Sage advice
Am i being unreasonable ? Am i too soft for fox shooting ?
- Thread starter billy_boyle_2010
- Start date
Mr Tree
Well-Known Member
Once you see all your beautiful Marans & Sussex chickens wiped out, not once but four times, you would happily drown foxes in a bucket of water. And yes, I have netting 5 foot high, an electric fence & light sensitive electric door openers. I also have a magnificent dog fox on my farm, who causes me no problems, I leave him alone. He knows the score.
I've been clear in the past that I prefer to avoid shooting foxes when they have cubs. If there are no issues I'll leave well alone, if there are issues then I'll shoot the foxes.
I prefer to do the bulk of fox control over Autumn and Winter but that is no guarantee of having an issue free spring etc etc. Also free range chicken farms are way different to sheep farms and then you move to protecting ground nesting birds.
Also selective fox control isnt practical in most cases. Imagine (and this is a real case) ...a good friend is loosing livestock. I head over in the dark...I see a fox approaching the yard ...do I wait and see what it does? Shall I let it take another duck or chicken then shoot it as its the "guilty" one? Nope- I put a bullet in it as a preventative measure and carry on until the problem is dealt with. I have spent weeks trying to get chicken and lamb killers at all hours of the day or night and prevention is a damn side easier then control.
Ultimately do what you conscience tells you but don't think people who will deal with the foxes dont care about the cubs or just want to kill everything as thats a sweeping and unfair generalisation.
I prefer to do the bulk of fox control over Autumn and Winter but that is no guarantee of having an issue free spring etc etc. Also free range chicken farms are way different to sheep farms and then you move to protecting ground nesting birds.
Also selective fox control isnt practical in most cases. Imagine (and this is a real case) ...a good friend is loosing livestock. I head over in the dark...I see a fox approaching the yard ...do I wait and see what it does? Shall I let it take another duck or chicken then shoot it as its the "guilty" one? Nope- I put a bullet in it as a preventative measure and carry on until the problem is dealt with. I have spent weeks trying to get chicken and lamb killers at all hours of the day or night and prevention is a damn side easier then control.
Ultimately do what you conscience tells you but don't think people who will deal with the foxes dont care about the cubs or just want to kill everything as thats a sweeping and unfair generalisation.
Bo Diddley
Well-Known Member
People's view of wildlife changes when it adversely affects them.
My friendly pig farmer, Mark, loved the idea that a pair of foxes poked about around one of his units. He liked to catch a glimpse of one when he arrived in the mornings, or at last knockings at night.
I watched them a lot, almost every time I went rat shooting one winter.... Fast forward to the morning one spring when he went down to check the unit and all but two of his flock of Old English Game Fowl had been wiped out. Poor bugger was livid
My friendly pig farmer, Mark, loved the idea that a pair of foxes poked about around one of his units. He liked to catch a glimpse of one when he arrived in the mornings, or at last knockings at night.
I watched them a lot, almost every time I went rat shooting one winter.... Fast forward to the morning one spring when he went down to check the unit and all but two of his flock of Old English Game Fowl had been wiped out. Poor bugger was livid
In my teens I used to enjoy seeing the odd heron................In my late teens I started growing on koi carp in farm ponds - my opinion changed overnight.
Rhodesianjess
Well-Known Member
Exactly this. Cottage on estate changed hands, stopped Gator to say hello to new occupant, forgetting 2 dead foxes dead in the back. Called me all the names he could lay his tongue to, cruel, wicked, unfeeling etc etc.People's view of wildlife changes when it adversely affects them.
My friendly pig farmer, Mark, loved the idea that a pair of foxes poked about around one of his units. He liked to catch a glimpse of one when he arrived in the mornings, or at last knockings at night.
I watched them a lot, almost every time I went rat shooting one winter.... Fast forward to the morning one spring when he went down to check the unit and all but two of his flock of Old English Game Fowl had been wiped out. Poor bugger was livid
Fast forward a few months,he flagged me down and asked if I could do something about a fox for him. Seemingly the chickens that he'd bought as he now lives in the countryside had been killed. Usual scenario, dozen or so dead,few left strewn about, the rest buried nearby. Any survivors put down to relieve suffering from injury.
Couldn't believe the turnaround in attitude, different when it affects him.
Politely declined and drove off.
Good for you. I do despair at people who move to the countryside and have no idea what actually goes on ...and feel entitled to be rude to people they dont know...I ll stop there
Rhodesianjess
Well-Known Member
Best quote I've heard re this - there's no care homes in the bush.
An English woman in Wales has land neighbouring our shoot. I was speaking to her about various aspects. She asked me to shoot the fox that has been getting her chickens. I gladly obliged and the next week showed her the picture. She was really upset and refuses to speak to me now.
But do believe Daniel P Mannix - The Fox and the Hound is a pretty good read.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Maybe one day when I can't get out
It's got pictures tooWow....I hadnt realised you could read
shakey jake
Well-Known Member
He only writes with leaded pencils thoughWow....I hadnt realised you could read
bets quote i ever heard from an old headkeeper " nature isnt cruel or kind its completely indifferent "
I’ve not read every post on this but it’s your call on what you want to shoot and that should be respected.
Equally, it’s the landowners call as to who he lets shoot and what conditions he might want to attach to that. Those also need to be respected.
Ultimately, you’re free to choose not to shoot them, but the landowner will be free to withdraw your permission if you opt for that choice.
Perhaps the more pragmatic approach is to do as asked but to politely observe that killing every fox isn’t practical so he either needs to improve his fencing as well or accept he’ll still lose chickens.
Equally, it’s the landowners call as to who he lets shoot and what conditions he might want to attach to that. Those also need to be respected.
Ultimately, you’re free to choose not to shoot them, but the landowner will be free to withdraw your permission if you opt for that choice.
Perhaps the more pragmatic approach is to do as asked but to politely observe that killing every fox isn’t practical so he either needs to improve his fencing as well or accept he’ll still lose chickens.
He really doesnt
BenBhoy
Well-Known Member
Wow they really were dead, dead dead!!
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