

Some old farts here only think its "my way or the highway".. For me hunting is about learning new methods of hunting and new areas to hunt.

Hunt in snow, mountains, desert, forest, tree stands, calling, dogs, tracking etc....Dont be so narrow-minded guys, instead of sitting behind a computer screen and moaning go out and hunt and try new techniques and new areas you wont regret it !!

In a couple of weeks I will do a trip to Asia and Africa when I come back I hope to share some new photos with you all and hopefully see some positive comments .

Regards

AD

quote:

Originally posted by A.Dahlgren:
I have made two hunt reports that were accepted by the AR experts, but in 2010 I made a trip around the globe with a fair amount of hunting. On that hunt I did take two of my leopards with the help of dogs and that is not acceptable with majority of the AR experts so instead I just posted photos and no film or text like I did on my previous reports - Its just not worth it.

Some old farts here only think its "my way or the highway".. For me hunting is about learning new methods of hunting and new areas to hunt.

Hunt in snow, mountains, desert, forest, tree stands, calling, dogs, tracking etc....Dont be so narrow-minded guys, instead of sitting behind a computer screen and moaning go out and hunt and try new techniques and new areas you wont regret it !!

In a couple of weeks I will do a trip to Asia and Africa when I come back I hope to share some new photos with you all and hopefully see some positive comments .

Regards

AD

As long as you include some of your unbelievable photography I won't complain much.

I will keep posting my reports, and I hope others do too. I believe the Hunt Reports section is one of the most useful and entertaining elements of AR. I recall “in the old days” having to rely on other “report sources” and the information was sketchy and skewed and not all that useful. The reports on AR are real-time and interactive, heck, I don’t even subscribe to any “hunting magazines” any more, as the edited and outdated copy just cannot match the enthusiasm and subtle detail that a returning hunter can provide. Not to mention the pictures!

With this said, posters need to realize that some topics are inherently more controversial than others. If one hangs around AR long enough, it is pretty easy to identify what they are. And, there is a very small number of mean-spirited members who for various reasons want to see the Internet "light up" with controversy. But in my experience these are the exceptions, and 99% of the members and good people who enjoy reading of others trials and tribulations.

The details of my hunts blur and I find myself looking back over my own hunt reports from time to time, marveling at how the boys have grown (and how I am getting older!), just as one may browse thru an old photo album. I often refer to my own “online documentation” when preparing for an upcoming hunt. I also hope that I have in some small way helped others to make informed decisions - and perhaps even inspired a few people who found like I have that Africa gets deep into your soul and one is a better person for it.

This reminds me, where the heck is Aziz...it's been months since his last adventure.

Bill,

Aziz has just ended a great hunt and wrote a fantastic report on tha Rest of the World forum.

L

Classic, thanks Lorenzo - I'm on it!

quote:

Some old farts here only think its "my way or the highway".. For me hunting is about learning new methods of hunting and new areas to hunt.

Very well said. It is a shame that it comes to this but I will continue to post any hunt reports I like and for those that may want to try to dump on my parade can just go to hell!

"Non Illegitimus Corborundum..."

Rich