Well fox me.

[Tf223]

Out last night for the first meaningful foxing trip of the new year with @KentCountryGent - it was dry, mild, no moon - all a good start.

First block of fields…

First two small joining fields, a pair of foxes, one shot 70yds-ish, the other hotfooted it off with no chance to get another shot off.

Second field, saw one cross left when heading down track to gate (that’ll be shot in a bit). Crossed the second field and in the third a pair against the far wood - no interest. However a third appears from another duration and meets it end shot over the hedge (70ish yards).

Hotfoot away into our third field of the evening the crosser is nose down and busy. Moved into about 100yrds and third down.

Saw two more in a field not on my permission gekering, but no opportunity to shoot.

Loop round that block of fields and find one in the middle of stubble fields laying down. Moved in to about 120yrds to get a decent shot, and it sat nicely to recieve its round.

Second block of fields…

Head up the hill, and see a fox busying itself, no interest in the call, has a late hanging around too. First one shot about 100yrds, second shot but required follow up moving us back down the hill a bit. Turned back around and near the first fox was third, which was called in and shot about 100yrds. Again within a moment a fourth appeared and was called towards us for a forth kill. 4 foxes all one after the other with hardly any gap between…

So what was drawing them in….



Well it appears badger leg is irresistible to foxes! Not sure how that badger had met it’s end, but it certainly helped our evening.

Third block - a small group of fields, where the farmer lambs outside come March. Diddly squat seen.

Saw a total of 12 foxes, all 8 which were shootable were shot. New ‘personal best’ for a single outing, and as always for my ground - on foot

 

[Hardy]

A night to remember, well done.

 

[Andy RV]

Bag it and tag it! That’s £30 round here

 

[KentCountryGent]

Bag it and tag it! That’s £30 round here

The stuff of dreams

 

[Roebuck9]

Did you bait them then with the badger leg?

 

[Tf223]

Haha, no, but it clearly works.

 

[B&W FOX]

Did you bait them then with the badger leg?

It didn't work for me.

 

[Longstrider]

Good man yourself On foot is the way to do it Having experimented myself with NV (at what to me is great cost) I still just use a good scope and a red lamp. Nothing more satisfying to know that what you are doing is beneficial to lambs not yet born and countless numbers of ground nesting birds come Spring. My own Friday night foray resulted in a good dog fox at 175 yds that would have been a major threat to lambs on a rare breed sheep farm in a month or two.

 

[Tf223]

Good man yourself On foot is the way to do it Having experimented myself with NV (at what to me is great cost) I still just use a good scope and a red lamp. Nothing more satisfying to know that what you are doing is beneficial to lambs not yet born and countless numbers of ground nesting birds come Spring. My own Friday night foray resulted in a good dog fox at 175 yds that would have been a major threat to lambs on a rare breed sheep farm in a month or two.

On foot is much better, see so much more, and get a little exercise plugging away through the stodgy fields.

I still miss the thrill of a red lamp - much more exciting and testing, but ultimately less foxes shot. Despite the cost of the kit effectively making each fox expensive, I wouldn’t be without my Xm30s for spotting and c50 for shooting. Still have to quote the same very annoying ‘game changer’ phrase!

These 8 were all off our ground, or adjoining fields, so come lambing we’ve already got a good headstart. Which is normally my plan, hit hard shortly before and through lambing, and don’t worry to much at the other times when the grass and crop makes it a pain.

I’d love to know the equivalent of what wildlife each fox would have consumed and, in theory, what the rough wildlife benefit is.