Fox Shooting Calendar

[Gazza]

Okay, perhaps not in the true sense of the word 'hunt', but in my area the local hunt still have regular meets on the shoot I look after and flush any foxes towards the standing guns, which is working within the law.

I find the theme contained within some of these posts quite sad. I cannot grasp why, as supposed conservationists and preaching about the ethics of deer management to those that don't understand or grasp why it is necessary, that some on here are happy to state that they would gladly see the last fox in this country dead.

I should state that I have been shooting since I was a young teenager and I am now 45. At no time though has my 'livelihood' depended on presenting birds. I have been responsible for killing hundreds of foxes (some for keepers) over years of lamping and took great pleasure from the 'sport' (at least that's how I saw it) this offered. I have also taken great pleasure from watching foxes albeit often before they were shot. They are an intelligent animal that deserves more respect than simply saying 'the only good one is a dead one'. I have no qualms about killing any animal if the circumstances are appropriate, that however does not include 'gladly' knowing that young cubs are left to starve to death at my hand.

In a previous post someone suggested that some deaths were better than others and a response stated 'dead is dead'. Well, I cannot find an argument that supports starving to death as an appropriate alternative to being shot and killed without any suffering.

For the record, I look after a small pheasant shoot as a way of repaying the landowner for the stalking I have on one of my area's of land. It's over about 1500acres. As they are keen hunt supporters I am asked to leave some of the foxes. I will shoot about 3 a year off the place and only when I happen across them when stalking. If they want to pay for pheasants and feed the local fox population that's their business. The ground marching with us is keepered on one side only. Do we see a lot of foxes? Hardly ever, nor do they run out of the woods when beating. We put down only 500 birds between two pens. Shoot 4 driven days and return on average 45%. I know they are there in places because I have smelt them and sometimes see their droppings.

This is not some invasive species to be eradicated. They were here long before someone decided to release thousands of pheasants to make a living out of it.

They need to be controlled and I will continue to do that on all the ground I shoot on but I would never want to be responsible for shooting them out of existence.

What a sad world if our kids grew up only being able to look at a picture of an animal instead of seeing them in the wild and their natural environment.

"The wildlife of today is not ours to dispose of as we please... (except foxes it would appear...)
...we must account for it to those who come after."
King George VI

Excellent post.Tremendous judgement of countryside management.

 

[finnbear270]

They need to be controlled and I will continue to do that on all the ground I shoot on but I would never want to be responsible for shooting them out of existence.

, Ever heard the old keeper's adage?, shoot a fox & two will come to the funeral.

 

[mudman]

, Ever heard the old keeper's adage?, shoot a fox & two will come to the funeral.

then why shoot the first one ?

 

[finnbear270]

It's a comment on how you could never shoot them all out, & if you need to ask why the first was shot,

 

[www.yorkshireroestalking.]

any true countryman knows the damage a fox will do on a shoot , ive seen 300 poults killed in a mates release pen , and how about a litter living on the fells feeding on birds like black grouse , curlew , grey partridge , hen harriers and other ground nesters never mind lambs . Pre ban i would give orphaned cubs to hunt terrier men but not now . Oh yes and lests not forget a keepers house goes with the job

Well said
And the terrier men did what with the cubs
bottlefed them of course
Some say they know how things work but only play and have never had targets to meet on shoot days.
As for spending time in their company i'd be happy, I meet all sorts and get on with most.
To be blinkered or biggoted over what some one writes is just a shallow personality.
In nature predators kill every day without any thoughts for offspring, dependants or anything else other than whats for dinner.
A keeper or a fox killer is apex predator or he is NOT doing his job.

 

[trouble]

A hunt terrierman would feed them on then put them in artificials in areas well away from keepered ground , pre ban that is now they just get knocked

 

[www.yorkshireroestalking.]

A hunt terrierman would feed them on then put them in artificials in areas well away from keepered ground , pre ban that is now they just get knocked

This has always made me smile, they argue that they are killing foxes as vermin control but re-release them to chase and catch????
Like theres not enough already.
What about the cubs used to train the terriers in cellars?? (In good table manners of course).

 

[trouble]

Well i have bred and worked terriers for many years , as have alot of my friends all over the country and to be fare ive never seen that done or any form of baiting , and if i was honest all the true terrier men i know keep their stock in first class conditions and their kennels would put most men to shame

 

[www.yorkshireroestalking.]

Well i have bred and worked terriers for many years , as have alot of my friends all over the country and to be fare ive never seen that done or any form of baiting , and if i was honest all the true terrier men i know keep their stock in first class conditions and their kennels would put most men to shame

Agreed
All my friends keep their dogs in first class condition but this does go on.
May I ask how young dogs are taught to pursue foxes.
I am genuinley interested in all metods.

 

[trouble]

Breeding from good proven lines of working dogs not any old terrier , show pups dead foxes , any ratting to stimulate prey drive and take pups along to watch old dogs work , in time if they show intrest let them enter shallow easy to dig places and if their bred right they should work . We dont over breed or sell pups , just enough to keep the lines going and pass surpluss stock around mates so you know where to go if you need pups or a lining

 

[www.yorkshireroestalking.]

A hunt terrierman would feed them on then put them in artificials in areas well away from keepered ground , pre ban that is now they just get knocked

And everyone hates the rspca for moving foxes and we have an admition that this used to go on with hunts.
Great vermin control eh?
"A bird in the hand" jumps to mind.

 

[www.yorkshireroestalking.]

Breeding from good proven lines of working dogs not any old terrier , show pups dead foxes , any ratting to stimulate prey drive and take pups along to watch old dogs work , in time if they show intrest let them enter shallow easy to dig places and if their bred right they should work . We dont over breed or sell pups , just enough to keep the lines going and pass surpluss stock around mates so you know where to go if you need pups or a lining

Thanks thats what I thought.
regards John