a couple of hours shooting while we were bored

[born ferreter 1]

i went out with intent to shoot a few bunnies on some permission we have for ferreting on a water reservoir. we arrived at the landowners had abit of crack with him and he was fine with us going on so off we went, walking over to the wall where we would leave our gun slips and get ready we climbed over and saw some deer footprints in the thick mud, as we walked to the top of the bank there was a few small trees and i had spotted what thought at the time was a rabbit but then turned out to be 2 big buck hares and a small female each going there different ways once spooked. we carried on to see that the hare had stopped and was about 40yards from us but being a lurcher lad i like to run the hares as i think they are a waste being shot stud still. we get to the corner of the reservoir and my friend see 2 rabbits playing in the bushes and run out and jump in to some over grown grass so we sat a waited to see if there would be anymore activity, 10mins had pasted and nothing so we moved on we hadnt ventured ound this part so we didnt no what to expect but we wernt let down with 2 more hares and to our amazment 2 female roe deers running no more than 10yards away at the bottem of the bank. we walked round the corner to where we normally ferret and see quite a few rabbits out but stalking them would be a big dog fox so we lie prone behind a bush in our camoflage clothing the fox would keep coming closer without aid of any call, i told my mate it was only round the side then it walked round a spotted us it stud frozen in the dying sun as it saw us i had my cross hairs on its forehead no more then ten yards away then i dropped the gun and let it retreet back round the corner. we got back up a walked on to see a few rabbits still out but none off guard to get close enough to to get a shot off. i hid behind a large pipe as one with it head slightly raised about 35-40yards away was looking around but because i had had sighted my gun in around the 25 yard mark give to much over and missed so it ran off we had covered what tthere was to do and started to walk home as there was nothing left out. but it had raised the question could a sub12 pounds .177 air rifle kill an adult fox, the only reason i didnt take the shot was purly because i didnt want to injure it and let it run off because i couldnt get a second off of quick enough but we thought it would have be something spectactular if we had killed it and what a fine fox it was. sorry there is no pictures we were guttted on such a great day for them i will try to take a camera in future

 

has anyone had an experience like this and what have you done?

 

lewis

[The Duncan 802]

I have put an airgun shot deliberately high over a foxes head to send it back the other way when it was stalking goslings at my posh manor house shoot (she doesn't want me hitting the foxes though , but doesn't want to lose 'her' geese either).

 

I have had foxes come as close before when I've been in my 'realtree'.

[born ferreter 1]

i was wearing the british army jacket with a balacava on and gloves so it couldnt see any of me but it came about 15yards away until it realised something was wrong a spotted me i was lying still looking through the scope until i had my crosshairs on its forehead

[AirgunStan 0]

With all due respect it should be obvious that a sub 12lb air rifle is incapable of dispatching a fox.

[Lewis Ste 245]

from 15yards straight at the fore head??? id rather not take my chances with one would you?

lewis (born ferreters new profile)

[gurtwurz 792]

you'll find yourself on very dodgy ground there mate, generally speaking the airgun aint the tool for that job, specially when you consider that .22 rimmies are sometimes not up to the task... personally, i wouldnt consider it even remotely sensible, unless i was shooting a .17hmr or a sensible calibre centrefire rifle.

 

its a subject best avoided on an open forum, since most folks'll damn you for even thinking it, never mind doing it!!

 

cheers, wurz

[Lewis Ste 245]

well im new to the sport its my first season shooting. i didnt take the shot because i wasnt sure it would of be humane like it said in the write up. im always looking for tips and pointers from the more experienced shooters and this is why i asked the question because i wasnt sure

thanks lewis

[The Duncan 802]

Fair play mate - better to ask than pull the trigger when wondering 'what if'.

 

Cheers

 

Duncan.