# Anyone for Haggis hunting? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 28, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730 "2003-11-28T15:17:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/1 "2003-11-28T15:17:39Z")
According to [this news site](http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7991385%255E13762,00.html), > [@](#): > > ONE-THIRD of all American visitors to Scotland believe haggis is a real animal, according to a survey yesterday. > > Almost one in four (23 per cent) of those questioned said they had come to Scotland under the belief they could hunt and catch Scotland’s most famous dish. > > US tour operators are even punting haggis hunting tours, which have proved a big hit with Americans eager for the “authentic” Scottish experience. I wonder what the best way to catch one is? ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/2 "2003-11-28T15:28:19Z")
Run 'em down hills. The wee buggers have small forelegs and they tend to tumble when headed downwards. ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/3 "2003-11-28T15:31:52Z")
You wonder out onto the moor (Scotland has moors right? No, that was Spain.) and hold open a burlap sack. Then you make the call of the Wild Haggis (Haaaaaaaaggis, h’gis, h’gis, h’gis!) while your hunting partners form a huge circle around you and flush all the Haggis your way. When the Haggis get close you throw the burlap sack over the fattest one and you have just caught your very own Haggis! Catch and Release is the only sporting option in a Haggis Hunt. (“I caught a twelve pounder! Then I set it free!” They like to hear this down at the pub after.) ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/4 "2003-11-28T15:47:42Z")
[Everything you always wanted to know about haggis hunting.](http://www.haggishunt.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/5 "2003-11-28T15:51:33Z")
If you can find a haggis it’s fairly easy to catch it, as they’re not that fast, but they are shy and hide well. However they have become more accustomed to people recently, and often follow someone hoping to scavenge some food. Thus the best method for an American hunting hagges is to find a Scottish native and draw any haggis into the open by imitating the haggis mating call: “Why are you such a pansy? Is it because you’re from england?” You will never want for haggis again. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/6 "2003-11-28T15:53:31Z")
You know I’d blame the Americans for gross stupidity if I didn’t find links like this from [Scotsman.com](http://www.haggishunt.com/%5B/url) > [@](#): > > ONLY 2 DAYS TO GO UNTIL HAGGIS SEASON > > Can you feel the excitement building? The 2003-2004 haggis hunting season is nearly upon us. Come 30th November, when the hunt begins afresh, there will be yet more fantastic prizes - and an exciting haggis games section. > When the season starts, you do not need to go out onto the hills, nor will you have to harm one of these rare creatures ([haggishunt.com](http://haggishunt.com) is totally environmentally friendly). You can hunt the haggis from the comfort of your computer. I mean, yeah I’ll still think they tend to the gullible but… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/7 "2003-11-28T15:55:01Z")
Which turns out to be **Floater** ’s link. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/8 "2003-11-28T16:00:42Z")
> [@](#): > > I wonder what the best way to catch one is? Well, first you have to get a snipe and use it as bait, and then when the haggis comes after the snipe, you sic a drop-bear on it… ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/9 "2003-11-28T16:01:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Grey \* > \*\*Run 'em down hills. The wee buggers have small forelegs and they tend to tumble when headed downwards. \*\* My mum used to tell me this when I was a wee bairn!! She said haggises were little furry animals with one leg long longer than the other for rolling up and down the Scottish Highlands. We used to go on holiday in the highlands a lot as well, so we’d be driving along and it would go something like this: Mum: Ooooh quick, look - there’s one!!! Me: (flattening my nose against the window in my haste to spot one the elusive creatures) WHERE WHERE WHERE??? Mum: Awww, you just missed it! This could go on for hours. It was years before I found out the truth - that haggises are actually low-land beasties… ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/10 "2003-11-28T16:22:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fretful Porpentine \* > \*\*Well, first you have to get a snipe and use it as bait, and then when the haggis comes after the snipe, you sic a drop-bear on it… \*\* Except a [Snipe](http://www.nmnh.si.edu/vert/birds/snipe.jpg) is a real bird. Something I didn’t know until I looked at a bird book a few months ago. Unless the Smithonian is having a go at me. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/11 "2003-11-28T17:16:21Z")
How to hunt a haggis. First fill your hip flask with something appropriate - a few ounces of Glen Hoddle always goes down well on a cold moor. Then collect your packs of Bandersnatches and decoy snark, and form up. Lurk. Catch haggis. Shag Haggis (traditional but not compulsory. Cook Haggis. Throw haggis away (have you ever eaten one of the little buggers?) or feed haggis to pet wombles. Drink more Glen Hoddle. ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/12 "2003-11-28T17:28:52Z")
One thing you gotta remember when hunting haggis… be vewy vewy qwiet! ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/13 "2003-11-28T17:32:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by if6was9 \* > \*\*One thing you gotta remember when hunting haggis… be vewy vewy qwiet! \*\* _rowley birkin qc_ and veh veh veh drunk _rowley birkin qc_ ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/14 "2003-11-28T21:53:30Z")
It should be Catch and Release only. ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/15 "2003-11-29T03:00:00Z")
It’s part of the Scottish Grand Slam. Bag one of those puppies, a trophy bagpipe, and a Loch Ness, and you’ve got into the record books. Good luck getting the Loch Ness Monster to the taxidermist’s though. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/16 "2003-11-29T05:03:42Z")
You must remember NOT to hunt the haggis with dogs, though, as hunting foxes or other wild mammals with dogs is now illegal. btw - so why _is_ the “snipe hunt” thing a joke? I once saw an episode of “Frasier” in which it was clear, in context, that the whole thing was a joke, but, since, as has been remarked, it is a real bird, Celyn was confused. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/17 "2003-11-30T11:49:01Z")
Also, contacts in the UK tell me we Americans don’t understand sarcasm. Could be meaningless coincidence, eh? ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/18 "2003-11-30T13:36:29Z")
For what it’s worth, the online M-W dictionary defines haggis as: “a traditionally Scottish dish that consists of the heart, liver, and lungs of a sheep or a calf minced with suet, onions, oatmeal, and seasonings boiled in the stomach of the animal” Maybe I should have left well enough alone. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/19 "2003-12-05T13:18:04Z")
Worse yet, **Antiochus** - there are people who insist on giving it long chat-up speech before they eat it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730/20 "2003-12-06T04:39:40Z")
My mother was born and raised in Scotland. Her parents moved the whole family here (in stages) and she arrived when she was sixteen. My grandparents lived across the street from us. We always went to the local Highland Games. When I was old enough to read, one day after we visited the games I asked my Gram why we didn’t ever have any of the Haggis that was heavily advertised at the games we had just attended. Gram said “Because we don’t drink.” Make of that what you will. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-haggis-hunting/215730.md?page=2)