"Stolen Valor" - in the hunting field/industry

[Frederik]

Holy Shit Man, you guided him, a lot of guys would have liked it if you had guided him to a Mamba !

He almost got me with a Double Rifle scam but I was lucky I had no money lol

Also scammed Horse people I hear ?

Proper prick him !

Nice Serval what a waste on him & well done by you !

Small world glad you didn't get conned.
Yeah he was a smooth talker but that is also ages ago.

 

[BGGMKLR]

Yes I am aware, stolen valor is a military term, to quote Wikipedia of all places "a term for the behavior of military impostors: individuals who lie about serving in the military or the extent of their military service".

Recent engagements with individuals and claims they made, made me think of this and let me apply this term and use it in the sense herein, as someone who lies about their hunting experience of past achievements, whether in the field or elsewhere...

Someone, maybe not knowing who I am and what I personally know, fell for a trap and claimed to be someone they clearly are not. The facts, people etc. can all confirm it. Sorry bud, you are caught out.

But let's make the thread less serious, I want to share a story that sort of aligns with this. My grandfather was a PH many years ago and a Spanish client came to hunt with him. On his list was a Rhino. Not to go into the detail, my grandfather shot it at the end. Now the part of the "stolen valor", the client wanted to claim the hunt and the shot, knowing full well what happened. Despite numerous attempts telling the client he can get a new Rhino, the romance of what happened seemed to be more important for the client.

Another more well known example (maybe) is some well known African hunting writer, that personalized other PH's experiences into his own...

Have any of you experienced any of this?

I know better...but I'm going to.

Let the hate fly...I'm thick skinned.

IMHO, to equate a hunting scenario...of any kind, experience, or circumstance...to "stolen valor", demeans and marginalizes the actual offense of stolen valor.
My apologies, but I take casual mention of this phrase seriously.
Spike

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Hi Marius,

Sure, as told to me, the intended rhino they wanted to hunt stormed them before the client could take a proper shot, and my grandfather then had to shoot it. He off course tells it a lot better but in short that was it. After the shot, the client, contrary to what my grandfather thought, wanted to claim the hunt. He was not at all worried that he did not shoot it and declined the offer for a new one.

I appreciate the reply. This is always a tricky situation that comes to mind. I like to believe that times were much simpler back then, especially on something as heavily regulated as Rhino is today. In today's times, it would not be a simple as offering another Rhino. There would need to be investigations into the incident first and endless paperwork which I would imagine would take much longer than the timeframe of the safari.
Personally, I can appreciate the client's outlook on how things went down. Not easy for probably most to accept that they aren't the one to pull the trigger on the initial shot.

 

[BrenGun]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread!
I too have heard some wild tales, one that springs to mind - in short
A late colleague of mine was once fishing the Mighty Zambezi and during the day had very fortunately caught a electric eel. They put the eel into the keep net to release later, this proved to be a master stroke ... because when the time came for lines up the motor battery was dead!! Pondering their predicament over a Zambezi larger he decided he would use the electric eel to jump start the boat ... which miraculously worked !!

here are 2 lines we like to use when things get a little Pinocchioed..
yes yes Bragger was a good dog
Never let the truth get in the way of a good story

 

[mark-hunter]

ELectric eel lives in South America... I learnt that on discovery channel...

 

[BrenGun]

ELectric eel lives in South America... I learnt that on discovery channel...

true ... my bad an electric catfish

 

[ACE (in CT)]

I used to have a sign hanging on my boat, it said:
“All Fisherman are liars, except you and me, and I’m not so sure about you.”

A friend of mine had one in his man cave that read:
“This bar serves only Fishermen, Golfers and other liars”

 

[JG26Irish_2]

Just remember lads, there are lies, damn lies and hunting stories, lol. No hunting story would be on the same level of low-life as stolen military valor. Service to one's country is a sacred thing.

As for hunting lies, if a hunter lies about his hunting experience and is not harming others, then he is only harming himself and his reputation such as it is. If a PH or other professional who is seeking to be paid by clients lies about his ability or knowledge then that is a damned lie and he should be run out of the business before he hurts somebody. Still also of us are young and inexperienced at some point in our life and careers.

Then there are hunting stories. These can and are told around the campfires and who am I to let the facts get in the way of a good hunting story?, to quote another gun and hunting author, lol. Plus creative license is a time honored method of dressing up a good hunting or fishing story used by many authors in the craft. Such embellishment is OK with me up to a point as long as it is reasonably believable, and nobody is harmed in the process. I am reminded of such greats as Elmer Keith, Capstick and others. Also, some of my past hunting companions. I may or may not be guilty from time to time but try to limit it. My true stories are already hard to believe most times without me adding to them, lol

Did I tell you about the time I won the WV state rifle championship with a broken rifle?

 

[TnKen]

I have a friend that loves to embellish his stories. I always tell people the stories are based on actual events, only the facts have changed.

 

[coreydb]

Yes I am aware, stolen valor is a military term, to quote Wikipedia of all places "a term for the behavior of military impostors: individuals who lie about serving in the military or the extent of their military service".

Recent engagements with individuals and claims they made, made me think of this and let me apply this term and use it in the sense herein, as someone who lies about their hunting experience of past achievements, whether in the field or elsewhere...

Someone, maybe not knowing who I am and what I personally know, fell for a trap and claimed to be someone they clearly are not. The facts, people etc. can all confirm it. Sorry bud, you are caught out.

But let's make the thread less serious, I want to share a story that sort of aligns with this. My grandfather was a PH many years ago and a Spanish client came to hunt with him. On his list was a Rhino. Not to go into the detail, my grandfather shot it at the end. Now the part of the "stolen valor", the client wanted to claim the hunt and the shot, knowing full well what happened. Despite numerous attempts telling the client he can get a new Rhino, the romance of what happened seemed to be more important for the client.

Another more well known example (maybe) is some well known African hunting writer, that personalized other PH's experiences into his own...

Have any of you experienced any of this?

Yeah, I learned loooong ago not to brag; for me, it was the fastest way to humiliation. We all have are own successes and failures. Don't be afraid of either.

 

[crackerman]

A PH told me a story about a client from a big multinational company (will not say his name for privacy reasons) who hunted elephant with him.

PH told him the first day that you hunt elephant with your feet. Client told him yeah, you will, just call me in when you are close.

So after searching multiple days the PH called in when he found a good specimen. Bakkie drove the client into walking distance. Walked a small bit and shot the elephant bull.

Well if you ask me he shot an elephant and not hunted one. But I guess the client tells another story to his friends.

Gary Larson had a comic for that like everything.

 

[Hunt anything]

I could look at those old FAR SIDE comics for hours!

 

[Hunt anything]

@JG26Irish_2 , you’re spot on about the “hunting stories”, no one wants to hear about how last week after getting out of the shower and looking out into my cornfield I saw a decent 7pt. While still in my underwear I grabbed my 7mm off of the back porch and shot him at 188 yds. Or that I did exactly the same thing the next morning on a wide antlered 6pt at 300yds in pea soup fog! Not exactly the same, 7pt at 6:48 and the 6pt at 6:40
They would much rather hear about how I shot a buck running across a road, then had to track him for about 200yds in brush that a skinny rabbit couldn’t get through and I ain’t skinny after shedding my clothes down to my skivvies to wade a borrow ditch full of almost frozen water. I kinda wish someone would’ve seen that it must have been quite a sight . A 61 year old fat man mostly naked dragging a buck across a ditch with me bleeding more than the deer.
These are actually the chronicles of the last week of my deer season and 100% true. Not going to mention the monster I let get by me.
Just having fun!

 

[steve white]

A habitual liar is someone who lies frequently and without clear benefit, even when it's not necessary or advantageous. They may lie about big or small things.

A pathological liar is someone who compulsively lies, often without a clear reason, and to the detriment of others. The lies can be elaborate and complicated, and can persist for a long time.

Many hunters and fishermen exaggerate. There’s one in every bunch…

Shots taken from trucks. Animals moved or positioned to avoid showing a bad shot in pictures. Multiple shots taken to put an animal down, only one claimed.

There are those (shitheals) that have done very little hunting, or no Africa hunting, who criticize others for no good reason. That may also contribute to the need to hide the truth or exaggerate in reports.

Like my old buddy Todd used to say: “It’s your story, tell it how you want to”.

I have only met two such liars. One had provably won the Texas Lotto of big game for Texas, and had pictures of the mule deer, bighorn sheep, whitetail, pronghorn I think, and one other. OK, that was truth...but the guy always had to one up. You were in the army? Well, he was a famous sniper in Viet Nam, even though his wife said he wasn't even a veteran. You caught a big bass; he won a famous tournament with an even bigger fish--though no record of him ever being in the tourney. It went on and on until he really had few friends anymore.

 

[sgt_zim]

Yep, common especially with bird hunting. I also usually hunt big game alone sans Africa where required but never an issue there. One reason I won’t hunt pheasants in large, “hunter mill” field-sweeping groups where practically every bird becomes a “group shot/group bag”. Not to mention all the obligatory goofy flushers and pointers that are detrimental to late season pheasant success anyway…. A system so common now. Hunting pheasants alone or with at most two or three good friends and one calm retrieving lab walking at heel is the only way I will hunt them.

I got the opposite kinda bird hunting story.

Was out dove hunting years ago by myself, edge of a field. I see a lone bird, straight out of the low house coming right at me. Missed it 3x. Flew over my head, made a u-turn, flew back over me, I got 3 high house shots, again, all misses. I think it's hilarious.

Couple minutes later, another solo bird, near-perfect 90º passing. Went down with 1 shot.

No point in telling lies about hunting, the dumb shit we do and the easy misses we have are always good for a laugh, and I like making people laugh.

 

[Challer]

This "stolen valor" thing is active in nearly every aspect of life.

 

[JG26Irish_2]

@JG26Irish_2 , you’re spot on about the “hunting stories”, no one wants to hear about how last week after getting out of the shower and looking out into my cornfield I saw a decent 7pt. While still in my underwear I grabbed my 7mm off of the back porch and shot him at 188 yds. Or that I did exactly the same thing the next morning on a wide antlered 6pt at 300yds in pea soup fog! Not exactly the same, 7pt at 6:48 and the 6pt at 6:40

These are actually the chronicles of the last week of my deer season and 100% true. Not going to mention the monster I let get by me.
Just having fun!

LOL - so true. But, let me tell a true one just for fun. Three years ago, my Granddaughter (an accomplished huntress) was in her mom and dad's kitchen the week of Thanksgiving. Our deer season was in its 2nd week and she had not had a shot at a buck yet. She was looking out the kitchen window up the West pasture. Her Mom says, she ran into her bedroom, came running out in her PJ's with her deer rifle (a 270), ran onto the back porch and "Boom" dropped a 6pt buck in the back pasture from about 80y. For Christmas that year, I got her a proper skinning knife, hunter orange pajama top with orange/black camo PJ bottoms. She took a massive 12pt the year later. We still tease her about hunting in her PJ's and "Hunting Slippers"

 

[Sabre]

Gary Larson had a comic for that like everything.
View attachment 666752

I feel like what this comic is mocking is how hunters will shoot an animal when it is calm and peaceful and doesn't know they are there, then mount it as if it was just about to attack them.

I am not taking a stance on that as I like both aggressive and calm style mounts, but I just think that's more what the comic is saying.

 

[Hunt anything]

Those 3 hunts actually did happen! @JG26Irish_2 , good for your granddaughter, sometimes you need a few easy ones to make up for all of the time put in!

 

[Hunt anything]

I feel like what this comic is mocking is how hunters will shoot an animal when it is calm and peaceful and doesn't know they are there, then mount it as if it was just about to attack them.

I am not taking a stance on that as I like both aggressive and calm style mounts, but I just think that's more what the comic is saying.

If I remember correctly, Gary Larson was a trained wildlife biologist. Today that may not mean he was a hunter but back then he probably was. This could be an urban legend I don’t know for sure.