EKM

True enough, and certailnly an interesting genre (and a favorite of mine); however....

Present tense, hence present day.
(Interesting how most folks are "greater" dead than alive.... never understood that, I guess the only time they get "bragged on" is at their eulogy and then it is too late; personally, IMHO if you've done it, it aint bragging.)

The majority of the "most accomplished" accolades attributed to native peoples so far, IMO really fall under the "best" category. Taking the "most accomplished" descriptoras referring to the diversity and quantity and quality of big game animalstaken may subtract from the native peoples a bit.

So, whereare the best AND most accomplished big game hunters to be found, TODAY?

Muliefever

If you base accomplishment on corporate sponserships and a hefty bank account, then ya, Chuck Adams, Fred Eichler and Ted Trueblood all cream of the crop.

I think true accomplishment by everyday blue collar americans that do all there own research and hunt self acquired land "No guides" are true testiments of success! And there are still and always will be great hunters out there.

Just my .02

EKM

Alaska for the bears, etc. will legally require a guide. Africa &Asia for anything.... (with the rarest of exceptions) you ain't gonna legally hunt without a guide and for sure you won't "self acquire" any land and thus to deny the hunters who venture outside of the "Lower 48"might be a just a twitch provincial.

The discussion was really intended to include a bit more than just"home town USA." Hence the up frontrequirement of both "best" (skill) and "most accomplished" (diversity & quantity & quality of big game taken).

BTW, lots of these hunts being done by folks that don't have corporate sponsors, though I can perhaps understand your aggravation.

bobfm10350

A united states marine with his gun

EKM

Ah, big game hunting for people?.... I'm thinking that is generally frowned upon. I'm truly talking big game hunting, though in the late 1800's in Africa, the safarimenu in some areas listed "one pygmie" to be included in the take.... I couldn't believe it when I read it.

Rogue

EKM perhaps you are looking for some really big game hunters. How about some of the old Ivory hunters, George Rushby, Arthur Neumann or W.D.M. Bell. Taking elephants point blank range with more guts than I could muster.

Rogue

eagle 1

In my eyes the best and most accomplished are the regular joes that are able to harvest animals trophy or nontrophy on their own with no support other than your hunting party. After all isn't that how hunting was born without ranches and professional guides.

EKM

Again, half the equation is addressed, i.e."best" (skill)
Skill as in "really good hunter compared to those I know" or"having talent for making the best of what one has got to work with" such as native peoples, or perhaps in the lower 48, the ever popular "Joe."

Still the other half of the equation to go, i.e..... most accomplished (diversity, quantity, and quality of big game taken).
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I'm kinda surprised that no one hasalluded tothe Professional Hunters, especially towards the upper end. As a PH,if you are no good, the word travels incredibly fast in those kinds of circles and you find yourself without any clients. You have to be pretty good hunter to lead your client (who may be a really good hunter in his own right or very mediocre)onto game and have taughtyour client the who, what, where, when, and howof what is going down and thenback up your client after his shot,often in cases where the game is about to dissappear due to range or cover or at the opposite end of the continuum, point blank in a charge; most PH's have shot more than their fair share of game on their own ticket. (The same would be true to a lesser degree of theirdistant cousins, the North American "guides.")

Following that though, in most sportsI can think of, the greatest talent usuallymeets thegreatest accomplishmentsat the confluence of where the reknowned highest level of game is played and where themoney is paid. The money allows the buying of time, the honing of skill, the gaining of experience, and simply being able to "stay in the game"in themost noteworthyarenas....

Common Examples:
Boxing, Rodeo, Figureskating, Rock Climbing, Snow Skiing, Fishing, Mountaineering, Karate, Football, Baseball, Basketball, Hockey, Volleyball, Targetshooting, Auto Racing, Trap Shooting, Golf, Pistol Shooting, etc. etc..... hunting.

EKM

While I am not saying they would all qualify by any means, some of the best and most accomplished hunters will likely be found atSCI's events inReno and Dallas.

May find some hard charging locals in British Columbia, Yukon, and Alaska.... pretty hot hunting arena.

bigbulls

With best (being skill) and most accomplished (being number and variety of animals taken).

I would have to say that Jim Shockey is right there at the top. He has taken animals all over the world with only a ML, has many world records to his name, isa professional guide himself in some of the harshest climates in NA, etc... etc...