Tweaking The Rules In Search Of Success

With one failed Macnab attempt behind him, a determined Patrick Laurie modifies the quarry demands and sets offin high spirits

- Patrick Laurie

My first attempt to achieve a Macnab ended in disaster. Challenged by Shooting Times to tackle the coveted combination of a stag, a brace of grouse and a salmon (Galloway Holy Grail, 2 September), I failed to connect with anything. Embarrassing but, in my defence, it has to be said that the attempt was made on a day of miserable rain and driving gales, where the odds seemed to be permanently tipped against me.

My chances were also hampered by the fact that grouse, stags and salmon are hard to come by in this part of the world, and the attempt was always going to be tricky. As part of a counter-challenge, I suggested the idea of a different Macnab, which might be a little more achievable.

Galloway has almost 200 miles of coastline bordering the Solway Firth and the Irish Sea, and I would stand a much greater chance of success if I could swap my salmon for a bass.

More doable

While red stags are frequently found on the hill, roebuck are always easier to come by. By my reckoning, a Galloway Macnab would consist of a bass, a grouse and a roebuck bagged in a 24-hour period — tough, but certainly more doable than the classic version.

The day of the challenge dawned bright and clear. That made a refreshing change after one of the wettest months anybody could remember and it was hard not to feel a note of optimism. I headed for the hill with my rifle, keen to start the day with a decent roebuck. This is a good place to stalk but there are also some decent coveys of grouse in the deep heather.