Fox fever f#*k up

[BenBhoy]

Weather was dry last night for first time coinciding with me being free, so loaded up & set off. Last 3 weeks I've seen 2 foxes in daytime in different parts of farm & regularly 2 on my trail cam bait spot but with no pattern or routine.

Got there in daylight still, set up by bait spot waited until after dark, waited.....nothing....had a drink, nothing... even tried the foxpro, nowt.

Went for a walk. Not much about. Set up & scan. There! Snaking up from the stream, unmistakable fox heat, about 60 yds but coming straight at me, and quick.

This is where the wheels fell off! I've not been foxing long, about 3 years but in that time I've never experienced fox fever (fox fever - noun; when you see a fox and all rational thoughts leave your pea brain & you forget how to complete the simplest of tasks) until last night.

I don't know if its because I haven't been out in last couple months, or because I hate these quad sticks or because it first time using niggleoh backpack sling or because I'm a tool but I just flapped.

Couldn't get titan 2 rifle sling off, I was twisting & writhing like a terrible Houdini tribute act. Finally wrestled myself out of it, convinced Charlie would have done one, but no he was sat there, no doubt wondering what that thrashing dark blob was.

I clattered the sticks out, back to front of course but that's least of problems. Hummped the varmint t3x cannon onto sticks.... Quick check, fox has lay down & rolled a fag. Turned on 007...grey fuzz... wtf.....?? Much Charlie Chaplainesqe head scratching....scope on full mag still from shooting gong day before!! Crank it back down the mag. Bit more leg clattering to reposition sticks. To be fair, was very patient, he waited a long while but in the end even he had places to be. So I managed to locate him in scope just in time to see him finish his coffee & cigarette & disappear down the bank side to tell his mates about me.

Anybody want some bushwear quad sticks??

 

[Tugmanade]

Don’t mind admitting it, been there, done that, got the T shirt

 

[finnbear270]

I remember what frustration feels like, waaay back when, Charlie advancing on me at speed, Homeload won't chamber ..................... not missed out that part of the process since.

 

[The Singing Stalker]

Um, that doesn’t sound like fox fever to me, more like, (trying to find polite words), unprepared foxer.
Mind you, I have done rather a lot at this stage and I am currently training 2 people in the art of shooting with quad sticks, and there is a definite knack.
I have them both practicing with air rifle and with taking it rifle off shoulder, mounting and shooting paper target, just to get used to it. That is the hardest bit for them.

 

[finnbear270]

I never leave the Jim Shockies at home now.

 

[mealiejimmy]

Agreed, I know from the lack of recent outings that the skills needed for effective foxing are perishable

Cheers

Bruce

 

[Andyquadra]

Same here, but I just froze not knowing what to do!
There were 2 of us at each end of a large field, my phone rings and as I turn around looking through the thermal wondering why he's ringing me. This is where the mind goes blank, he's ringing me to say there's a fox coming my way, but can't shoot as I'm the backstop, well, I can't either as he's also the backstop. I thought that if I get the rifle off my shoulder the fox will see me move and by that time the fox has trotted past me by about 10' Once past me, would it stop? Not even the loudest cursing would make it stop and turn

 

[finnbear270]

Same here, but I just froze not knowing what to do!
There were 2 of us at each end of a large field, my phone rings and as I turn around looking through the thermal wondering why he's ringing me. This is where the mind goes blank, he's ringing me to say there's a fox coming my way, but can't shoot as I'm the backstop, well, I can't either as he's also the backstop. I thought that if I get the rifle off my shoulder the fox will see me move and by that time the fox has trotted past me by about 10' Once past me, would it stop? Not even the loudest cursing would make it stop and turn

That made me visualise the comedy sketch "The Plank"

 

[Andyquadra]

That made me visualise the comedy sketch "The Plank"

Had to google that

 

[foxhunter]

Says it all really, nothing to add

 

[Foxyboy43]

Hmmm.
Always good to have details of confessions exciting learning experiences which all some of us go through, usually complicated by the power of N in the futile attempt to also find the record button which will record forever just how good a shot you fluked pulled off but which sadly inevitably turns the damned Pard off instead.
No matter how many times I my friend shoots looks for foxes they invariably confuse the controls on the 008P with those on the entirely different 007 Pards. This can lead to all sorts of fun - very much in the spirit of the late great Eric Morecambe and pushing all the right buttons but not necessarily in the right order. It is a constant source of comfort to me when the sainted Mrs FB soothingly explains that this is indeed normal for my age.
In the spirit of friendship which pervades every pore of the SD membership, may I suggest that before you start scanning/calling you deploy your sticks, mount your rifle on them, turn on the Pard and check focus? This will save you lots of confusion and give you plenty of time just after the dead man’s click to reflect on your having forgotten to load the rifle.
Good luck.

 

[EssexBigMac]

It happens to the best of. I now have a checklist before I go out foxing. From charging batteries, to testing the scope with IR at my desired distance.
However Charlie has a mind of its own, you can watch it on the trail cam for a week coming from one part of the field. When you go out it comes from behind you . Also don’t worry, you’ll get it tomorrow!

 

[Smellydog]

Oh Ben, your not alone. And well written by the way, I was in stitches.
Them fox's are evil.
Mine last week hung around just enough to watch me fill my wellies with water and then disappeared. Clever t**t.
Tripod is as complicated as I get and I practice off hand regularly.
Welcome to the colliwobble club Ben.
Revenge will be swift and sweet.

 

[Tugmanade]

Same here, but I just froze not knowing what to do!
There were 2 of us at each end of a large field, my phone rings and as I turn around looking through the thermal wondering why he's ringing me. This is where the mind goes blank, he's ringing me to say there's a fox coming my way, but can't shoot as I'm the backstop, well, I can't either as he's also the backstop. I thought that if I get the rifle off my shoulder the fox will see me move and by that time the fox has trotted past me by about 10' Once past me, would it stop? Not even the loudest cursing would make it stop and turn

You have such good friends, mine wouldn’t have given a **** about me being the backstop as long as they got Charlie

 

[foxhunter]

because I'm a tool

Got it in one.

 

[BenBhoy]

Hmmm.
Always good to have details of confessions exciting learning experiences which all some of us go through, usually complicated by the power of N in the futile attempt to also find the record button which will record forever just how good a shot you fluked pulled off but which sadly inevitably turns the damned Pard off instead.
No matter how many times I my friend shoots looks for foxes they invariably confuse the controls on the 008P with those on the entirely different 007 Pards. This can lead to all sorts of fun - very much in the spirit of the late great Eric Morecambe and pushing all the right buttons but not necessarily in the right order. It is a constant source of comfort to me when the sainted Mrs FB soothingly explains that this is indeed normal for my age.
In the spirit of friendship which pervades every pore of the SD membership, may I suggest that before you start scanning/calling you deploy your sticks, mount your rifle on them, turn on the Pard and check focus? This will save you lots of confusion and give you plenty of time just after the dead man’s click to reflect on your having forgotten to load the rifle.
Good luck.

Cheers FB. I'm gonna go back to how I used to have it - 008Slrf on CF & use tripod with clamp.

 

[foxhunter]

The problem is , as you never go out you have no routine and not a clue what you are doing.
Experience is key and developing a method that works

 

[stavross]

Show me someone who hasn’t messed up when on a fox and I’ll show you a complete bullsh*ter, I’ve been doing it a long time now and I still sometimes get a little over excited when I spot one especially if I only have a small window to shoot or have been waiting ages, it’s funny how it’s only foxes that do this to me, I have no emotion at all when shooting deer, rabbits, hares even if I’ve spent ages stalking into a buck

 

[BenBhoy]

Annoying thing is, if I'd still been using my dedicated nv scope & the robust/heavy tripod, I'd have nailed it. Always another night.

 

[Donkey Basher]

There is a good reason for the acronym ‘KISS’