Fox shooting distance

[Overlay]

Guys
who shoots further than 275 yds doing fox control and if so what calibre are you using and what scope, day, NV or TI


as a rule of thumb I regularly practice out to 300 yds on a fox target with my 222,204,243, 6.5 and 308, I don't shoot out that far 250 is my go to distance but its good to know your limitation and ability to accurately shoot to 300

there is such a lot of kit out there now which apparently increases the distance by a long chalk, personally I’m not happy over 250 ish yds, if your out on the hill etc that shot is a safe shot, if your on it, I’m just wondering if we are stretching a line a bit toooooo far with the shoot to kill it seems that its shoot and see whats happens, this is for foxes not deer, ( still the same IMO) gear coming on the market now seems to accelerate this and I’m not sure we aren’t making a rod for our own back

just my thoughts

 

[Henns]

I do quite a bit of foxing and very rarely need to shoot past 150 yards, i'd say the majority are less than 100 yards. NV, thermal and good calling should allow us to get closer to foxes, and not have to take on long shots.

 

[One on top of two]

Hmmm have taken many many long shots but only if I have no choice really .
I have been foxing for a long time now but I still like to call them in as close as I can . I think 75 m at night is a nice clinical distance and will gladly swap a 250-300m fox for a 50-75m anytime they want .

 

[Tim.243]

Guys
who shoots further than 275 yds doing fox control and if so what calibre are you using and what scope, day, NV or TI


as a rule of thumb I regularly practice out to 300 yds on a fox target with my 222,204,243, 6.5 and 308, I don't shoot out that far 250 is my go to distance but its good to know your limitation and ability to accurately shoot to 300

there is such a lot of kit out there now which apparently increases the distance by a long chalk, personally I’m not happy over 250 ish yds, if your out on the hill etc that shot is a safe shot, if your on it, I’m just wondering if we are stretching a line a bit toooooo far with the shoot to kill it seems that its shoot and see whats happens, this is for foxes not deer, ( still the same IMO) gear coming on the market now seems to accelerate this and I’m not sure we aren’t making a rod for our own back

just my thoughts

Kev Gun likes a bit of legs in his foxing. The point is for the last part the smarty tube gang have to stalk in close otherwise they won't see it with the TI spotters you can get in closer but there is a limit the smarter ones will let you get to, so a good foxer knows the signs and then calls the time to shoot.
I walk with my sticks the same as stalking often with the same rifle less the IR and over time have found the method is really no different. TBH I like a front facing fox and enjoy walking to it working out how far I can get to it which is all the conditions added in dry crispy stubble no wind etc, this all makes a distance you can go.
A cold dark night stiff breeze damp under foot is abt perfect lol

 

[Lancaster]

Guys
who shoots further than 275 yds doing fox control and if so what calibre are you using and what scope, day, NV or TI


as a rule of thumb I regularly practice out to 300 yds on a fox target with my 222,204,243, 6.5 and 308, I don't shoot out that far 250 is my go to distance but its good to know your limitation and ability to accurately shoot to 300

there is such a lot of kit out there now which apparently increases the distance by a long chalk, personally I’m not happy over 250 ish yds, if your out on the hill etc that shot is a safe shot, if your on it, I’m just wondering if we are stretching a line a bit toooooo far with the shoot to kill it seems that its shoot and see whats happens, this is for foxes not deer, ( still the same IMO) gear coming on the market now seems to accelerate this and I’m not sure we aren’t making a rod for our own back

just my thoughts

With Thermal and digital NV scope I am now shooting foxes closer than I used to do with the lamp, I still shoot a few over 250yds but most are between 80-160yds.

 

[jall55]

I have shot dozens and dozens this year with the thermal
Can only think of 1 over 120 yards

So little need for those "chancier" shots now

Credit to those people who can shoot further accurately - i just cant

 

[landkeeper]

Depends if your shooting foxes because you have to or if your shooting them because you want to in my experience

 

[VSS]

Same distance as deer. Shouldn't be pushing out to longer distances just because it's a fox. If you're competent and confident to take deer at those sort of distances then fine, shoot foxes as well, but if you're not then don't. All quarry is worthy of the same degree of respect.

 

[Bo Diddley]

I like to walk & stalk mostly with a .22Hornet, so a maximum shot for me is about 150, most of the time much closer, closer the better for me, I'll pass up a shot rather than take one on the limit if the angle/vibe is wrong for me. Sometimes I shoot a .220 Swift, 250 yards off sticks is about my limit again I want to be seeing a broadside or bib shot really. I hate to be thinking I let one suffer by a poor choice, they don't deserve it, I enjoy a game of cat & mouse for a few days sometimes, we usually win in the end

 

[Themidlandstalker]

Imo the equipment has been, and still is only as good as the person behind it pulling the trigger. NV, thermal and such make getting into a sensible range easier these days and although the rifle maybe capable of a clean kill at 250yds+ most of the time it just isn't needed. Factor in darkness and the risk goes up anyway. Shoot to kill, not to tell folk we do long range sniper style shots.

 

[Smellydog]

Most of mine are under 100.
When I was younger I got a few long ones in but I wouldn't dream of doing it now.
I don't have any large rifles anymore, just the rimfires but do just as well.
Shot these last night around lambs.
53 paces and 100 paces.

 

[Bo Diddley]

Most of mine are under 100.
When I was younger I got a few long ones in but I wouldn't dream of doing it now.
I don't have any large rifles anymore, just the rimfires but do just as well.
Shot these last night around lambs.
53 paces and 100 paces.
View attachment 253421
View attachment 253422

Nice work bud. Job well done!

 

[gixer1]

Very rarely needed to take longer shots on foxes - always found the problem was getting them to stop running towards us when I was squeaking them in!….we were always taught not to educate them or they end up lampshy so don’t overdo it with the lamp - with the use of NV and thermal you shouldn’t need to spook them at all.

 

[Ratel]

I have shot an awful lot of foxes in my time from lowland animals to foxes in the Scottish hills.
I only ever remember shooting one over 250 yds, most would be sub 150 yds.

 

[DavyG]

I don’t really have a distance at night. To be honest, I find it hard to range unless Mr. is in a position that I know how far away he is. The deciding factor for me, as to whether or not the shot is taken…is if I’m “on it”. I might be rock steady on a 300 yarder off the sticks, back against a tree, but uncomfortable hanging out of the drivers side of the truck window at 50 yards.
DG

 

[Tim.243]

Same distance as deer. Shouldn't be pushing out to longer distances just because it's a fox. If you're competent and confident to take deer at those sort of distances then fine, shoot foxes as well, but if you're not then don't. All quarry is worthy of the same degree of respect.

You say that Tim All quarry is worthy of the same degree of respect. which I will agree to a point, however there are no phone lines/advert on here offering to come find a lost fox. To date I have not see a write up praising a team for coming out that day or the next to look for a fox compared to a deer.
I have been back over the years the next day on stubble as they have ran dropped in a deep tram line and not found that night. I don't leave them where they lay as my landowners asked me not to.
Yes people will have a dog which will find them but the effort put into deer will/is on a far larger scale compared to a fox.

 

[Overlay]

You say that Tim All quarry is worthy of the same degree of respect. which I will agree to a point, however there are no phone lines/advert on here offering to come find a lost fox. To date I have not see a write up praising a team for coming out that day or the next to look for a fox compared to a deer.
I have been back over the years the next day on stubble as they have ran dropped in a deep tram line and not found that night. I don't leave them where they lay as my landowners asked me not to.
Yes people will have a dog which will find them but the effort put into deer will/is on a far larger scale compared to a fox.

i lost one the other night we looked (two of us around with thermals ) no joy, took both teckels down first light had it in the bag in 20 mins, l somehow managed to pull off a classic liver shot at 90 yds with the hornet, tucked up under a holly bush stiff as a board

 

[VSS]

You say that Tim All quarry is worthy of the same degree of respect. which I will agree to a point, however there are no phone lines/advert on here offering to come find a lost fox. To date I have not see a write up praising a team for coming out that day or the next to look for a fox compared to a deer.
I have been back over the years the next day on stubble as they have ran dropped in a deep tram line and not found that night. I don't leave them where they lay as my landowners asked me not to.
Yes people will have a dog which will find them but the effort put into deer will/is on a far larger scale compared to a fox.

So why is that? People will put a tremendous amount of effort into searching for a dead deer, even if it's reached a stage where, if found, the meat won't be recoverable anyway (so you could argue that, after a certain interval, it's a waste of time searching, but folk still do). Or trying find a wounded deer, to end its suffering. But with foxes it tends to be a case of "so long as it's hit it'll die sometime / somewhere, so job done, move on to the next one". Yet a fox suffers just the same as a deer, so anyone who's got the decency to follow up a wounded deer should do the same for a fox. Anyone who hasn't got that decency shouldn't be shooting live quarry.

 

[Tim.243]

i lost one the other day night we looked (two of us around with thermals ) no joy, took both teckels down first light had it in the bag in 20 mins, l somehow managed to pull off a classic liver shot at 90 yds with the hornet, tucked up under a holly bush stiff as a board

Good stuff, that is why I like the 95gn in .243 but the do run also no team would come out.

 

[Tim.243]

So why is that? People will put a tremendous amount of effort into searching for a dead deer, even if it's reached a stage where, if found, the meat won't be recoverable anyway (so you could argue that, after a certain interval, it's a waste of time searching, but folk still do). Or trying find a wounded deer, to end its suffering. But with foxes it tends to be a case of "so long as it's hit it'll die sometime / somewhere, so job done, move on to the next one". Yet a fox suffers just the same as a deer, so anyone who's got the decency to follow up a wounded deer should do the same for a fox. Anyone who hasn't got that decency shouldn't be shooting live quarry.

That is what I said