Do you dare? MacNab Challenge in Scotland with Delaney & Sons …

Discover Delaney & Sons: European shooting specialists
Discover Delaney & Sons: European shooting specialists

“The challenge is simple, but very tall; land a salmon on the fly, put a grouse in the bag, and take a red stag off the hill…all between dawn and dusk on the same day.”

How do you make three great sporting adventures more exiting and memorable? You complete them in a single day. That’s what Delaney & Sons’ 2022 Macnab Challenge gives you the chance to do.

Based out of  Amhuinnsuidhe Castle on the the Isle of Lewis and Harris in Scotland’s Hebrides island, Delaney & Sons’ 2022 Macnab Challenge is a unique way for you to experience the ultimate in traditional British country sports–and the sporting trip of a lifetime.

Delaney & Sons has been hosting American shooters in the UK, Spain, and Morocco for years now. In this video, you can see why their trips have such a hit. If you’ve ever wanted to shoot overseas, their fully-outfitted adventures are a great introduction to authentic British shooting.

MACNAB: Take a stag, bag a brace of grouse, land a salmon on the fly…all between dawn and dusk.

Watch: Successful MacNab Challenge Scotland – Grouse, Stag, Salmon Video

Successful MacNab Challenge Scotland - Grouse, Stag, Salmon Video
Successful MacNab Challenge Scotland – Grouse, Stag, Salmon Video

 

MacNab Challenge in Scotland with Delaney & Sons ...
MacNab Challenge in Scotland with Delaney & Sons …
MacNab Challenge in Scotland with Delaney & Sons ...
MacNab Challenge in Scotland with Delaney & Sons …
Location of Delaney & Sons 2021 MacNab Challenge. Amhuinnsuidhe Castle is a 55,000 acre sporting paradise.
Location of Delaney & Sons 2022 MacNab Challenge. Amhuinnsuidhe Castle is a 55,000 acre sporting paradise.

SEPTEMBER 17 – SEPTEMBER 24, 2022

7-day adventure
Cost Per MacNabber: $13,550
Cost Per Companion: $1,750

INCLUSIONS:

Three days of MacNab attempts including trophy fees

Stag, Salmon, Grouse over pointers

Accommodations in a historic Castle

Gourmet cooking featuring local seafood, produce and game

All meals and wine with dinner

Vintage & Modern Shotguns and Rifles plus shells

Ground transportation to and from Stornoway Airport

Visitor Permits and Insurance while in the field

Two days of fishing when not a MacNab day

My heart is full again. Meet Stitch, our new Pointer …

Grouse will fear me
Grouse will fear me

Meet Stitch, our new Pointer. She was born 11/10/20 at Open Range Kennels in Inola, OK. She arrived Wednesday night and settling in and getting used to life in the suburbs.

Stitch is loving her new, cushy suburban lifestyle
Stitch is loving her new, cushy suburban lifestyle

We’re thrilled to have her. My wife and I have been heartsick since losing Lexi in November and Sky in January. I feel whole again.

Stitch’s dad is Open Range Terminator, the 2020 Oklahoma Open Shooting Champion. Her mom is Open Range Ice Breaker.

Our new Pointer stitch, already at work on one of my slippers
Our new Pointer stitch, already at work on one of my slippers

Her pedigree includes dogs like Elhew Sinbad (2XCH), Westfall’s Black Ice (5XCH), Elhew Swami (16XCH, HOF ),and Elhew Snakefoot (CH, HOF).

Good gun alert: A 20g Parker Bros. VH SxS …

Parker VH 20 gauge, All Original Condition, (0) Frame 6 lbs. 2 oz. Fine Gun at a Great Price.
Parker VH 20 gauge, All Original Condition, (0) Frame 6 lbs. 2 oz. Fine Gun at a Great Price.

I say “Grouse Gun” you say “Parker” — or at least a lot of guys do. And those guys have a side-by-side like this in mind.

It’s a VH-grade (or Quality V.H. as Parker used to say), and it looks like it’s in nice, original shape.

Parker Bros used to say their VH-grade guns were “A strictly high-grade gun at a very low price” and “A gun for hard usage that cannot be equaled”.

Parker VH 20 gauge, All Original Condition, (0) Frame 6 lbs. 2 oz. Fine Gun at a Great Price.
Parker VH 20 gauge, All Original Condition, (0) Frame 6 lbs. 2 oz. Fine Gun at a Great Price.

Parker VH 20 gauge, All Original Condition, (0) Frame 6 lbs. 2 oz. Fine Gun at a Great Price: This Little Parker was made in 1911. (Serial # 152279) According to records it was sold to a Vermont Doctor in 1911. The gun remained in Vermont for over 100 years. This gun has not been messed with like so many of the Parkers out there. It shows normal wear from careful owners for all those years. It has a pistol-grip stock with its original finish and original “Dogs Head” buttplate. It is stamped as an “0” size frame. Barrel length is 28 inches Chambers are 2& 3/4 inches. Chokes are Right= Cylinder  Left= Modified LOP= 13&3/4 inches. DAC= 1&5/8 inches. DAH= 3 inches. This is an extractor gun, no ejectors. Barrels marked “Vulcan Steel.” Bores are Bright and Shiny as Shown in the photo’s. There is some minor rivuling just forward of the chambers. Lock-up is like new. No movement between the action and the barrels, with or without forend attached. “Tight on the Face”. Finishes are all original and are what you would expect of a gun that was carefully used and maintained over 100 years. It retains most of the original blue on the barrels with some age toning. Typical wear near the breech from where the hand was placed. Some blue remains on the trigger bow. Case color is gone as is the case with most old parkers, due to their using cyanide For case harding, it does not hold-up as well as the charcoal-bone process. Most all screw heads are near perfect, Testimony to the fact that this gun has not been messed-with. This gun was originally intended for New England Grouse and Woodcock. It would serve that same purpose today and for the next 100 years in the hands of careful owners. Price: $3000

Parker VH 20 gauge, All Original Condition, (0) Frame 6 lbs. 2 oz. Fine Gun at a Great Price.
Parker VH 20 gauge, All Original Condition, (0) Frame 6 lbs. 2 oz. Fine Gun at a Great Price.

Good gun alert: 20g Beretta 686 Onyx, straight grip …

 

Beretta ~ 686 Onyx ~ 20 Ga. ~ OU ~ Double Barrel Shotgun
Beretta ~ 686 Onyx ~ 20 Ga. ~ OU ~ Double Barrel Shotgun

Here’s one of the all-time great doubles – and one of the best bird guns you’ll ever find.

Beretta ~ 686 Onyx ~ 20 Ga. ~ OU ~ Double Barrel Shotgun
Beretta ~ 686 Onyx ~ 20 Ga. ~ OU ~ Double Barrel Shotgun

Beretta introduced the 686 Onyx around ’88 and built them until around ’99 or so. In that time, the gun gained a reputation for being a rugged, reliable OU that handled well and was easy to maintain and repair. I saw my first one in the mid ’90s and couldn’t get it out of my head. Like the one for sale here, it had a straight stock and its matte-black finished looked so ‘friggin cool.

Beretta ~ 686 Onyx ~ 20 Ga. ~ OU ~ Double Barrel Shotgun
Beretta ~ 686 Onyx ~ 20 Ga. ~ OU ~ Double Barrel Shotgun

Beretta ~ 686 Onyx ~ 20 Ga. ~ OU ~ Double Barrel ShotgunPrice: $1,399.99
Manufacturer: Serial # F0314XX
Caliber: 20 Ga.
Chambers: 3″
Metal Condition: Very Good
Wood Condition: Very Good with few handling marks
Barrels: 26″ Blued with vent rib
Triggers: Single gold metal trigger
Stock: Walnut straight grip with checkering
Fore End: Matching walnut with checkering
Butt Pad: Rubber Butt Pad
Weight: 6 lbs
Sights: Silver bead
Chokes: IC and Cyl

FIELD TRAINING: GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTER AND IRISH SETTER

Come Back Red Setter's Audie--2nd Place 2007 Futurity. Pic from Come Back's site.
Come Back Red Setter’s Audie–2nd Place 2007 Futurity. Pic from Come Back’ Red Setters.

I’ve always been interested in Red Setters. Last week, I was clicking around online looking for information on them and I came across this short video from Dogumentary TV.

It features Cliff Fleming, dog trainer, president of the Inland Empire NAVHAA, and red-setter fan, as well as some nice footages of a red setter in the field.

BTW: The title is the video is wrong. Someone who didn’t know dogs must have edited it. The video’s about training an Irish/Red Setter and a German Shorthair Pointer.

Maine Grouse Hunting – Those Moments: A Project Upland Film…

Maine Grouse Hunting - Those Moments: A Project Upland Film...
Maine Grouse Hunting – Those Moments: A Project Upland Film…

If you’re jonesing for grouse season like I am, you’ll enjoy this video. Just released by the guys at Project Upland it’s a great look into what makes upland hunting so special–and a great reminder of what’s just a few months away.

Gosh, I miss them. My girls at training camp…

Lexi at Wild Apple Kennels, summer 2018
Lexi at Wild Apple Kennels, summer 2018

I spend a LOT of time with my dogs–most of my time, really. I work from home, and so Lexi and Sky are my constant companions: A run in early am, in the office together all day, a walk in the PM, repeat.

But not this July and August. Both girls went to Wild Apple Kennel at the end of June for summer training, and they’ll be there through this month.

I’m counting down the days.

Sky at Wild Apple Kennels, summer 2018
Sky at Wild Apple Kennels, summer 2018
Sky at Wild Apple Kennels, summer 2018
Sky at Wild Apple Kennels, summer 2018
Sky at Wild Apple Kennels, summer 2018
Sky at Wild Apple Kennels, summer 2018

Partridge Country, a video from Dangerous Cow Publishing …

Dangerous Cow Publishing is an interesting outfit. It looks like they’re media/branding company committed to promoting hunting, conservation, and sustainable practices. They caught my eye because of the cool videos they produce and post online. The one you see here is a great example of their work. Check it out — if you’re into upland hunting, you’ll enjoy it.
PARTRIDGE COUNTRY- A NORTHWOODS HUNTING VIDEO “Partridge Country is a cultural exploration of the traditions of Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock hunting in northern New England without the use of dogs.”

Partridge Country from Dangerous Cow Publishing on Vimeo.

PARTRIDGE COUNTRY- A NORTHWOODS HUNTING VIDEO from Dangerous Cow Publishing
PARTRIDGE COUNTRY- A NORTHWOODS HUNTING VIDEO from Dangerous Cow Publishing

Field Report — Saturday, 10/27…

October is the greatest month of the year. I’m sorry to see another one go. My last day in the field was full of woodcock – 24 in all. I spent the day with friend & Maine Guide Bob Foshay. We hit a string of his picture-perfect covers in central Maine and we were accompanied by nice weather and decent dog work. In all, I managed to down 2 birds. It’s not bad shooting, it’s what I like to call flush & release. Here are pics and video from the day.