Out last night.
- Thread starter finnbear270
- Start date
Nickb
Well-Known Member
Well I popped out last night in the mist and drizzle expecting it to clear later.
Thermal conditions were terrible , mist cleared a bit but still awful spotting conditions.
I saw a heat source at the bottom of a bank and on investigation turned out to be 3 roe , so I stood watching them for a while and noticed another signature some 300 yds away.
So off I headed to see what it was , no sign .
Stood scanning the bankside and spotted a fox behind a thick hedge about 40 yds away . Little lip squeak and it was trying to get through fence , eventually it managed and was only 30 yds away but noticed me due to the full moon and wouldn't stand still , awkward trying to follow on quad sticks so gave it a little oi to stop it , it did briefly and as I was about to shoot it legged it
Never mind I know where it is
Thermal conditions were terrible , mist cleared a bit but still awful spotting conditions.
I saw a heat source at the bottom of a bank and on investigation turned out to be 3 roe , so I stood watching them for a while and noticed another signature some 300 yds away.
So off I headed to see what it was , no sign .
Stood scanning the bankside and spotted a fox behind a thick hedge about 40 yds away . Little lip squeak and it was trying to get through fence , eventually it managed and was only 30 yds away but noticed me due to the full moon and wouldn't stand still , awkward trying to follow on quad sticks so gave it a little oi to stop it , it did briefly and as I was about to shoot it legged it
Never mind I know where it is
Foxyboy43
Well-Known Member
Been in Scotland for 10 days so foxes had a short reprieve. Out last night at 6 - just as the clouds rolled back and a very bright moon appeared - bugger! To add to my problems I forgot my black gloves and face scarf - not the best idea on such a night - bugger again!
First farm, parked up and walked 10 yards up the lane, quick thermal sweep - solitary ewe in the small field and a moving signature to one side of her - initial thought was very early lamb - then a better look revealed a fox working the ewe like a collie dog!
In my usual way I hadn’t turned the Zulus on so (panic aside) mounting it and pushing all the right buttons in the wrong order ensued… this resulted in a quick recording of a fox without the IR which in hindsight was quite impressive but in (eventually) turning the IR on your hero managed to also turn recording off!
Regardless or despite me - fox down!
Great start to what looked like a frustrating night so leaving the fallen where it lay to collect on my return, I walked another fifty yards up the lane. For reason unknown when I got to the gate of that same field I paused and did another sweep and not 5 yards from the recently demised fox was another unmistakeable signature! This time all thebuttonsplanets aligned and it was a textbook shot and video…
Wow! Two in literally a few moments and in awful conditions…
Onwards and upwards to the top of the lane, backed into the thick trunk of a large tree and turned on my little homemade caller. From there I can see a mile one way and perhaps ten miles the other so plenty of scope for foxes and of course sheep - lots of them…
Way far up the hill I caught sight of a poor signature through the now leafless thick hawthorn hedgerow but lost it again; calling continued with frequent return sweeps to the earlier sighting. Sure enough the source had reappeared and was definitely coming my way. Off with the caller, pause a few moments then on again, quick Pulsar sweep and there it was now two fields away and closing - another fox!
I have shot quite a few from this location, they all seem to follow the same route, eventually moving right to left downhill and giving me a clear shot at pretty much the same location every time. This one did just that and dropped to a nice 170 yard shot - 3 down!!
Well ‘ol foxy was a happy bunny and a quick call to the farmer made him just as happy - the ewe next to his yard was “elderly and feeble” so perhaps the foxes had detected that and sensed easy pickings by running it I can only guess.
Back to the jeep and decision time - home to wine and cheese or one more call at the next door farm?
Soooo, parked in the neighbouring yard, had a quick chat with the farmer who, like me, cannot believe how many I have shot since his plea for help earlier this year and I crossed the road to walk down the short lane where I have had a number of foxes. Second field in I untied the gate, stepped in and before retying it did a quick sweep which detected a definite fox-shaped signature tight to the hedge maybe 130 yards away - quickly followed by a second one perhaps a hundred yards further back! Bloody hell!
This time I did everything right (pause for SD collective gasp) and a gentle lip squeak did the trick - the nearest fox came in a treat offering a simple chest-on shot. The trick of course was getting the double…..
To my delight the second fox didn’t go back through the hedge but took off across the field and quickly stopped for a look back - probably stunned by the series of yells, grunts and yes… the FB demented duck….
Silly fox.
Sooo, five for the night and definitive evidence of pairing-up, though no screams were heard by me (other than my own).
What a great night - The Pulsar Axion2 XQ35, Hornady 50 gns Vmax and the sainted triple deuce make a formidable team, despite my efforts…
Proof of the other night’s pudding…..
BenBhoy
Well-Known Member
Just missed one 
a very bloody simple one. Been on camera taking bait. Set up 95yd away on tripod & clamp. Saw 2 separate ones but no shot. Then this one comes in textbook, presents itself perfectly on bait spot, too easy..... feckin pulled it good couple of inches in front, saw hit ground. Being honest, I was probably being too complacent as I assumed it was a given. Lesson learnt. I've packed up in a grump & off home 
a very bloody simple one. Been on camera taking bait. Set up 95yd away on tripod & clamp. Saw 2 separate ones but no shot. Then this one comes in textbook, presents itself perfectly on bait spot, too easy..... feckin pulled it good couple of inches in front, saw hit ground. Being honest, I was probably being too complacent as I assumed it was a given. Lesson learnt. I've packed up in a grump & off home
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No show, light cloud cover struggled to keep the white light down.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
#68
It's been one week from new arrivals being detected on this regular haunt of mine.
Last evening I did not see but heard her screaming. I moved in but never saw any of them.
To be honest I needed to be overlooking the earth on dusk but haven't been able to do thought I'd have a go at meeting them coming home in the morning.
When I got there the ground was covered in a heavy mist, not quite fog. I nearly cancelled but decided to push on the mile I needed to cover.
Dawn was just arriving and I noticed something odd near the sheep. I think it was a copulation or an attempt anyway. The thermal was struggling in the damp air.
I got a wiggle on to the shadows of the tree line and the same treeline I was expecting them to walk towards me and that is exactly what happened. Only got the big dog, I'm going to struggle for the vixen now I think....
The Zulus struggled in the mist but wasn't to bad. Shot paced off at 111.
When I got home I had to restart the fire.
Found a mouse in the sticks box so Jess had a little fun in the back yard too.
It's been one week from new arrivals being detected on this regular haunt of mine.
Last evening I did not see but heard her screaming. I moved in but never saw any of them.
To be honest I needed to be overlooking the earth on dusk but haven't been able to do thought I'd have a go at meeting them coming home in the morning.
When I got there the ground was covered in a heavy mist, not quite fog. I nearly cancelled but decided to push on the mile I needed to cover.
Dawn was just arriving and I noticed something odd near the sheep. I think it was a copulation or an attempt anyway. The thermal was struggling in the damp air.
I got a wiggle on to the shadows of the tree line and the same treeline I was expecting them to walk towards me and that is exactly what happened. Only got the big dog, I'm going to struggle for the vixen now I think....
The Zulus struggled in the mist but wasn't to bad. Shot paced off at 111.
When I got home I had to restart the fire.
Found a mouse in the sticks box so Jess had a little fun in the back yard too.
Nickb
Well-Known Member
kenbro
Well-Known Member
That’s when a ThermNight 335 woulda been handy.Good shooting with such a poor sight picture
KB.
blueeyes
Well-Known Member
Going with that site picture dont think I would have been comfortable taking that shot , not having a go as I understand your picture would have been better just going with what I was watching
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
I assure you full ID was possible. The thermal spotter was good. And knowing the area as in what is in the field and in the video just prior to the shot it is discernable that it is a fox. I was 100% certain and especially of the backstop should a miss of occured.
paulst
Well-Known Member
I’m always surprised how poor my videos are compared to the actual view I get when looking through the scope. I am still using an add on however, not progressed beyond that as it does what I need, at least at the moment. Nice bouncy eyes always screams fox to me.
Reproduction of 1st vision thru scope is always subject to degradation, depending on what tube or imgur etc you decide to use.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Always found the wraith illuminator very good apart from it's batteries. Has anyone else had a go at them?
Mr Tree
Well-Known Member
I use Torch boys batteries, never ran them down whilst shooting, I only turn the torch on briefly though, thank goodness the torch has an led light indicator
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Mine used the 321 or something called similar disposable ones. Is there a rechargeable replacement now?
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