Full moon and Foxes .. Good or bad ?

[Lancaster]

When I was out last it was during the heatwave, the thermal spotter just kept picking up pockets of very warm air as they blew across the field. In between wafts was fine but you would suddenly lose the whole picture because the air was that warm.

So it's not just me!
I've also lost definition when spotting from the truck on colder nights and the warm air from inside the truck flows past the thermal when I have a spy out of the window, I've checked the lens but no condensation so I was confused, (though these days it's pretty easy, put three shovels in front of me and say take your pick and I would be there for hours).
On a couple of occasions when I have had a clear target I've put the rifle on the warm bonnet and had a final spy with the thermal prior to settling on the NV scope on the rifle and again I have lost some definition.

 

[Sika98k]

Full moon I tend to stay put under a copse of trees or at least in shadow. Foxes have phenomenal eyesight at night. I watched a fox one night stalking a hare from maybe 50-60 yds away. There was no moon.

 

[Lancaster]

The Combine has just come home next door, it's very still and, what little breeze there is, is bloody awkward.

Just used a yard broom and pushed my smock and trousers around the garden to get some grassy scent on it and disguise as much human scent as I can.
The Baler is still running and they are still leading straw bales, so I have a bit of cover in regards to noise and scent.

I very rarely manage to shoot a fox from the house, so I guess it's time to get out, put out the EcoTek and get bored.

Smoke me a Kipper, I'll be home in time for breakfast....

 

[Bo Diddley]

Who says you can't shoot them sitting on the sofa...... one of my most productive foxing areas is on the bottom field, luckily for me I can sit on the sofa in the kitchen with the thermal to hand, and when Charlie turns up to the baited spot it's open the cabinet, get the rifle and bingo, Excellent fun in the winter when your cooking supper, sometimes we have a late one Luxury foxing I call it.

 

[Len the dog]

Who says you can't shoot them sitting on the sofa...... one of my most productive foxing areas is on the bottom field, luckily for me I can sit on the sofa in the kitchen with the thermal to hand, and when Charlie turns up to the baited spot it's open the cabinet, get the rifle and bingo, Excellent fun in the winter when your cooking supper, sometimes we have a late one Luxury foxing I call it.

Is that where the term 'Glamping' comes from, posh lamping?

 

[Smellydog]

It's crap in the moon .


100&175 yards approximate. 17hmr.

 

[User00036]

Don't know which is worse, a full moon or dead still, combine the two & I'd rather stay in. Give it three or 4 days & you have 2 hours before the moon gets up, everything is moving then, rabbits venture out feeding, foxes Hares & deer on the move, a perfect time. After years of lamping with dogs, there is one condition that I rarely see a fox & that is rain. During a moon most critters stay very close to cover. The one exception is baiting, the problem is getting into position.

 

[The Singing Stalker]

Bait in one place, get yourself in cover use the caller and if they are about they may come in. Had one of this years cubs last night and if I’m not too knackered I will be out tomorrow night.

 

[Tf223]

I tend to avoid full moon. Difference on my last two outings - no moon, six foxes seen and shot - full moon, one fox seen but he saw me too and none shot. I definitely think they change their behaviour slightly on such nights too.

As people say, they’re still there, you can still shot some if you need to and use your field craft right, but personally I’d stay in and wait for better conditions (I’m under no pressure to shoot them apart from at lambing time).

Much like the the rain - you won’t see me out in that either!

 

[Sandyb]

I was out on a regular farm visit on Tuesday. Frequent visits from Charlie. Previous two visits I got two trebles. Thought that was it. Only saw one, but keeping to the tree line and shadows it was a long shot and I missed. I don’t miss very often, but it was still, no wind and as said walking on stubble, they’d hear you far away. Back with the .204 32 grainers instead of the .223 50 grainers tomorrow

 

[Longstrider]

Interesting view and replies there fellas.
It's Friday, so we'll be out. No doubt sweating our proverbials off to begin with until the evening draws in. Plan is to get the caller out and sit under the shadow of a big old hedge until the sun completely sets. Then it'll be up-sticks and over the other hedge to sit in the moon-shadow once that rises and starts lighting the place up.
Farmer reckons on having seen a fox or 3 coming in from a local wood recently, so at least we know which direction to expect to see them come from (in theory at least!)

 

[Bo Diddley]

A still moonlit night is not .22 Hornet weather, so I think the .220 Swift will get an outing this weekend, just to make it a bit easier

 

[Smellydog]

Interesting view and replies there fellas.
It's Friday, so we'll be out. No doubt sweating our proverbials off to begin with until the evening draws in. Plan is to get the caller out and sit under the shadow of a big old hedge until the sun completely sets. Then it'll be up-sticks and over the other hedge to sit in the moon-shadow once that rises and starts lighting the place up.
Farmer reckons on having seen a fox or 3 coming in from a local wood recently, so at least we know which direction to expect to see them come from (in theory at least!)

That's all I did last night. Hung around in the shadows and did not approach with a light source behind me. I also sometimes wear a face cover on moonlit nights.

 

[Longstrider]

A still moonlit night is not .22 Hornet weather, so I think the .220 Swift will get an outing this weekend, just to make it a bit easier

No worries there chap. I'll be toting the .204, and my mate will be lugging about three hundred pounds of .243 about With the field sizes being as they are it's pretty much a case of "If we can see 'em, we can hit 'em".

 

[Gunner223]

I had 2 in the full moon wed night, got into a big dark copse, kept in the dark shadows , a little squeak, and in they came.

 

[Bramble]

I had an adult vixen last night in the very full moon, cubs will possibly be a bit less wary.

 

[wabbit warren]

the moon was big but not full when i was out Tuesday night
i shot three from a highseat and 1 which popped up behind me while walking round and sat there watching me (i always have a look behind as ive had it more than once when a fox has been watching what your doing and seems to move out of cover when its thinks its safe)
no problem with the thermal spotter, i normally use black hot and was on forest setting (number 2 of 3 on the axion key xm30) some tree trunks were blacker than normal but foxes showed up really well

 

[dawnbreaker]

Will be heading out tonight myself to fresh cut fields that I know for sure is on Charlie's rounds, icotec on mouse and dig in to the hedge, oh and get there before dark to set up

 

[MagicLantern]

I'm out already, tucked in a hide under trees and the moon when it comes up will be behind me, so I'm in shadow against a bright background. C50 works a treat with next to no IR, dropped a sh1t-stinking mange-ridden vixen on weds evening with the moon at 98% with no IR.

The only other adjustment I've made is because I'm wearing my disco hotpants, I've added more cam cream to my thighs

 

[Len the dog]

I'm out already, tucked in a hide under trees and the moon when it comes up will be behind me, so I'm in shadow against a bright background. C50 works a treat with next to no IR, dropped a sh1t-stinking mange-ridden vixen on weds evening with the moon at 98% with no IR.

The only other adjustment I've made is because I'm wearing my disco hotpants, I've added more cam cream to my thighs

Tucked into the shadows with your mobile lighting your face up like some sort of homing beacon.