Three fat foxes

[shovel leaner 7,650]

I’ve been neglecting my fox control on the shoot recently, for a few reasons , one being that they don’t seem to be bothering the birds much , as the birds are able to look after themselves , and now and we’ve started shooting  they tend to tidy up the injured or dead birds that the picking up team miss . The other reason is I’ve been busy with another night shooting adventure that I would love to share with you and I’ve had some very interesting and unusual outings , but alas they are not for a public forum . 
            But last night I sat down and flicked through the TV channels, I looked at my Mrs who was flat out on the settee, mouth open , snoring and thought ,” f@ck this” I’m off out . I loaded up the pickup with all my gear and headed off to the shoot . I had a rough idea where I thought I might have some success , I jumped in the mule and headed off to a spot overlooking a valley that gives a really good vantage point and a wide field of view and most importantly a safe shot . I pegged out the caller and sat back with a cup of tea while the box worked it’s magic. Well the magic wasn’t working last night and after half an hour I decided on a change of tactics. I was just going to drive and spot . I tend to just trundle along with the lights off , scanning with the thermal , spot a fox turn facing it and if I’m a long way off , close the distance. I think I must have become a better shot in recent times as I always used to try and squeak them a bit closer , but now I tend to just shoot them where they are , and now feel comfortable taking shots at 200 meters plus . Some of the lower fields are waterlogged and still stubble , so I had a look on these , I spotted a fox in the distance and closed down on it , but there was the cricket club behind it so not a safe shot , then it disappeared through a hedge. I carried on towards some fields that have been drilled, and spotted a fox about 180 meters , it was preoccupied sniffing around and seemed oblivious to my presence, I took my time watching him through the scope and when it presented itself side on I pulled the trigger, it spun around like a spinning top wriggling and writhing, it stopped for a second and that was all I needed for a follow up shot which stopped it dead . Unfortunately for me that meant a long walk over the drilling to collect it and the mud clung to my wellies making progress difficult and I must of looked like Herman Munster lumbering along . When I picked it up it was a massive vixen , really fat , with a superb coat , probably as big a vixen as I’ve shot . 
            I carried on the drilled fields and in the next one by the holiday cottages I spotted one , there was no way I could close the distance on it because I can’t drive on the drillings and it was headed away from me . I squeaked and it stopped to look over it’s shoulder and at a distance that I later Mapulatored was 184 meters I dropped it . Another long tiresome walk to retrieve it , a dog fox and a fat one also .  I was thinking of calling it a night but thought while I’m here I might as well look by this one pen that was nearby. Glad I did because I could hardly believe my luck , there next to the pen was a fox and it didn’t seem troubled by my approach, but I didn’t push my luck and stopped to take the shot , I took my time to place the bullet as well as I could and Squeezed the trigger , I was slightly concerned that it would disturb all the birds at roost but not a murmur from the pheasants. No long walk this time and a short drive of about 60 meters to retrieve another fine fat dog fox . I was really happy with this as it’s proximity to the pen meant he was only there for one thing , so he joined the two others in the “ mystery object “ which is proving to be an excellent bit of kit . Got to be better evening than the TV and an unconscious wife .

[FOXHUNTER 5,021]

Great stuff SL , been raining non stop for 3 days here so have cabin fever. Bet you were chuffed picking one up next to the pen.

[ianm 2,594]

Cracking result, definitely better than sat indoors watching the "fools lantern".

[walshie 2,804]

That's good going. 

[shovel leaner 7,650]

3 hours ago, FOXHUNTER said:

Great stuff SL , been raining non stop for 3 days here so have cabin fever. Bet you were chuffed picking one up next to the pen.

I’ve been seeing the odd bit of trade near that pen all year , but never a fox near it . There were some Wing feathers the other day which had obviously been bitten in half by a fox , so I knew one was about . Of all those three that’s the one I’m glad to see gone .

[si brown 8,486]

1 hour ago, shovel leaner said:

I’ve been seeing the odd bit of trade near that pen all year , but never a fox near it . There were some Wing feathers the other day which had obviously been bitten in half by a fox , so I knew one was about . Of all those three that’s the one I’m glad to see gone .

I text a local keeper last week, I know they like to leave a few for the hunt but I saw 4 in one field next to one of the bigger pens, I wasn’t even looking for them!

was out rat bashing the other night and saw one in the yard polishing off the farm dogs tea.. I’d not been to this place in a while so I took me fox pro for a test drive.. didn’t even get it out of my coat pocket as there was one 150yard away strait off the bat.. saw 6 all in all in one massive field, gonna sort out with the farm next door if he’s happy for me to use the 6.5, what I use is effective and I drop a lot at suitable ranges.. called two of them in but as I was using this I don’t do posts

I've seen more foxes in last month than ever before

[BenBhoy 4,706]

Fantastic writing mate & a great evening. Definitely better than telly...

6 hours ago, shovel leaner said:

Got to be better evening than the TV and an unconscious wife

But you can have some fun with a passed out missus......!!

[Stavross 15,217]

Cracking write up and result

[Sausagedog 7,381]

Not telling my granny how to suck eggs but don't be fooled into thinking fox will only eat your cripples!

Grasshopper

[shovel leaner 7,650]

33 minutes ago, Sausagedog said:

Not telling my granny how to suck eggs but don't be fooled into thinking fox will only eat your cripples!

Grasshopper

“ thank you master “

[shovel leaner 7,650]

4 hours ago, BenBhoy said:

Fantastic writing mate & a great evening. Definitely better than telly...

But you can have some fun with a passed out missus......!!

Ben , I’d sooner have a bacon sandwich...... tastes better and lasts longer

[BenBhoy 4,706]

Less mess too

[Meece 1,957]

I really enjoyed reading this write up. It's just like being there. You can almost feel the odd drop of rain on the wind and the sound of the leaves on the wind. AND feel the football's of mud clogged on the wellies. I remember one time where I got off of a drilling onto a track and it felt really weird like being weightless after I'd scraped  the mud off on the sheep netting. 

Edited October 16, 2020 by Meece

[Dervburner 2,549]

17 hours ago, si brown said:

I text a local keeper last week, I know they like to leave a few for the hunt but I saw 4 in one field next to one of the bigger pens, I wasn’t even looking for them!

was out rat bashing the other night and saw one in the yard polishing off the farm dogs tea.. I’d not been to this place in a while so I took me fox pro for a test drive.. didn’t even get it out of my coat pocket as there was one 150yard away strait off the bat.. saw 6 all in all in one massive field, gonna sort out with the farm next door if he’s happy for me to use the 6.5, what I use is effective and I drop a lot at suitable ranges.. called two of them in but as I was using this I don’t do posts

I've seen more foxes in last month than ever before

Is that your original .25 impact si, or is it a new one? Looks like the latest model.

[si brown 8,486]

6 hours ago, Dervburner said:

Is that your original .25 impact si, or is it a new one? Looks like the latest model.

It’s a new one, chopped me old one in while it was still worth a few quid