problem ive found with bbs is the huge holes in pattern after 20 yards or so which is why i find 3s a good compromise
Fox drives
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Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Hmm, without knowing the particulars of the shot that resulted in pellets under the skin I'd hate to make a rule. May of been the wrong position.
I skinned a fox many years ago now and found two BB pellets in its hide. It's rear in fact so a bad shot position like running away.
In my book range limitations will determine the outcome more than pellet size anyday.
Nickb
Well-Known Member
Yep always keep range close with a shotgun , not a wannabe hero shooting at 50 yds with birdshot
Dont shoot until you see the whites of their eyesYep always keep range close with a shotgun , not a wannabe hero shooting at 50 yds with birdshot
On the rare occasion where I take the 12 bore specifically for foxes I like 42 gram BBs and sub 30 yard ranges....but to be fair its a real rarity I shoot foes with anything other then the rifle these days.
Sol
Well-Known Member
I would say so.
Whilst not affiliated with us, we had over 100 people out last week that walk the entire estate fox shooting.
I have no clue how it works, or how Its safe or vice versa..... not anything too do with us besides being a clause in our sporting lease the neighboring estate (they own the actual property) have the right to do it.
I'm guessing there goal each year is too wipe out the population on there ground and ours so "our" shoot acts like a buffer zone, bit crap but the pheasant shoot here isn't great regardless tbf there's is commercial, ours isnt.
Whilst not affiliated with us, we had over 100 people out last week that walk the entire estate fox shooting.
I have no clue how it works, or how Its safe or vice versa..... not anything too do with us besides being a clause in our sporting lease the neighboring estate (they own the actual property) have the right to do it.
I'm guessing there goal each year is too wipe out the population on there ground and ours so "our" shoot acts like a buffer zone, bit crap but the pheasant shoot here isn't great regardless tbf there's is commercial, ours isnt.
Rhodesianjess
Well-Known Member
I've picked foxes up over the years laying dead. If they've been shot with a shotgun it's normally up the backside with birdshot. Sort of injury they'd sustain going through a line of guns on a pheasant day, have to be left until through the line for safety reasons then shot up the backside with 6's at long rangeYep always keep range close with a shotgun , not a wannabe hero shooting at 50 yds with birdshot
On Saturday, my vermin day, the standing lads will be behind cover,up against a big tree, kneeling in front of cover etc, let Charlie come really close coz he's concentrating on the beaters behind him. One shot generally does it,mind they quite often give him another as insurance, it's only 1 cartridge.
Longer range shots rarely taken,I know most fox runs and place the lads accordingly.
100 people, wow, that seems alot. How many did they get?I would say so.
Whilst not affiliated with us, we had over 100 people out last week that walk the entire estate fox shooting.
I have no clue how it works, or how Its safe or vice versa..... not anything too do with us besides being a clause in our sporting lease the neighboring estate (they own the actual property) have the right to do it.
I'm guessing there goal each year is too wipe out the population on there ground and ours so "our" shoot acts like a buffer zone, bit crap but the pheasant shoot here isn't great regardless tbf there's is commercial, ours isnt.
Sol
Well-Known Member
I know they got quite a few but I'm not sure of the exact numbers, I'll ask around and see if I can figure any information out.
I'm not really sure why they do it It seems highly inefficient in my eyes? Why not set 25-30 people up on stands (e.g car, fence edge etc) in the evening into the night and I'm sure similar results would be achieved with probably more foxes shot.
Nickb
Well-Known Member
That's my motto , I remember once on an invite to a shoot a fox was spotted going into a bit cover.Dont shoot until you see the whites of their eyes
I said to the shoot captain, sod the pheasants let's push this fox out.
I got myself kneeled behind a fence post , the fox was pushed out and was heading straight towards me , I let it get to about 10 yards so I could see the whites of its eyes , it duly dropped on the spot . I then shot it again with the 2nd cartridge, other guns asked why I used the 2nd cartridge and I replied "experience "
Good ladThat's my motto , I remember once on an invite to a shoot a fox was spotted going into a bit cover.
I said to the shoot captain, sod the pheasants let's push this fox out.
I got myself kneeled behind a fence post , the fox was pushed out and was heading straight towards me , I let it get to about 10 yards so I could see the whites of its eyes , it duly dropped on the spot . I then shot it again with the 2nd cartridge, other guns asked why I used the 2nd cartridge and I replied "experience "
I would always rather put a second shot into an animal if there is any doubt. I would much prefer a fox gets away then ends up having a lingering death because its been peppered with lead at a stupid range.Fox drives would be a big thing in Ireland. There are a lot of gun clubs throughout the country and most would go out on a Sunday.
You would have groups of around 7 or 8 guns doing smaller bits of cover or you could have 20 plus guns doing larger areas of forestery etc.
Usually a couple of beaters with springers terriers hounds and various crossbreeds.
As for cartridges I normally use anything from BBs to 3s
I normally keep 1/2 choke in my semi auto.
You would have groups of around 7 or 8 guns doing smaller bits of cover or you could have 20 plus guns doing larger areas of forestery etc.
Usually a couple of beaters with springers terriers hounds and various crossbreeds.
As for cartridges I normally use anything from BBs to 3s
I normally keep 1/2 choke in my semi auto.
I organised many fox drives in the new forest, firstly using terriers and any other dogs that wanted to join in (problem was when the fox went to ground so did half the terriers ) then we moved onto a pack of beagles, owned by a man I met on the side of a mountain during the welsh hunting festival, upto 20 people arrived from wales on a Friday and left on Sunday, I fed and watered them all, great friends and the best of times.
Brittany boy
Well-Known Member
Did fox drives years ago, guns on the known fox runs and lurchers strategically positioned across the open white grass areas were very effective. But the knowledge of where the earths are on the ground is gold. Shoot the dog coming to the earth, then the vixen then put the terrier in to do the cubs. Nice and quiet very little disturbance and a good dog saves a lot of digging. Most are shot with rifles nowadays , probably more humane.
have done plenty of fox drives over the years. no dogs, just beaters shouting and firing shots through the cover. Ive shot thousands of foxes with the rifle over the years but nothing gets the heart racing like a fox belting towards you during the day. With a good heavy shell ( 0's or BB's), half choke or more, its surprising how far you can bowl them over. If you have a group of guns that know what they're doing, it can be a very effective way of reducing numbers before the cubbing season.
SikaSeeker
Well-Known Member
Big thing in Ireland, especially when the game season is over. You could have guns and lurchers in the line.
SikaSeeker
Well-Known Member
I found my lurchers would get cute on rough ground and would actually catch stuff quick. I’m from an area where a 5 acre field is big.
Over the years, I tried various methods of doing fox drives. Much depends on the sort of cover you're driving, but in blocks of woodland, I found I got the best results by careful placing of the guns, and with just a decent, well-trained dog that wouldn't run ahead, and then slowly bringing the beaters forward with only a little stick tapping, acheived the best results. Too many rioting dogs and too much noise often had foxes breaking back, going to ground, or slipping out of the sides.
Moving slowly with a minimum of disturbance was enough to alert foxes, and they would generally move where I wanted them to.
A good knowledge of the ground and fox movements generally helps.
Moving slowly with a minimum of disturbance was enough to alert foxes, and they would generally move where I wanted them to.
A good knowledge of the ground and fox movements generally helps.
yes, in blocks of woodland that will work. most of our drives are thick blocks of gorse bushes, sometimes 20 acre plus in size. If you walk quietly through these, yes, you might get the first fox to go forward, but after the first shot is fired in front, the rest of them want to go back, out the sides, anyway but forward, so without all the noise and shots, most would double back and not be seen. Some days you can start a drive and the first fox can be out the other end within seconds, other days they don't break cover till you're 100yds from finishing.
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