A fox and a happy farmer

dodderangler

Had some time off today so I headed out as weather was brightening a bit.
Got up to my permission and got the gear ready when a farmer came up to me in a jeep and asked if I was heading out so I sai I was. He explained he has had a fox knocking about the yard an took a few chicks and a duck in past few weeks and most recently this morning.
So I followed him to his land and he took me out. Only has 60 acres but sure it's land. He said he's not sure where the fox is but there's a hole in a ditch that might hold a fox. As we walked down I told him his fox is in this field. He asked why and I told him tht the magpies are going mad at something.
True enough they were cackling in a tree above the hole he told me about.
I waited five mins and out she popped.
Was 136 yards away and I dropped her in the chest and out the shoulder
She didn't look like she had kits an was possibly last years as she wasn't that big.
Anyway that's my first fox with the .223 axis and it dropped her on the spot. Great gun and happy out. Now have new permission and has plenty of rabbits and by looks of it a few pheasants popping about
Happy days

deerhunter1

dodderangler wrote: »

Had some time off today so I headed out as weather was brightening a bit.
Got up to my permission and got the gear ready when a farmer came up to me in a jeep and asked if I was heading out so I sai I was. He explained he has had a fox knocking about the yard an took a few chicks and a duck in past few weeks and most recently this morning.
So I followed him to his land and he took me out. Only has 60 acres but sure it's land. He said he's not sure where the fox is but there's a hole in a ditch that might hold a fox. As we walked down I told him his fox is in this field. He asked why and I told him tht the magpies are going mad at something.
True enough they were cackling in a tree above the hole he told me about.
I waited five mins and out she popped.
Was 136 yards away and I dropped her in the chest and out the shoulder
She didn't look like she had kits an was possibly last years as she wasn't that big.
Anyway that's my first fox with the .223 axis and it dropped her on the spot. Great gun and happy out. Now have new permission and has plenty of rabbits and by looks of it a few pheasants popping about
Happy days

Nice one

aaakev

That's what it's all about man, fair play

noeleire

Good shooting ..

pm.

Great shot...

dodderangler

Went out to different land as I had spotted a cub outside a den other day but didn't get off a shot.
Anyway got into field and spotted a rabbit at the end of it so I took him in the was and had a smoke then.
Up top of field out walks 3 cubs and were walking about the ditch together. I didn't want to take the shot as I was unsure of it.
So they headed in and I crept up a bit closer

Waited for few mins and nothing.
Took out my homemade tenter field and gave a few blows.
3 of them ran out an I missed one shot but almost straight away managed another through the white patch on the chest and out it came through shoulder blades.

Now I know they'll be back out again. So il keep at them. Not always pretty but has to be done.
End result
One cub and 2 bunnies

aaakev

You with get the rest man, next time try spot mammy then shoot her first, the Cubs will all come out to her then!

Good shooting again

dodderangler

Thanks man. Was always told to beer shoot mammy because if the cubs run and don't appear again that they'll starve and I know I'm out to kill em but that's a rough way for any animal to die

aaakev

dodderangler wrote: »

Thanks man. Was always told to beer shoot mammy because if the cubs run and don't appear again that they'll starve and I know I'm out to kill em but that's a rough way for any animal to die

i agree you defo dont want them starving but cubs that young will always come out

what did you shoot that cub with? Vmax? looks pretty devastating on the exit

dodderangler

aaakev wrote: »

i agree you defo dont want them starving but cubs that young will always come out

what did you shoot that cub with? Vmax? looks pretty devastating on the exit

Boat tail Barnaul 55grain( I know they're Shiite and jammed on me before)
But I shot that vixen other day with the same. They do a good bit of damage and doing the job. And at 90 yards aswell.Good for rabbits aswell.
Il be back up later. Would the vixen have moved them do you think? And would it be worth it heading back up?

Larry60

Not having a go or anything..but I am inclined to leave the foxes alone from after lambing period untill the cubs are independant. Nice shooting though.

aaakev

dodderangler wrote: »

Boat tail Barnaul 55grain( I know they're Shiite and jammed on me before)
But I shot that vixen other day with the same. They do a good bit of damage and doing the job. And at 90 yards aswell.Good for rabbits aswell.
Il be back up later. Would the vixen have moved them do you think? And would it be worth it heading back up?

Defo worth headin back out, from experience they may well still be there but she may be very weary now

Larry60 wrote: »

Not having a go or anything..but I am inclined to leave the foxes alone from after lambing period untill the cubs are independant. Nice shooting though.

That's not always an option for everyone, a vixen with Cubs that size is going to be hungry and hunting, fine if there is just sheep around but the likes of chickens and ducks in a farmyard or even someone's garden would be easy pickings

deeksofdoom

You should shoot the parents first and then wait for the cubs to come out they will hang around the mother. Cruel but effective.

dodderangler

deeksofdoom wrote: »

You should shoot the parents first and then wait for the cubs to come out they will hang around the mother. Cruel but effective.

Was always told the opposite. If the vixen pops out and I take her would the cubs hang around and pop back out again?

Eddie B

dodderangler wrote: »

Thanks man. Was always told to beer shoot mammy because if the cubs run and don't appear again that they'll starve and I know I'm out to kill em but that's a rough way for any animal to die

Believe it or not lad, a cub of that size won't starve!

Their well capable of catching moths, mice, worms, and eating carrion, berries e.t.c! Lots of easy pickings for cubs this time of year!

aaakev

dodderangler wrote: »

Was always told the opposite. If the vixen pops out and I take her would the cubs hang around and pop back out again?

they will, they wont know something is wrong and will walk straight out to her, even if they are unsure they will come eventually

Capercaillie

dodderangler wrote: »

Was always told the opposite. If the vixen pops out and I take her would the cubs hang around and pop back out again?

Dig them out of den is the only way to be sure they don't end up starving to death.

Hunter456

Cubs at that size won't starve they will be fine and dependent on their own. If your in a club or sheep duck, chicken farmer/keeper controlling foxes/vermin is a most my reasons for hitting foxes hard is that I rather pheasants on my shoot. So you need to ask your self what would you rather on your shoots.

deeksofdoom

dodderangler wrote: »

Was always told the opposite. If the vixen pops out and I take her would the cubs hang around and pop back out again?

The cubs will look for the parents.

dodderangler

Hunter456 wrote: »

Cubs at that size won't starve they will be fine and dependent on their own. If your in a club or sheep duck, chicken farmer/keeper controlling foxes/vermin is a most my reasons for hitting foxes hard is that I rather pheasants on my shoot. So you need to ask your self what would you rather on your shoots.

There is a lot more pheasants around now than I've seen in years and I'm probably only one who shoots the foxes on this land .
An only during summer months the duck come up to breed but after that they feck off

dodderangler

deeksofdoom wrote: »

The cubs will look for the parents.

So if I hit the mother wi I have to remove her and then wait again or just leave her and the cubs will come back out anyway

Hunter456

leave her near the earth the cubs will come out to her.

deeksofdoom

dodderangler wrote: »

So if I hit the mother wi I have to remove her and then wait again or just leave her and the cubs will come back out anyway

Well for that picture which is a couple of years ago I spotted the whole family out tumbling around in a freshly cut silage field. I watched what they were doing for a while, picked out the parents and shot them first. The Cubs didn't leave the field so I was able to shoot the rest of them. Silage fields are where you are guaranteed to meet them at this time of year. Cubs and all will be out.

Hunter456

cubs will have plenty to eat as the silage is being cut and easy meals are within reach for the cubs as snails, field mice, and other animals will be caught in the cut grass go to a silage field and watch for the foxes every fox in the neighboring fields will feeding on these...

dodderangler

I went up Saturday and set myself up in nice spot and well hidden.
Called a few times but nothing showed. Stayed for bout half hour.
Would she have moved the cubs on?

Eddie B

dodderangler wrote: »

I went up Saturday and set myself up in nice spot and well hidden.
Called a few times but nothing showed. Stayed for bout half hour.
Would she have moved the cubs on?

Could have! But she may also have been out, and seen you before you seen her! Also wind may have been wrong, or just one of thode days they were sitting tight!

Capercaillie

dodderangler wrote: »

I went up Saturday and set myself up in nice spot and well hidden.
Called a few times but nothing showed. Stayed for bout half hour.
Would she have moved the cubs on?

Vixen will have several dens. If she feels threatened she will move.