Our hunting community can be extremely vindictive, hateful, judgmental, self righteous & jealous. We don’t like seeing others successful, no matter how eloquent we act. And if somebody hunts in a way different from us… well, God help them. There’s no nice way to say it. We might deny it, but deep in our hearts… we know that it’s true.
If you want to form an opinion on a hunting celebrity, then YOU are the best judge. Nobody else. A hundred people online might dislike somebody, but that disliked person may actually be the nicest guy in the world to you. And that's what should matter.
I'll provide some insight about Mark Sullivan. A lot of people hate him (including spreading around tasteless garbage such as him losing his hunting license in Tanzania). That's fine. But you should personally take a look at the man and form your own opinions on him rather than use other people's opinions as a litmus test.
Mark is a friend of mine. We have had several exchanges over the years. We know each other's families and friends circles well. Yes, it's true. I don't necessarily agree with everything he says. Hunting with him is definitely not for everybody (especially physically unfit clients who want to take game out from as far as possible). But in my opinion, he's a good man. And a good hunter. And nowhere as pompous in real life as he makes himself out to be on camera. Sure, he likes to boast. I personally don't. But he has earned that right through 43 years (and counting) of hard work.
I'll tell you a small story about Mark. A young local hunter here (who will probably not be able to afford an African safari for several more years, let alone with Mark) wrote Mark a fan letter in 2022. Mark sent the South Bengali boy both of his books (autographed) through courier from Arizona. Along with his DVDs and a safari cap. I was absolutely mind blown by this gesture.
In Tanzania, Mark has (on more than one occasion) gone above and beyond to financially help fellow white hunters in trouble. Even trackers on a couple of occasions. In my opinion, SCI did the best thing by finally allowing Mark back to all of their programs, starting from 2023 onwards.
See the best in a person rather than the worst. And see it for yourself, rather than relying upon other people's opinions. Life's too short and we hunters already have plenty of enemies out there. Those who actually hunt(ed) with Mark Sullivan have quite positive feedback about him.
Yes, there’s a little known reason why Mark contends with more wounded Cape buffalo than other white hunters do. The reason is because he is probably the only bug name in the hunting industry who exclusively prefers solid bullets for Cape buffalo hunting. He even mandates that his clients use them. I’ve actually spoken to him about this; telling him that (in my humble experience) a premium grade soft point can take out a Cape buffalo with a heart-lung shot quicker than any solid can these days. But Mark exclusively prefers the solid. In recent years, he’s come to see the light. He now has his clients take the first shot with a Barnes TSX all-copper hollow point.
He’s also evolved his strategies over the years in order to increase his client’s chances of success. Early in his career, he used to stipulate that his clients only employ double rifles. Nowadays, he has them bring a heavy double rifle as well as a telescopic sighted .375 Holland & Holland Magnum magazine rifle. Depending upon his client’s physical limitations and the way the hunting scenario unfolds, he advises them on which rifle to use.
Yes, Mark says a lot of things that might rub off on a sensitive person the wrong way. He once told me “Bolt action rifles are for women & small children”. He also often quips that the “.470 Nitro Express is a fine ladies’ gun”. But it’s all in good humor. He has many, many clients who come to hunt with him; armed with .470 Nitro Express (or smaller caliber) rifles. He has often invited me to go on Safari with him… knowing full well that I use a .375 Holland & Holland Magnum Remington Model 700. If you’re the kind of person who takes every word literally, then Mark is definitely not for you.
76 years young (3 years older than I am) and he still actively hunts in the wilds of Tanzania with a .600 Nitro Express John Wilkes boxlock non ejector (formerly the property of the late Cal Pappas). I wish him well for all of his future endeavors.
P.S: Mark has stopped more than a few lion & leopard charges. But given the pricing of lion hunts in Tanzania, relatively few of his clients opt to pursue lion. I assure you all. In the last 35 years, Mark has had far more clients who bagged all of their own game rather than clients who needed him to step in. I know many of them by name.
