Kudu
01-07-2010, 12:45 PM
The Origins of the Macnab
To shoot a free-ranging buck (Deer), catch a game fish and bag a brace of game birds all in one day during legal shooting light, all taken ethically and in the spirit of the sport – this is the challenge of the Macnab hunt – the origins of which are interesting if somewhat vague.
The character, John Macnab, was the creation of writer John Buchan in 1925. In the eponymous book, three prominent Scottish landowners receive a challenging note telling them that one John Macnab intends to poach from their estates without being caught. If he is caught, he will donate money to a good cause.
The reactions of the three landowners differ considerably. Sightings of the insolent sportsman provide conflicting evidence as to his identity, prompting speculation as to whether he is a gentleman or a tramp. It turns out that he is indeed a gentleman.
In the story, two hunters and a fisherman were involved – all three acted as John Macnab. This greatly confused the landlords. Two of them had to poach a deer each, and one had to catch a salmon (no mention was made of birds) all while the landowners had been pre-warned of their intentions.
The landlords hired men to keep guard 24 hours a day and Macnab rated his chances of success at one in a hundred. The hunters planned their actions meticulously and made use of several helpers, mainly to distract the game guards. The first hunter was caught but escaped, while the second one managed successfully to achieve his goal. The fisherman also very cleverly caught his salmon.
This became a sporting quest for us in South Africa, It may sound easy - try it - it is a real challenge.
I have to say after many (at least 5 in as many years) I finally achieved my first Macnab hunt in the Eastern Cape. My animals where a mountain Rhe Buck, a trout (weaseled out of a small stream on a two weight) and a brace of Blue grouse shot high on the slopes with a 20 guage.
I think I might enjoy challenging my sons to the same Macnab hunt. Perhaps a salmon / steel-head, mule-deer and brace of grouse? all in region 2 /8 in one day?- is this possible - is this a real challenge?
..
To shoot a free-ranging buck (Deer), catch a game fish and bag a brace of game birds all in one day during legal shooting light, all taken ethically and in the spirit of the sport – this is the challenge of the Macnab hunt – the origins of which are interesting if somewhat vague.
The character, John Macnab, was the creation of writer John Buchan in 1925. In the eponymous book, three prominent Scottish landowners receive a challenging note telling them that one John Macnab intends to poach from their estates without being caught. If he is caught, he will donate money to a good cause.
The reactions of the three landowners differ considerably. Sightings of the insolent sportsman provide conflicting evidence as to his identity, prompting speculation as to whether he is a gentleman or a tramp. It turns out that he is indeed a gentleman.
In the story, two hunters and a fisherman were involved – all three acted as John Macnab. This greatly confused the landlords. Two of them had to poach a deer each, and one had to catch a salmon (no mention was made of birds) all while the landowners had been pre-warned of their intentions.
The landlords hired men to keep guard 24 hours a day and Macnab rated his chances of success at one in a hundred. The hunters planned their actions meticulously and made use of several helpers, mainly to distract the game guards. The first hunter was caught but escaped, while the second one managed successfully to achieve his goal. The fisherman also very cleverly caught his salmon.
This became a sporting quest for us in South Africa, It may sound easy - try it - it is a real challenge.
I have to say after many (at least 5 in as many years) I finally achieved my first Macnab hunt in the Eastern Cape. My animals where a mountain Rhe Buck, a trout (weaseled out of a small stream on a two weight) and a brace of Blue grouse shot high on the slopes with a 20 guage.
I think I might enjoy challenging my sons to the same Macnab hunt. Perhaps a salmon / steel-head, mule-deer and brace of grouse? all in region 2 /8 in one day?- is this possible - is this a real challenge?
..