4 and a half hour wait............

[crow killer]

Went out tonight first time for a couple of weeks, had an early supper and got up to the field shelter, to watch a dead sheep bait, I knew it had been well eaten, sat and waited, tikka .243 resting ready, about 6:15, after about 45 minutes a fox came down from the fell area, and slowly made its way to the bait, about 80 yards out, a nice broadside on shot and I aimed about behind the shoulder, it dropped stone dead.
I waited and waited, only saw 2 or possibly 3 other foxes, one was about 150 yards away, and I had him in the sights , maybe should have fired, but thought it would come eventually to the bait, but it didnt and walked off, I had also tried to hand squeak it nearer, it just ignored that, after sitting till nearly 10:10, I went out to collect my fox, but was not really pleased when I saw where it had been hit, a total head shot, when I aimed at its shoulder, think its a good job now I didnt fire at the longer range one or it would have been a miss, I will need to put a large target up and see whats happening, bullets are 75 grain v max, factory made.
Fox was probably a this years or a last years, certainly a young dog. Thats 21 ive had since last November. Only thing that was cold were my feet, tonight I had thermals on and certainly felt the benefit.
Home in only 10 minutes.
Barn owl and a tawny owl heard, no hares though, last year I always saw some.

 

[crow killer]

Went out tonight first time for a couple of weeks, had an early supper and got up to the field shelter, to watch a dead sheep bait, I knew it had been well eaten, sat and waited, tikka .243 resting ready, about 6:15, after about 45 minutes a fox came down from the fell area, and slowly made its way to the bait, about 80 yards out, a nice broadside on shot and I aimed about behind the shoulder, it dropped stone dead.
I waited and waited, only saw 2 or possibly 3 other foxes, one was about 150 yards away, and I had him in the sights , maybe should have fired, but thought it would come eventually to the bait, but it didnt and walked off, I had also tried to hand squeak it nearer, it just ignored that, after sitting till nearly 10:10, I went out to collect my fox, but was not really pleased when I saw where it had been hit, a total head shot, when I aimed at its shoulder, think its a good job now I didnt fire at the longer range one or it would have been a miss, I will need to put a large target up and see whats happening, bullets are 75 grain v max, factory made.
Fox was probably a this years or a last years, certainly a young dog. Thats 21 ive had since last November. Only thing that was cold were my feet, tonight I had thermals on and certainly felt the benefit.
Home in only 10 minutes.
Barn owl and a tawny owl heard, no hares though, last year I always saw some.

Rifle barrel cleaned this afternoon, then took it up to the field shelter and fired at a target next to the ait at about 80 yards, first shot about an inch high, 2nd shot right in the bullseye, so im very happy with the rifle .
I wonder if the other night when the fox was hit in not the spot I aimed was it just needing cleaning ?? cant have been human error, surely.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Rifle barrel cleaned this afternoon, then took it up to the field shelter and fired at a target next to the ait at about 80 yards, first shot about an inch high, 2nd shot right in the bullseye, so im very happy with the rifle .
I wonder if the other night when the fox was hit in not the spot I aimed was it just needing cleaning ?? cant have been human error, surely.

Absolutely not - get a hold of yourself man - never happens!
Much more fundamental question and what I realky want to know is why when I waken at 4 sodding a.m. and decide to nip out after foxes it starts to rain just as I arrive at my permission?

PS
Now 5:08 and still raining!

 

[crow killer]

Absolutely not - get a hold of yourself man - never happens!
Much more fundamental question and what I realky want to know is why when I waken at 4 sodding a.m. and decide to nip out after foxes it starts to rain just as I arrive at my permission?

PS
Now 5:08 and still raining!

I try and pick my nights, dont like it much if its wet, so I stay in, but I have shot one once when it was pouring down ,fox came to bait, theyve still got to feed whatever the weather, I have a very dry waiting place, in a field shelter for sheep, other 2 places are self built high towers, but rain drips and blows in, all gear gets wet, so ,not so good, other place is a view from a pickup , which is very cosy, but very leg cramping and not so easy to pee, when the rifles set up on the door.

 

[Smellydog]

I try and pick my nights, dont like it much if its wet, so I stay in, but I have shot one once when it was pouring down ,fox came to bait, theyve still got to feed whatever the weather, I have a very dry waiting place, in a field shelter for sheep, other 2 places are self built high towers, but rain drips and blows in, all gear gets wet, so ,not so good, other place is a view from a pickup , which is very cosy, but very leg cramping and not so easy to pee, when the rifles set up on the door.

Peeing isn't to bad....it's the other that gets tricky in a car!

 

[Foxyboy43]

I try and pick my nights, dont like it much if its wet, so I stay in, but I have shot one once when it was pouring down ,fox came to bait, theyve still got to feed whatever the weather, I have a very dry waiting place, in a field shelter for sheep, other 2 places are self built high towers, but rain drips and blows in, all gear gets wet, so ,not so good, other place is a view from a pickup , which is very cosy, but very leg cramping and not so easy to pee, when the rifles set up on the door.

Sensible man except the difficulty in having a pee - as you get older your “priorities” might just shift!
Anyhoo just back in at 7:45 and not a thing did I see, not even badgers - they must all have drowned! Been a helluva lot of rain while I was away - fields are dreadful.
Still enjoyed my outing though and it didn’t rain!

 

[old keeper]

I've always found that animals, apart from rabbits, seem to react to weather conditions very much like ourselves. Clearly, foxes still have to feed in bad conditions but tend to keep to cover rather than hunt in open ground.
Of course, if there is no cover they don't have much option!

 

[Overlay]

QUOTE="Foxyboy43, post: 2813230, member: 27066"]
Absolutely not - get a hold of yourself man - never happens!
Much more fundamental question and what I realky want to know is why when I waken at 4 sodding a.m. and decide to nip out after foxes it starts to rain just as I arrive at my permission?

PS
Now 5:08 and still raining!
[/QUOTE]

FB43. You need a better coat, rain doesn't stop shooting get out there man

Oh hang on I’m sitting in me truck

 

[old 30-06]

In my experience the fox does not like getting its fur wet. I have had very little success on wet and rainy nights. I now try to avoid them as I believe the fox will alter its hunting pattern if it rains.

 

[Overlay]

I always ride it out and wait for the elusive 30 min clear spell and more often than not they will turn up as soon as it stops

But having said that I have had a few soakings

 

[dillieboy]

Went out tonight first time for a couple of weeks, had an early supper and got up to the field shelter, to watch a dead sheep bait, I knew it had been well eaten, sat and waited, tikka .243 resting ready, about 6:15, after about 45 minutes a fox came down from the fell area, and slowly made its way to the bait, about 80 yards out, a nice broadside on shot and I aimed about behind the shoulder, it dropped stone dead.
I waited and waited, only saw 2 or possibly 3 other foxes, one was about 150 yards away, and I had him in the sights , maybe should have fired, but thought it would come eventually to the bait, but it didnt and walked off, I had also tried to hand squeak it nearer, it just ignored that, after sitting till nearly 10:10, I went out to collect my fox, but was not really pleased when I saw where it had been hit, a total head shot, when I aimed at its shoulder, think its a good job now I didnt fire at the longer range one or it would have been a miss, I will need to put a large target up and see whats happening, bullets are 75 grain v max, factory made.
Fox was probably a this years or a last years, certainly a young dog. Thats 21 ive had since last November. Only thing that was cold were my feet, tonight I had thermals on and certainly felt the benefit.
Home in only 10 minutes.
Barn owl and a tawny owl heard, no hares though, last year I always saw some.

I waited 8 hours one night fir a fox that had taken 3 lambs the night before. As I went to pack up he appeared and was accounted for. Farmer so happy.

 

[User00047]

In my experience the fox does not like getting its fur wet. I have had very little success on wet and rainy nights. I now try to avoid them as I believe the fox will alter its hunting pattern if it rains.

If foxes didn’t come out when it’s wet they’d be completely extirpated in Cornwall by now because it’s been raining constantly since last September.
I’ve shot hundreds of foxes in the rain. If it’s absolutely hammering down they’ll wait in shelter for a while but after a heavy shower is a great time to catch them out and on the move.

 

[jall55]

In my experience the fox does not like getting its fur wet. I have had very little success on wet and rainy nights. I now try to avoid them as I believe the fox will alter its hunting pattern if it rains.

I have shot loads in the rain 30-06 - i sometimes think they do actively hunt more in the rain as it masks any sounds they make ?
Funny how their behaviour differs

 

[old 30-06]

I know they will all have to feed at some time, and we may get periods where it seems it never stops raining. However, it rarely rains for 24 hours straight, and I believe the fox is very conscious of weather and will pick its "dry" moments. Prey items (pheasant, rabbit, mouse, vole, etc.) shun the rain, and this could be the main factor in the change of behavior in the fox.

 

[old 30-06]

Well, I put jall55's theory to the test last night. It was cloudy and showery, but I went to a good permission and started hunting. As I thought, I did not see a fox. I did see rabbits though. I was very surprised to see them out in the rain. I shot 6, each one at least 100 yarders, with the 222. So the evening was not a waste of time, and the jury is still out.

 

[Nickb]

However, it rarely rains for 24 hours straight,

After the last 10 months you must be joking.
It started here last July and only stopped at the end of April.