You're not safe in the fog you know

[JohnGalway 1,043]

Saturday February 6th

 

The fog rolled in slowly off the Atlantic all afternoon, I watched it move up the bay and start swallowing the island across the way. It's hard to predict whether it'll stay for the evening or not, but I thought I'll head out and check a few places anyway as it's rarely in every corner bad enough to stop play.

 

The first port of call was my own farm, I checked it over from another spot that gives a good vantage point. Unfortunately it's one of the worst areas for fog and didn't disappoint on that aspect tonight, it's a no go for shooting.

 

My second call was where I last shot a fox, it's close enough to another bit of my land and a place my Dad also has sheep. There's a lot of mountain and a small wood nearby. But, just like earlier the fog is good and thick and it would be pointless to stay.

 

I'm 50/50 on whether to give in or check one last spot nearby. I could check others but I don't want to travel tonight. I make my decision to go when I reach the turn off and head out on my final destination of the night. It's foggy in patches but not nearly as bad as the other two areas.

 

I pick a place where a second cousin of mine is wintering ewe hoggets. They're being meal fed so as soon as I pull up beside the pen I'm surrounded by an instant, if noisy, fan club. Once I walk past the feed troughs they lose interest in following and bleating at me, which suits me fine. I get set up about eighty five yards from the road and start off the rabbit distress call.

 

It's foggy in fits and starts. The breeze direction isn't ideal. With the road to my back I'm facing the small river which runs parallel, I'm expecting any fox to appear either from my right hand side along the river, or from over my left shoulder and across the road from the furze (gorse) plantation.

 

I'm there less than five minutes when low and behold a fast moving eye breaks through the fence along the road over my left hand shoulder. I get the rifle onto the rock beside me and find the fox again. I'll have to check my barking as three separate loud YAP!'s failed to stop this predator. I resorted to roaring HEY! upon which my fox promptly stopped dead behind the only little tree in view...

 

I picked a flight path through the branches and *BANG* - THUMP! Another vixen bites the dust at all of fifty yards.

 

[Deker 3,478]

Another good result and read John!!

 

Out of interest a couple of questions, I think that's the heavy barrel on the rifle and the NF is heavy too, how do you get on with the weight!!! I get the impression you are not always out that long, or wait in ambush...could well be wrong, do you find the weight any sort of issue!

 

Lambing, seems to start at different times throughout the UK, when do you start out there??

 

 

ATB!!

[JohnGalway 1,043]

Yep, the NF is heavy, the varmint barrel is heavy and the laminate stock is heavy. I've changed my tactics since first starting shooting, when I used to walk, walk, walk. Now, I set up in places I know are good for foxes, pick a nice hill and stick to it, maybe move to another hill later. Walking is now kept to a minimum. I don't like the weight anymore, not just because it's heavy but I get tendon troubles now and then and it ain't always fun. If I was doing it all over again I'd be tempted for a light weight custom rifle, but I still figure heavy and accurate go hand in glove for the most part.

 

Funny you should mention lambing, saw twins at foot at the mart yesterday. My ewes won't starting to lamb until the last week in March. I know one guy here already has lambs but they were off sponged ewes and will be show sheep So basically the season starts in March with the bulk coming in April and a few out in May even.

[the cheater 1]

Good result John,Enjoyed the read and your persistence payed off

 

Still not been back for that fox i missed the other week,although it is still about as we,ve had more snow and it,s tracks are around.No real panick just yet as Pheasant season,s over and the lambing is still 6-7weeks off.

 

Finally starting to get a break from overtime so hopefully some shooting will follow.

[JohnGalway 1,043]

Good result John,Enjoyed the read and your persistence payed off

 

Still not been back for that fox i missed the other week,although it is still about as we,ve had more snow and it,s tracks are around.No real panick just yet as Pheasant season,s over and the lambing is still 6-7weeks off.

 

Finally starting to get a break from overtime so hopefully some shooting will follow.

 

You'll get him, I have faith in ya!

 

You should have a real good idea where he's mooching about with the snow, we never got any here.

 

Just had door to door marketers call, put them on the list too!