Empty night again,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[crow killer]

Went again tonight, same place got there a bit earlier, a farm cat was near the bait, about 20 minutes after I got in, a fox came, almost to the bait, it waited a bit and as I got my rifle up on its bunny bag rest and started looking with the pard, it must have realised I was there, it turned tail and was off, later saw it behind the fence about 160 yards out, it never came back, sat till 9:30 again, 1 barn owl seen and heard, a female tawny giving plenty of kewick kewick calls, a badger again probably same as last night, was a bit too moon lit, ill wait now till after the moon, bait could do with being slightly further out as well, a damned sheep dog up the valley was constantly yapping all night. Reminded me and got me thinking of the night I had to put detonators on the railway line to slow trains before a broken rail a mile and a quarter out, each train made a double bang and the dog yapped after each train, sparks flew everywhere from the hard braking when the driver heard the bang and saw my orange light waving at him, a toot on the horn as well. It was an autumn night like tonight calm and very still. That was about 44 years ago. Lowgill .
Certainly foxes can be either easy or hard to get, ive had 17 since last November, but have spent plenty of hours sat waiting on bait, .

 

[Smellydog]

How close were you? Could you spot him with binos in the moon and use a shotgun. My binoculars work well on moonlight nights.

 

[Warbucks]

Hi crow killer
Assuming this is as tuesday's outing, i wouldn't have the bait as close as 60 yds unless i had to, its too close and as careful as you can be, its all too easy to make that slight bit of noise and the fox is off.
The last time i HAD to bait-n-shoot at 60 yds i was completely set up (rifle on car roof, stepping stool, all focused, vehicle spotter) and i gave it a "dummy run" just to make sure.
I always try to be extra careful when shooting foxes from what is the "only position" because if you mess up, it will look for you there.
If i'm shooting from a baiting point i'll set this out around 100-120 yds, you could let the fox start eating the bait and wait till its not looking in your direction with your thermal before turning your n/v on for the shot.
Good luck.

Dave (warbucks)

 

[crow killer]

How close were you? Could you spot him with binos in the moon and use a shotgun. My binoculars work well on moonlight nights.

Hi Smellydog, not enough moonlight for a shotgun, and too far off, in future ill let the fox always start feeding on the carcase before I try and see him through the scope with a pard, pard works really well in moonlight, but I think foxes are a bit more cautious of coming near a building where I might be lurking. I will move the bait out to about 75 yards, then the pard red light should be not visible to him, I should have already done this, doh,

 

[crow killer]

Hi crow killer
Assuming this is as tuesday's outing, i wouldn't have the bait as close as 60 yds unless i had to, its too close and as careful as you can be, its all too easy to make that slight bit of noise and the fox is off.
The last time i HAD to bait-n-shoot at 60 yds i was completely set up (rifle on car roof, stepping stool, all focused, vehicle spotter) and i gave it a "dummy run" just to make sure.
I always try to be extra careful when shooting foxes from what is the "only position" because if you mess up, it will look for you there.
If i'm shooting from a baiting point i'll set this out around 100-120 yds, you could let the fox start eating the bait and wait till its not looking in your direction with your thermal before turning your n/v on for the shot.
Good luck.

Dave (warbucks)

Hi Dave I totally agree with what you say, they can be incredibly wary, least bit of sound and thats it, especially when as close as that and on such a still night, ill move the bait out to about 75 yards and not go out again till after the full moon, I really dont think the moon helps, I think they feel a bit more vulnerable, but who knows ?, ive seen them before on snow and its been really light at night, .
Im only doing this to try and help curlew and lapwing, whats left of a very depleted population, if it wasnt for that I wouldnt bother, theres always that slight sense of regret when I look at the dead, though at the same time I enjoy that sound of a thud and the sight of a clean kill with a good shot and think as old Cull stag used to say thatll stop it biting and scratching, .
I enjoy being out most in late March when the snipe are drumming and the peewits are calling, and theres a sense of urgency to kill them before the nesting season, any fox killed now will be replaced by another well before the nesting season, I always take a close look at the bodys, teeth wondering how old they are when a fang is broken off or teeth missing, ?? I think maybe 5 years old by then, would anyone know, females are always more pleasing to kill than dogs as well, they are the breeders, I suppose a dog could mate with a few females if human nature is anything to go by, who would pass the chance of a shag if it was all ok.

 

[jall55]

Hi Dave I totally agree with what you say, they can be incredibly wary, least bit of sound and thats it, especially when as close as that and on such a still night, ill move the bait out to about 75 yards and not go out again till after the full moon, I really dont think the moon helps, I think they feel a bit more vulnerable, but who knows ?, ive seen them before on snow and its been really light at night, .
Im only doing this to try and help curlew and lapwing, whats left of a very depleted population, if it wasnt for that I wouldnt bother, theres always that slight sense of regret when I look at the dead, though at the same time I enjoy that sound of a thud and the sight of a clean kill with a good shot and think as old Cull stag used to say thatll stop it biting and scratching, .
I enjoy being out most in late March when the snipe are drumming and the peewits are calling, and theres a sense of urgency to kill them before the nesting season, any fox killed now will be replaced by another well before the nesting season, I always take a close look at the bodys, teeth wondering how old they are when a fang is broken off or teeth missing, ?? I think maybe 5 years old by then, would anyone know, females are always more pleasing to kill than dogs as well, they are the breeders, I suppose a dog could mate with a few females if human nature is anything to go by, who would pass the chance of a shag if it was all ok.

Thats brilliant that you are doing for the waders mate
Me and a few of my pals do a farm not too far from us that has Curlew - we go once a week or so en masse and have made a good dent in numbers and have seen some encouraging results
I go out on our land most nights and again the benefits are there for all to see
I think that its far more justifiable to shoot lots of foxes than the occasional one because sort of shooting one or two as "sport" or recreation has such little impact as - as you say others fill in.
I would hit them hard now though because they are pairing up - food becomes scarcer shortly and hence they come to bait even easier

 

[Crowstalker]

If you can push out to at least 100yards if possible depending on your chosen round and back stop.

 

[crow killer]

I absolutely love curlews and lapwings, they are the greats, and if were not careful curlew are predicted to become extinct in nearly all of Britain in the next decade, its high time rspb came out and publicly said that curlews need every bit of help and killing foxes is one way of greatly helping them, I think they dont want to upset a lot of members, which would possibly mean losing income for them.
I agree just taking the odd one out isnt going to do much, they really need to be greatly reduced to help with nesting success.

 

[jall55]

I absolutely love curlews and lapwings, they are the greats, and if were not careful curlew are predicted to become extinct in nearly all of Britain in the next decade, its high time rspb came out and publicly said that curlews need every bit of help and killing foxes is one way of greatly helping them, I think they dont want to upset a lot of members, which would possibly mean losing income for them.
I agree just taking the odd one out isnt going to do much, they really need to be greatly reduced to help with nesting success.

Write to them and tell them buddy - i do

I can relate to your motivation

 

[crow killer]

If you can push out to at least 100yards if possible depending on your chosen round and back stop.

Yes could do, backstop is not an issue its all uphill and very safe, I hate missing and feel happier at about 75 yards, you get a really **** feeling if you miss, and even worse if ones hit and not found, its only happened to me twice, knowing one was hit, I picked up a back foot, and then the following winter I shot it, minus a back leg, it was lighter than it should have been, but had survived, I think it would have starved soon if id not got it, so I was pleased to have it got him. Another big dog was hit I thought, and it was later found dead a couple of months later in a wood only 100 yards from the shot, I knew id really hurt it by the sickening barking sound it made, despite me looking all around I couldnt find it, yet later there it was. Its always pleasing to see the still dead in the thermal after firing,

 

[crow killer]

Write to them and tell them buddy - i do

I can relate to your motivation

I was a member since i was 16 im 61 now, I cancelled my membership just before December a year ago, joint membership, I used to think they were doing a great job, till ive read a lot of Berts posts on facebook, I wrote them a long letter, theres a few things I have strongly disagreed with, I had a lengthy reply from the top woman boss, Becky Speight.
They paid about 12,000£ to have some red deer culled at Leighton Moss reserve, this was a total waste of money as I said, theres many people who would have either done it for free or they could have let the stalking, then theres the stoat trapping fiasco on Orkney, theyve had £ millions and millions given over the years, there were a few more issues I had as well which came out in my letter.

 

[Crowstalker]

Yes could do, backstop is not an issue its all uphill and very safe, I hate missing and feel happier at about 75 yards, you get a really **** feeling if you miss, and even worse if ones hit and not found, its only happened to me twice, knowing one was hit, I picked up a back foot, and then the following winter I shot it, minus a back leg, it was lighter than it should have been, but had survived, I think it would have starved soon if id not got it, so I was pleased to have it got him. Another big dog was hit I thought, and it was later found dead a couple of months later in a wood only 100 yards from the shot, I knew id really hurt it by the sickening barking sound it made, despite me looking all around I couldnt find it, yet later there it was. Its always pleasing to see the still dead in the thermal after firing,

Very true I totally understand your reasoning. The adrenaline rush when you see a fox in your scope sure doesn't help with the fine motor skills.

 

[jall55]

I was a member since i was 16 im 61 now, I cancelled my membership just before December a year ago, joint membership, I used to think they were doing a great job, till ive read a lot of Berts posts on facebook, I wrote them a long letter, theres a few things I have strongly disagreed with, I had a lengthy reply from the top woman boss, Becky Speight.
They paid about 12,000£ to have some red deer culled at Leighton Moss reserve, this was a total waste of money as I said, theres many people who would have either done it for free or they could have let the stalking, then theres the stoat trapping fiasco on Orkney, theyve had £ millions and millions given over the years, there were a few more issues I had as well which came out in my letter.

Never give up pal
You sound like a top person

 

[Smellydog]

Yes could do, backstop is not an issue its all uphill and very safe, I hate missing and feel happier at about 75 yards, you get a really **** feeling if you miss, and even worse if ones hit and not found, its only happened to me twice, knowing one was hit, I picked up a back foot, and then the following winter I shot it, minus a back leg, it was lighter than it should have been, but had survived, I think it would have starved soon if id not got it, so I was pleased to have it got him. Another big dog was hit I thought, and it was later found dead a couple of months later in a wood only 100 yards from the shot, I knew id really hurt it by the sickening barking sound it made, despite me looking all around I couldnt find it, yet later there it was. Its always pleasing to see the still dead in the thermal after firing,

Chit happens, do enough and it will occur.
Analyze the moment and endeavour to not repeat, that's all we can do. Regularly check zero too.

 

[crow killer]

Very true I totally understand your reasoning. The adrenaline rush when you see a fox in your scope sure doesn't help with the fine motor skills.

Yes I used to get that when I first started about 20 years ago, I seem really calm now though, have far more confidence now with a thermal and a pard, I used to have a tiny night owl monocular which had fairly short range compared to now, and I had a gun light mounted on top of my scope, with an orange filter on, it all had to be done a bit more quickly to take a shot before I thought it would make off, though I do miss the sight of seeing it in colour, I think back to when I first started and would go out squeaking, walking around quite a few field away from home, then shine the gun light about, I dont seem to want to do that now, its much more easy to sit on bait, and sometimes eyes would be seen hundreds of yards away, but they wouldnt come in, I think some were probably spooked by my hand squealing,

 

[crow killer]

Never give up pal
You sound like a top person

Thanks I havent had a compliment for ages,

 

[crow killer]

Chit happens, do enough and it will occur.
Analyze the moment and endeavour to not repeat, that's all we can do. Regularly check zero too.

Yes its essential to know about our rifles current ability, fills me with confidence, I particularly enjoy a carrion crow at 110 yards, V Max blows them to bits, nasty to see.

 

[Smellydog]

Yes its essential to know about our rifles current ability, fills me with confidence, I particularly enjoy a carrion crow at 110 yards, V Max blows them to bits, nasty to see.

Extra points for every crow you get from me

 

[Len the dog]

I think you need to be looking at a centrefire calibre, wounding animals doesn’t sit right with me and I always feel bad for it even if it is a fox or other vermin.
I went down the 22-250 route, possibly overkill but I haven’t had a runner yet and don’t expect to. My regular foxing land only really yields foxes to a maximum of 100yds but I picked up a new permission this Monday of 250 acres and having walked around it, I am looking at up to 200yds or even slightly longer, the 22-250 will then come into its own.

 

[Len the dog]

Extra points for every crow you get from me

Funny, but I have always thought of a crow as being worth three pigeons, and a magpie worth two crows.
I have no idea where I dreamt that up but my son now follows the same rule.