After a long Wait....

tommyboy26

I have been target shooting for a few years now and never really thought about the hunting side of shooting. A few months back i got to do a bit of rabbit shooting and from that night i was hooked:D. Since then i have been trying to get a permission of my own with no joy at all so i was starting to give up on the idea of hunting:(. Then out of the blue yesterday evening i got a call to see if i wanted to try a bit of lamping for foxes as you can imagine i jumped at the chance. So at ten o clock i met up with the guy i got the call from. after a quick set up of the rifle{my .308} at his jeep with strolled down a long lane and he ran threw a few quick pointers that i needed to know. So we quitely stepped over the first gate. With the first shine of the torch across the field we spot a pair of eyes but out of range for me:eek: we decide to creep up the side of the field along the hedge to a bit of higher ground. Once there i go prone and a shine of the light and we see the fox again and i have a clear shot just so i slip the safety off and have my finger on the trigger when a second fox joins the first one. I panic a little not knowing which one to shoot just then the second fox turns sideways and its an easier shot so i squeeze the trigger and hear a thump so up i get and we head to see my kill. i was using 150gr remmington umc ammo. when we arrive at the fox which is a vixen we realise she is still alive:eek: both amazed at this we break her neck to put her out of her misery. then on expection of the vixen we noticed that the round went straight throught her and into the ground. We put this down to the ammo and agree we should have had ballistic tips. so after a quick photo:D we start off across the field into the next one and the next one and the next one stopping in each field to try the call and shine the torch but nothing but sheep and cows to be seen so we decide to call it a nite around midnight on the way back we cop a pair of eyes in the distance so down on the ground and find the fox in the scope{i was using a sightron 10-50x60 with very fine cross hair which is great for target work but hard to see in the dark of night} safety off and squeeze the trigger and another thump. up i get and over to where i shot but no fox to be found were both convinced i got him but no fox to be found:mad:. After a bit more screahing for a dead fox we head back to the jeep climbing over the gate the hook on the rifle sling snaps and the rifle falls on the barrell:eek: A quick inspection shows i was lucky just a small bit of muck in the barrell. so its off home for a big clean of the rifle very happy with my first fox kill. i have questions do

1: any recommendations for ballistic tip .308 ammo?
2: has anyone ever had a sling hook break?
3:I have only used the sling twice should i contact the manufacturer to see is this the norm?
4: can anyone help me find a permission? I know this is a very long shot but im having no joy trying to find one myself and maybe some on here might have land or know someone willing to give me a break. im not looking for anything major just somewhere i can go on my own and shoot a few bunnies and the odd fox. im not looking to wipe out anyones permission of bunnies. I know all hunters wont give anyone else permission and this is a shot in the dark but if you dont ask you never know. i live in kildare but dont mind a drive and i have insurance. if someone is willing to help me out send me a pm


thanks
tommy

terminator2

do you not think the .308 is a bit of overkill for foxes , are you going to shoot the bunnies with the same gun

tommyboy26

terminator2 wrote: »

do you not think the .308 is a bit of overkill for foxes , are you going to shoot the bunnies with the same gun

No i dont think it is overkill dead is dead no matter what you use. NO wont be using the .308 for bunnies have a .17 at the moment for that but more than likely changing it for a .22

declan1980

tommyboy26 wrote: »

No i dont think it is overkill dead is dead no matter what you use. NO wont be using the .308 for bunnies have a .17 at the moment for that but more than likely changing it for a .22

why would you change a .17 for a .22
sure the .17 is a far superior gun for bunnies

ssl

terminator2 wrote: »

do you not think the .308 is a bit of overkill for foxes , are you going to shoot the bunnies with the same gun

If overkill = overly humane, what's wrong with foxing with a .308?

tommyboy26

declan1980 wrote: »

why would you change a .17 for a .22
sure the .17 is a far superior gun for bunnies

i have a marlin 917vs and i dont enjoy shooting it and cant really explain why also due to the fact that i cant get my own permisson i really only get to use it on the midlands range. so i am getting a ruger 10-22 for plinking on th range and bunnies if i ever get permission

deerhunter1

terminator2 wrote: »

do you not think the .308 is a bit of overkill for foxes , are you going to shoot the bunnies with the same gun

There is only one kind of dead:eek::D

Longranger

Before we get into a humanity debate(and we won't)a .308 is not overkill for foxes as long as you can afford it,cos you're not eating them,and assuming you don't want to keep the pelts,like you said,dead is dead. If your .17 is a remmy centrefire,then it aint a bunny gun but if it's a hmr rimfire,then it it perfect. If you want to change to a .22 to make target shooting and plinking more affordable,sound. But purely for hunting bunnies,then you won't get better than a hmr IMO.

Longranger

By the way,if you're ever out west,pm me and we'l do a bit of bunny hunting:)

tommyboy26

Longranger wrote: »

Before we get into a humanity debate(and we won't)a .308 is not overkill for foxes as long as you can afford it,cos you're not eating them,and assuming you don't want to keep the pelts,like you said,dead is dead. If your .17 is a remmy centrefire,then it aint a bunny gun but if it's a hmr rimfire,then it it perfect. If you want to change to a .22 to make target shooting and plinking more affordable,sound. But purely for hunting bunnies,then you won't get better than a hmr IMO.

its a hmr and i changed from a .22 to a .17 for the reason of bunny shooting thinking i would get permission handy enough which hasnt happened and it is cheaper to run a .22 than a .17 on the range

tommyboy26

Longranger wrote: »

By the way,if you're ever out west,pm me and we'l do a bit of bunny hunting:)

thank you the offer is greatly appricated and might just find myself out there:D

Tackleberrywho

You can't get shooting in Kildare?
where abouts have you tried?

Did you contact the local IFA rep, as a MNSCI Member you have IFA Countryside insurance and you could use that to break down barriers.

tommyboy26

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

You can't get shooting in Kildare?
where abouts have you tried?

Did you contact the local IFA rep, as a MNSCI Member you have IFA Countryside insurance and you could use that to break down barriers.

live in newbridge tried a few local farmers and still trying i have even started stopping at fields when i see a farmer and asking.

i have IFA insurance how would i find out who the rep for kildare is?

terminator2

deerhunter1 wrote: »

There is only one kind of dead:eek::D

as tommboy said fired at the second fox , fox not found , ive a funny idea bullet either missed him or passed through him , maybe he was firing fmjs , but fox not dead :rolleyes:

Tackleberrywho

tommyboy26 wrote: »

live in newbridge tried a few local farmers and still trying i have even started stopping at fields when i see a farmer and asking.

i have IFA insurance how would i find out who the rep for kildare is?

Kilcullen Leinster (045) 481301 Jimmy Walsh / John Osborne Tues/w Sheep and Weanlings (Seasonal)
Wed/w Cattle

These Dudes run a cattle Mart, if anyone knows farmers they do

tommyboy26

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

Kilcullen Leinster (045) 481301 Jimmy Walsh / John Osborne Tues/w Sheep and Weanlings (Seasonal)
Wed/w Cattle

These Dudes run a cattle Mart, if anyone knows farmers they do

thanks tack will give them a ring first thing in the morning

Longranger

tommyboy26 wrote: »

thank you the offer is greatly appricated and might just find myself out there:D

No probs,just give me a few weeks to sort out my new rifle and then let the bunnies fly!

tommyboy26

Kilcullen Leinster (045) 481301 Jimmy Walsh / John Osborne Tues/w Sheep and Weanlings (Seasonal)
Wed/w Cattle

These Dudes run a cattle Mart, if anyone knows farmers they do

I got talking to john and alas no joy. He says its hard to get permission these days and said unfortunatly he couldnt help me out.

Tackleberrywho

Did you re-inforce IFA Membership?
Do you not know anyone local that could into you?

tommyboy26

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

Did you re-inforce IFA Membership?
Do you not know anyone local that could into you?

yeah i pleaded the best case i could to him but got the same answer sorry cant help you but keep tryin your local farmers. Which i am doing.

Tackleberrywho

tommyboy26 wrote: »

yeah i pleaded the best case i could to him but got the same answer sorry cant help you but keep tryin your local farmers. Which i am doing.

I suppose around Urban Centres Farmers must be plagued with people going on their land.

Do you have no brothers,uncles,cousins,mates that are from the locality and farming backgrounds?
Or even go to the sales and ask can you advertise fox/vermin control for free Fully insured IFA Countryside membership (if the mart operators let you)

it can't be that hard, once you get one permission loads more will follow;)

doyle61

Tommy, you'll find it hard to get permission anywhere around newbridge because it's mainly stud farms. Your best bet is to try back towards Kildare town and from there to rathangan direction. Try farmers towards Ellistown direction also. It's more cattle pasture them places and you might have better chances.

thelurcher

Tommy - you should have asked what round was suitable before you went experimenting on live game - that's not the most sporting way of doing things.
Overkill is the wrong word - just that most rounds for the 308 won't be designed for an animal the size of a fox. I remember reading an article in EDRD I think about a pro terrier man who said he never came across a fox that wasn't spannable - in all his years of hunt service - that'll tell you the kind of penetration you'll need.

I've killed more than my fair share of foxes over the years - but never thought of humane dispatch by breaking one's neck - I'm fairly well built but not ashamed to say I struggle from time to time with the odd old buck rabbit the lurcher brings back.
You must be built like a brick ****house.

moby30

Well done on shooting the first foxes tommy. I have permission down in Kildare and the reason being the land owner couldn't find anyone local with a suitable calibre. I'm only speaking about about personal experience but I'd imagine most farmers might be put off by your calibre Of rifle especially being flat land. I know dead is dead but you can kill a fox with a bazuka Doesnt mean the farmer will welcome you with open arms though. I do a lot of shooting in co Dublin as well and I wouldn't be allowed shoot with anything bigger than a .22lr on some of it? Not havin a go and I know you can't have every calibre either just tellin you my experience. Don't be worryin about losing the odd fox either. Often hit a fox hard and couldn't find him especially in the dark- I always went back in the day time and sometimes found him a few yards from where I shot him. Best of luck.

tommyboy26

doyle61 wrote: »

Tommy, you'll find it hard to get permission anywhere around newbridge because it's mainly stud farms. Your best bet is to try back towards Kildare town and from there to rathangan direction. Try farmers towards Ellistown direction also. It's more cattle pasture them places and you might have better chances.

Good idea will try that

One shot on kill

hey tommy

i live in kildare town not sure gettin you permissions straight of but if you came out with me a few times and gave a couple of farmers a chance to get to know you they could sign them for you

poulo6.5

a balistic tip or hollow point bullet should do you but bare in mind that most .308 rounds are designed for larger animals and would need more than the size of a fox to start expansion.
i have shot a good few fox with my .308 but i use BT's and i have had no complaints

if you want to keep using your .308 for foxing then try and get your hands on some 125gr nosler ballistic tip from HPS. they are designed for vermin shooting and are magic for the job.

as far as permission is concerned just get out there and press the flesh you will be surprised how accommodating most farmers are.


ps. UMC is muck. i wouldn't use it for anything least of all hunting;)

tommyboy26

One shot on kill wrote: »

hey tommy

i live in kildare town not sure gettin you permissions straight of but if you came out with me a few times and gave a couple of farmers a chance to get to know you they could sign them for you

Sent you a pm

tommyboy26

poulo6.5 wrote: »

a balistic tip or hollow point bullet should do you but bare in mind that most .308 rounds are designed for larger animals and would need more than the size of a fox to start expansion.
i have shot a good few fox with my .308 but i use BT's and i have had no complaints

if you want to keep using your .308 for foxing then try and get your hands on some 125gr nosler ballistic tip from HPS. they are designed for vermin shooting and are magic for the job.

as far as permission is concerned just get out there and press the flesh you will be surprised how accommodating most farmers are.


ps. UMC is muck. i wouldn't use it for anything least of all hunting;)

I never usually use anythin bar hps but jim griffen is out and the umc's were lyin in the press for months and were only thing i had.

Tackleberrywho

tommyboy26 wrote: »

I never usually use anythin bar hps but jim griffen is out and the umc's were lyin in the press for months and were only thing i had.

There is more than one dealer in the country


I shot a few foxes with the .308, all ballistic tipped.

A .223 will do more damage in some cases than the .308, the .308 just makes a bigger hole in the ground upon exiting fox

It wasn't me!

tommyboy26 wrote: »

I never usually use anythin bar hps but jim griffen is out and the umc's were lyin in the press for months and were only thing i had.

Just remember that not all HPS is suitable. The target shooting stuff certainly isn't.

tommyboy26

Thanks to everyone for the advice and thanks to all the lads for the invites to go hunting.