Foxing

Gyr

Well-Known Member
I was wondering now it's april and with the vixens having their litters whether the fox shooters among us call a halt until the first cubs appear later in the year or carry on regardless.
I personally finish foxing now and turn my attention to rabbits until the first cubs appear but my keeper mate who I help shows no mercy.
Also, what calibre do you use for foxy?
Interested to hear your thoughts

All the best,
Gyr
 
hi gyr.it depends where you are foxing,if like you say your mate the keeper needs to get as many gone as he can so nows the best time to shall we say kill more than 2 birds with 1 stone.but i know plenty who give them a rest mate.i use .223 with 55g federal soft points.
 
Just back in from a session with the .243, saw 3 but all scarpered as soon as the lamp hit them. Trouble is on this farm lambing is a about to start and he wants them gone.

Also took the HMR along to bowl over a few bunnies..
 
Last nights dog fox, .243 with 100g Federal.
Shot whilst out for a deer.

shooting014.jpg
 
I have to shoot foxes whenever I see them. If I did not, the farmer would probably decide that I was not doing my vermin control effectively and gve the land to someone else. If he ever sees a fox, or deer for that matter, he is straight on the phone to tell me exactly where and when. He understands that I do not want to eradicate the deer from his land but he definitely wants the foxes gone.
 
As a keeper my view is the less foxes around the shoot the better. When the cubs are being weaned it is easier to locate the earth and deal with the whole lot which solves the problem of the cubs. Where the foxes are causing no trouble I lean towards leaving them at this time of year, however this is only where they are a long way from the shoot. It is rather strange that at this time of year people are concerned about cubs yet think nothing about taking out rabbits and other vermin with little thought for their young.
As far as suitable rifles go I also use either a 223 with 55 grn Federal soft points or a 243 WSSM with 85 hollow points. then of course for close work there is nothing like a Beretta 391 with 3s or BBs up the spout.
 
.22-250 unless out after deer then its .260/.308 .

Fox anytime if safe is shot .
 
I hate this time of year the bloody foxes go at my chickens as they have cubs ton feed and it's an easy meal I suppose but if they come near my place they are in for it :evil:
 
Been out all day on a fox drive, Shot 4 between us. On my own ground i wait till the cubs are out and about, but on the ground where my mates the keeper, its all out war from now untill the season starts.
He uses a 17rem, it's very accurate and flat but not my cup of tea at all.
I use a LH .223 Tikka with a Don Robinson stock, I wouldn't change it for the world. 55gn V Max 26.5 gns Varget. 8x56 Smitt.
Ezzy.
 
i tend to shoot dog foxes only at this time of year, if possible locate the vixen and where she has the cubs hold up, as then i can then deal with them as one as, never been to clever with leaving dependant young to fend for themselves
what i shoot them with is what ever i hav in my hands at the time, aslong as the fox is within my capability with the shotgun/rifle that i am carrying at the time
 
22042008069.jpg


vixen, taken at 210m off the landy bonnet just as light failed (20.30hrs) using 55gn silvertip from my .243 prohunter mountain. 6.5 - 20 x 50 leupold scope set on 6.5 mag.

she was in a field of newborn lambs looking for a takeaway!

i sat for her on sunday morning, and look what almost stepped on me!

20042008062.jpg
 
I use a .223 as my dedicated fox tool, although my 6.5x55 does a very effective job too.

I am obliged to shoot any fox on sight, irrespective of the time of the year or my own morals
 
I don't lamp much anyway and just go 2-3 times a week for an evening walk. Mainly where our club releases pheasant. Get one to two fox a week. Mostly dog foxes at the moment. Got a young Vixen on monday, no milk.
Use 22-250 with Nos 52grHPBT. Used to have 223 with sako 55grSP was also very good.
edi
 
Hi All
I used to do a lot of foxing shooting well over 100 for a good many years. We lost most of our fox population to mange but they seem to making a comeback now :D
We shot a lot this time of year just because of people losing lambs and chickens. I must admit I didn't take much pleasure shooting a suckling vixen.
I use a Blaser in .223 50grn v max or a .243 with 55grn Nosler b/t.
in some areas I used a remmington 1100 3''mag firing 50gram BB very effective.
I've added a pic of a good late July night a couple of years ago.
DSC00318.jpg


Wayne[/img]
 
well done wayne a good nights work.how many is there there?the best i did one night was 8 in 2 hours 7 of them being big cubs they had killed all the chickens in one week on the farm,mainly in the day time. :evil:
 
Hi Tikka
There was 12 in the pile all cubs shot after stalking in Hampshire in the rut a couple of years ago.
I was down there as a guest with a mate of mine called Mat.
We stalked Saturday morning and evening, lamping foxes after until 2.30am in the rain, 2 hours sleep in a tent then up stalking again at about 4.30ish then drove 2.1/2 hours home.
All good fun (work didn't go much on the Monday)

Wayne
 
Nice one Wayne

I agree with the other thoughts at this time of year when there are lambs in the field what else can you do.

I dont go looking for mr fox , But if he come's looking for our lambs he has to have it

Also 223 or shotgun when in close
cheers
 
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