Empty night again,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[jall55]

I think you need to be looking at a centrefire calibre, wounding animals doesn’t sit right with me and I always feel bad for it even if it is a fox or other vermin.
I went down the 22-250 route, possibly overkill but I haven’t had a runner yet and don’t expect to. My regular foxing land only really yields foxes to a maximum of 100yds but I picked up a new permission this Monday of 250 acres and having walked around it, I am looking at up to 200yds or even slightly longer, the 22-250 will then come into its own.

Unless i have misread it - im pretty sure the OP uses a .243
We all have runners - its a sad fact
I used a .270 for an age - and even had the odd one run - mainly just adrenaline - but it does happen

 

[crow killer]

I think you need to be looking at a centrefire calibre, wounding animals doesn’t sit right with me and I always feel bad for it even if it is a fox or other vermin.
I went down the 22-250 route, possibly overkill but I haven’t had a runner yet and don’t expect to. My regular foxing land only really yields foxes to a maximum of 100yds but I picked up a new permission this Monday of 250 acres and having walked around it, I am looking at up to 200yds or even slightly longer, the 22-250 will then come into its own.

I only use my tikka .243 for foxes, never a .22,

 

[crow killer]

Funny, but I have always thought of a crow as being worth three pigeons, and a magpie worth two crows.
I have no idea where I dreamt that up but my son now follows the same rule.

mmm, I dont really , I used to hate carrions, I dont now, ive watched a few close up, theyre interesting and clever birds, ive had some tremendous roost shooting, but I think now under Packhams law I would be wrong to continue flighting crows to roost, as theyre not damaging crops or a threat to nesting birds at the time of year I do it. And what if I shot a Jackdaw , id be defenitly guilty, Rooks are now protected, I dont and have not delibaratly targeted them, sometimes they come down in mistake of a carrion, big cage traps are a good way of catching carrions, they are working 7 days a week, but need time and work in keeping them looked after and the two resident prisoners need to be well fed.

 

[Len the dog]

I only use my tikka .243 for foxes, never a .22,

Sorry, must have missed that.

 

[jall55]

mmm, I dont really , I used to hate carrions, I dont now, ive watched a few close up, theyre interesting and clever birds, ive had some tremendous roost shooting, but I think now under Packhams law I would be wrong to continue flighting crows to roost, as theyre not damaging crops or a threat to nesting birds at the time of year I do it. And what if I shot a Jackdaw , id be defenitly guilty, Rooks are now protected, I dont and have not delibaratly targeted them, sometimes they come down in mistake of a carrion, big cage traps are a good way of catching carrions, they are working 7 days a week, but need time and work in keeping them looked after and the two resident prisoners need to be well fed.

Please dont stop shooting the corvids
Its all legal so long as you follow the general licence - to shoot the crows flighting now is a good thing to do

 

[Smellydog]

Every jackdaw in my area is a potential threat to my chimney, especially since the dopey barstards nextdoor but one feed the freaking vermin all year round, rats and all!
The neighbours the other side have an extensive garden with trees, it now looks attractive to the winged vermin as a potential nesting sight due to the dopey barstards the other side. The neighbours with the trees are concerned about health issues predominantly from bird flue and it's potential threat to all, so I've been asked to deter their attempts to adopt the site.
Freaking right, I don't want crow crap on everything like the other end of the village where upon a rookery has got established. You should see the mess, it's disgusting!

 

[Ratel]

Just a thought, the solution to any "Runner" is simple. We all get them both deer and foxes on occasions but like Smelly has his little grey companion and those who care, either buy or have access to a dog. It doesn't need to be big, if it only barks and bays the animal it's a win, win situation.

 

[Smellydog]

Just a thought, the solution to any "Runner" is simple. We all get them both deer and foxes on occasions but like Smelly has his little grey companion and those who care, either buy or have access to a dog. It doesn't need to be big, if it only barks and bays the animal it's a win, win situation.

Ay, she loves finding them. This one came to a squeal in thick timber after a cock pheasant and a raven were going nuts in the distance.
Shot it with a 22 at 7yards and it ran into some thick rhododendrons. Slipped Jess and just waited for the growling and barking.

 

[crow killer]

Please dont stop shooting the corvids
Its all legal so long as you follow the general licence - to shoot the crows flighting now is a good thing to do

According to general licence, they can only be killed to protect crops or to protect birds eggs and nests, so theres no crops near and theres no nests in winter, thanks very much Packham, its him that started all this off. Im going to continue my crow flighting, very much doubt ill be pulled for it, but I now wonder about the legalities of it, I do enjoy killing carrions, greatly.

 

[crow killer]

Just a thought, the solution to any "Runner" is simple. We all get them both deer and foxes on occasions but like Smelly has his little grey companion and those who care, either buy or have access to a dog. It doesn't need to be big, if it only barks and bays the animal it's a win, win situation.

No, I have a terrier, she wouldnt sit still and quiet, no chance, and may even cause fox to wind it, on the night I found a back foot, I was up a high tower, black dark, fox was about 80 meteres away, just vanished after the shot, looked like hell with thermal, thought it had been hit, couldnt see it anywhere, till nearly a year later, with a stumpy back leg, poor booger must have suffered. Glad I got it in the end.. She might have found the other one though, but again, she wouldnt sit quiet, thats a site I wait at in my vehicle. Only 2 in about 100 so ive not done bad, but hope never to have another hit and vanish.

 

[jall55]

According to general licence, they can only be killed to protect crops or to protect birds eggs and nests, so theres no crops near and theres no nests in winter, thanks very much Packham, its him that started all this off. Im going to continue my crow flighting, very much doubt ill be pulled for it, but I now wonder about the legalities of it, I do enjoy killing carrions, greatly.

The general licence is a framework for us to adhere to

You are shooting Carrion crows to protect nests / red listed species come the spring -you dont have to just catch them in the act
Same with other corvids - and even pigeon - you can shoot them on stubble or flight them / roost shoot - they dont have to be damaging the crop at that given moment

Maybe the BASC could do some real simple dos and donts - maybe a video on their website as many people are so unsure

@Conor O'Gorman

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

The general licence is a framework for us to adhere to

You are shooting Carrion crows to protect nests / red listed species come the spring -you dont have to just catch them in the act
Same with other corvids - and even pigeon - you can shoot them on stubble or flight them / roost shoot - they dont have to be damaging the crop at that given moment

Maybe the BASC could do some real simple dos and donts - maybe a video on their website as many people are so unsure

@Conor O'Gorman

Thanks I will pass the suggestion back to colleagues for the 2024 versions of the general licences, noting that the various general licences have different terms and conditions in England, Wales, Scotland and NI.

General licences

All the latest news and advice concerning general licences and how they affect you.

basc.org.uk

 

[dillieboy]

Went again tonight, same place got there a bit earlier, a farm cat was near the bait, about 20 minutes after I got in, a fox came, almost to the bait, it waited a bit and as I got my rifle up on its bunny bag rest and started looking with the pard, it must have realised I was there, it turned tail and was off, later saw it behind the fence about 160 yards out, it never came back, sat till 9:30 again, 1 barn owl seen and heard, a female tawny giving plenty of kewick kewick calls, a badger again probably same as last night, was a bit too moon lit, ill wait now till after the moon, bait could do with being slightly further out as well, a damned sheep dog up the valley was constantly yapping all night. Reminded me and got me thinking of the night I had to put detonators on the railway line to slow trains before a broken rail a mile and a quarter out, each train made a double bang and the dog yapped after each train, sparks flew everywhere from the hard braking when the driver heard the bang and saw my orange light waving at him, a toot on the horn as well. It was an autumn night like tonight calm and very still. That was about 44 years ago. Lowgill .
Certainly foxes can be either easy or hard to get, ive had 17 since last November, but have spent plenty of hours sat waiting on bait, .

We all have nights like it. Keep your pecker up