Out last night.

[Foxyboy43]

I'm going out in a bit myself. Had a lemsip, I'm going....

Bit tired so just back in Smelly - bitter cold, flat calm, virtually daylight and nothing to be seen.
Wrap up well pal - you don’t want a relapse!

PS
The self-heating toe pads were really great tonight again - had them on from 3pm out training the child dog and still some heat in them….

 

[Pellet Pinger]

Received a text of the farmer yesterday to say a fox has kiled one of his geese, last nights mission was to apprehend the suspect.
Nipped into the usual productive field and first scan, bugger me just caught sight of charlie dissapearing into a hedge, tried calling but nothing doing. So now its a case of stick or twist, plenty of other ground to check but thought id give it another half an hour. Constantly scanning with the thermal i caught another glimpse a bit further along but again no shot, he was obviously working the hedge line, the next time he appeared at 260yds he stood broadside long enough for me to get a shot off.
Real old warrior in good condition but lost his fangs amongst others, was he the goose killer? If he was he gummed it to death!

 

[Foxyboy43]

Received a text of the farmer yesterday to say a fox has kiled one of his geese, last nights mission was to apprehend the suspect.
Nipped into the usual productive field and first scan, bugger me just caught sight of charlie dissapearing into a hedge, tried calling but nothing doing. So now its a case of stick or twist, plenty of other ground to check but thought id give it another half an hour. Constantly scanning with the thermal i caught another glimpse a bit further along but again no shot, he was obviously working the hedge line, the next time he appeared at 260yds he stood broadside long enough for me to get a shot off.
Real old warrior in good condition but lost his fangs amongst others, was he the goose killer? If he was he gummed it to death!
View attachment 400715View attachment 400716View attachment 400717

Even old timers can give a terrible suck!

 

[Bo Diddley]

#5 for me, another attic window jobbie, I reckon it will be a dog fox, the sidekick to the tiny vixen I knobbled last night... gotta love a bit of luxury foxing, just out of a warm bath and in my silk pj's & carpet slipper combo....

 

[Andy RV]

Just been out for a frosty stroll around the farm, it’s impossible to be quiet in these conditions!…
Spotted a fox approx. 300m away in the next field, my very amateur calling mustn’t have been very convincing as it turned the other way and buggered off, I followed as quickly as I could while trying not to make too much noise finding it around the back of the farm, I had to wait 5 minutes or so until it had worked its way along to the silage clamp providing a safe backstop and bang, first one of the year!

 

[BenBhoy]

I'll be out Friday night (god willing) forr my first time this year. Also picked up a cracking ratting permission today without even looking/asking for it.

 

[Bo Diddley]

Also picked up a cracking ratting permission today without even looking/asking for it.

Ratting.. The Sport of Kings.. Jack Ivester Lloyd ... good luck bud

 

[Smellydog]

Just been out for a frosty stroll around the farm, it’s impossible to be quiet in these conditions!…
Spotted a fox approx. 300m away in the next field, my very amateur calling mustn’t have been very convincing as it turned the other way and buggered off, I followed as quickly as I could while trying not to make too much noise finding it around the back of the farm, I had to wait 5 minutes or so until it had worked its way along to the silage clamp providing a safe backstop and bang, first one of the year!

Well done. I've just been up the chickens and seen nothing.
I believe Mrs C passed away last Friday!

 

[Smellydog]

#5
Heard one vixen, one dog. Seen about three and called this vixen from 500yds down to 60!

 

[Smellydog]

Received a text of the farmer yesterday to say a fox has kiled one of his geese, last nights mission was to apprehend the suspect.
Nipped into the usual productive field and first scan, bugger me just caught sight of charlie dissapearing into a hedge, tried calling but nothing doing. So now its a case of stick or twist, plenty of other ground to check but thought id give it another half an hour. Constantly scanning with the thermal i caught another glimpse a bit further along but again no shot, he was obviously working the hedge line, the next time he appeared at 260yds he stood broadside long enough for me to get a shot off.
Real old warrior in good condition but lost his fangs amongst others, was he the goose killer? If he was he gummed it to death!
View attachment 400715View attachment 400716View attachment 400717

I bet he had some stories!

 

[Smellydog]

Bit tired so just back in Smelly - bitter cold, flat calm, virtually daylight and nothing to be seen.
Wrap up well pal - you don’t want a relapse!

PS
The self-heating toe pads were really great tonight again - had them on from 3pm out training the child dog and still some heat in them….

Thanks FB.

 

[Sika98k]

My bait pipes were hit the last couple of nights so a night out was in order. Bloody hell it was cold ! I watched from afar at one pipe. A fox crossed a field some 5-600 yards away. A bright moon didn’t make it feasible to follow up. After an hour I had to get into the Hilux and warm up a bit with a 15 minute drive.
I parked up in the shade of a tree and stepped out. I immediately clocked a fox 150 yards away crossing a field. I got the rifle and sticks out and moved to a better position for a shot. The fox was now on a track heading away. Luckily something inspired it to reverse direction and head towards me. I set up on the sticks which promptly skidded on the icy track. Bit of a clatter which caused her to take off across a grass field. Way out there I gave a shout and she obliged by stopping for the shot. and she disappeared out of sight. I walked up the track to check another field and was pleasantly surprised at the amount of woodcock on the ground. I saw some 10-12.
I walked across the top of the grass field scanning with the thermal. Although it was a long shot I felt confident I’d heard that “thud”. Not to be disappointed I found her in the grass, run about 10 yards.
That was enough for me,. It was bloody cold out.

 

[finnbear270]

-8, & no show.

 

[stavross]

Chunky dog last night, shot it after being there for just 10 minutes wandered around for another couple of hours in -7 didn’t see anything else and once my heated body warmer went flat it was time for home, hopefully out after a fallow tomorrow afternoon then I think I’ll take the .17 out tomorrow evening as I’ve been asked for some rabbits and hares

 

[Smellydog]

Chunky dog last night, shot it after being there for just 10 minutes wandered around for another couple of hours in -7 didn’t see anything else and once my heated body warmer went flat it was time for home, hopefully out after a fallow tomorrow afternoon then I think I’ll take the .17 out tomorrow evening as I’ve been asked for some rabbits and hares View attachment 400767

Well done mate, looks like he's been eating all the birds!

 

[Sika98k]

They just keep on coming ! Setup under an evergreen tree at 615 watching a few fields and a bait pipe . Apart from a few hares, rabbits and a short eared owl nothing stirred.
Being somewhat cold I hopped into the Hilux and drove 15 minutes to the next spot.
I pulled up marginally warmer and hopped out for a quick scan with the thermal. I was not to be disappointed. There was a fox just coming out of a wood into “the field of death “. I have shot countless foxes here over the years. Quietly I got rifle and sticks ready. The fox meandered into the next field so a change of position was necessary. Walking was like dancing on rice crispies or cornflakes. However I was not detected. An occasional glance through the thermal showed the fox stopping and listening with his head up.
Anyway a shot presented and a quick “oi” caused him to stop and look in my direction. .
Away home to a hot fire, dinner and a glass of whiskey

 

[BenBhoy]

glass of whiskEy

Proper stuff

 

[finnbear270]

Think I'll leave a bottle of reserve Port close to a radiator later, might help with circulation.

 

[finnbear270]

All the best Silk & Merino on the radiators now, truck loaded & critically no wind, full complement of batteries (No thanks to that bleddy charger), ground will be stone hard on the farm tonight as it's still minus four here.

 

[75]

I've just put a drop of oil on the bedroom window hinge. Found it was creaking a bit so don't want that spooking charlie when he pops by later