Fox shooting distance

For many years I kept a record of the distances I shot foxes at, without exception the yearly average was always around the 100-yard mark. With modern equipment (night vision/thermal) I see no reason, except in very exceptional circumstances, to shoot foxes at anything more than 200 yards and even that's a long way at night.
As a young man all my foxes, and there were a lot, were shot at 30 yards or less with a 12 bore, so 200 yards still seems a very long way to me!
 
I know that's what you said. I was reiterating your post, and asking why is it that there is this difference in attitude between deer and foxes. Any ideas?
Yes, but only a guess. The mainly night conditions make it poor searching as often foxes are shot on your perm but run to the next make it to deep cover under a fence deep ditch horse paddock back garden MOD land grave yard.
So they get left like many a pigeon I have shot which falls out of a tree after making it to the tree line and then drops out dead in a fenced garden.
I see a few pheasant's hopping on one leg after the season, but road kill in all is a common sight.
 
Yes, but only a guess. The mainly night conditions make it poor searching as often foxes are shot on your perm but run to the next make it to deep cover under a fence deep ditch horse paddock back garden MOD land grave yard.
That is so, but I reckon anyone losing a deer at last light under identical circumstances would be making every effort to recover it, even if that meant going back the next day, and knocking on adjacent landowners' doors.
 
I don’t understand the bragging of how far a fox was shot etc.
Over the years I’ve shot and seen more foxes shot with a .22lr and most seen under 60yards.
With NV people have the advantage of watching and seeing routines. This means you can sit and wait to get a nice shot at a killing range.
 
So many variables in terms of distance for foxs, day, night, thermal , night vision, wind, caliber, how important particular fox, and ability of shooter etc.
Nice early morning little wind, knowing exactly how far fox is, and in settled pre chosen position, with right scope and ability some long shots can be pretty academic for some and amazing to witness.
Of an eve 200 yards with anything long way, but with some modern thermal if not rushed and in right position longer possible, but as others have rightly said imo, 150 or so yards very nice and when you miss you wonder why🙂
 
That is so, but I reckon anyone losing a deer at last light under identical circumstances would be making every effort to recover it, even if that meant going back the next day, and knocking on adjacent landowners' doors.
Every time, and still can make good dog fud👍
 
I'm not saying that 275 yd + shots cannot be taken at fox at night but you only need to look at the y-tube top men doing this in daylight, range find, wind metre, dial in for elevation and wind drift, use of a rear bag off bipod and usually home loaded amo that will do sub 1/2" or under , then there is first shot (cold bore/ oiled patch ?----------most of use arn't going to be able to do this a night.
Most of my foxes are shot off quad sticks as i need to be portable on the move, as good as quad sticks are my limiting factor is me behind the sticks, very little trouble left/right but if rushing the shot because the fox is switched on, i can pull the shot high/low by a slight rocking on the sticks.
If i'm setting up baiting a fox i'll do this at around 130-150 yds or if i can walk the fox down again 150-ish yds is where i'm happy at, for me the 250-300 yd foxes are best left for another night as with my equipment and skills i would have a high chance of missing and then this educates the fox making it harder to get next time.

Dave (warbucks)
 
I've had them long and I've had them short, but the majority of mine drop about 100yds from me. The .204 makes a fox a perfectly shootable target at silly distances in daylight when there's very little or no breeze, but on a windy drizzly night I'd never try shots I know I'd take in good conditions.
I have the problem on one of my permissions where the neighbours shoot towards foxes, but not necessarily very effectively ;) Then Charlie knows all about lamps and calls and just sits there at the far end of the field looking at you. This can mean that a longer shot is often the only shot you'll ever get on that particular fox, and I'll take that shot IF, and only if, conditions allow. There are lambs on that permission and the farmer is delighted not to have seen or heard a fox for weeks because by far the majority of the local fox population are currently taking a siesta in his muck-heap.
When able to call them right in I will, but that tiny little 32grain bullet makes a lot of mess at 10yds !
 
Shot plenty 3-350 with the 204 and thermal
243 308 deer rifle had them out much farther with a rear add on. Moved back to the 6.5s now so will stretch those out too 4-500m. Accolades with rangefinders perfect for the job east then to just dial in 👍
 
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