I was out Saturday night, it was so bright the trees were casting shadows. Still dropped 2 foxes from a high seat 
Full moon and Foxes .. Good or bad ?
- Thread starter Longstrider
- Start date
Tuesday night is foxing night for 3 of us . We sit out at various points i bait. The last few weeks had been very unproductive. Last night despite the full moon the foxes were in abundance. We shot 3 and possibly spotted 7. However as they move around it’s difficult to figure which was which.
Plenty of foxes here last night too, despite the moon. With the thermal I watched 4 or 5 playing together in the middle of a field without a care in the world. At first I thought it was probably a litter of this years cubs, but I shot one of the group that was foolish enough to cross my boundary and it was an adult male.
Generally I'm not too fussed about killing foxes - they don't really cause me any issues - but this pack are getting a bit too bold for my liking so I'll take them out one by one as the opportunity arises.
wabbit warren
Well-Known Member
is it a dog fox Steve?
ive found recently the dogs have been running in to the caller better than the vixens
apart from last night when nothing showed up lol
wabbit warren
Well-Known Member
i shot 3. 2 vixens and a dog in the snow last Tuesday evening i started at 4.30pm and packed up at 6.30pm
2 came into a caller and 1 to cat food on a fence post
god it was cold in a high seat lol
2 came into a caller and 1 to cat food on a fence post
god it was cold in a high seat lol
Overlay
Well-Known Member
dig out a igloo mate next time mate and get the kelly kettle on for a brew, bit damp but warmer
wabbit warren
Well-Known Member
lol to be honest once id scraped the 8" of snow of the seat and the front rest and got sat it wasnt to bad
sat there for 2 hours and thought sod it im going for a walk
thats when i cooked (and didnt see another fox)
sat there for 2 hours and thought sod it im going for a walk
thats when i cooked (and didnt see another fox)
wabbit warren
Well-Known Member
![IMG_9216[1].webp](/data/attachments/238/238729-e12499cb2ce716b99b086d3c9ae8907c.jpg?hash=RvrhNiC3dI)
I feel for you. Last Tuesday night I had 2 vixens at one bait pipe. one was there as I pulled up 150 yards away. The second came along 15 minutes later. Tonight there was another there as I pulled up. This time I was there to wait at 5.30. Rifle in the boot, b###er. Got it out and off the bonnet, it had decided discretion was the better part of valour and was heading up a field. It stopped for a wee and had its last one. I’m rather impressed with the distance. Just using an add on (westhunter) with the inboard IR.
At the next bait point where I just throw scraps out before dusk the distance is quite small. Fox was there already and departed. There is always tomorrow.
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
I am sure there old saying along the lines
“Hunter in warm bed will never shoot a fox”
And
“Foxes need to eat everyday”
I have found that with all types of hunting you just need to be out there, but there are plenty of excuses for not doing so. I have shot roe in an east wind, geese on nill wind and on a high tide etc etc.
“Hunter in warm bed will never shoot a fox”
And
“Foxes need to eat everyday”
I have found that with all types of hunting you just need to be out there, but there are plenty of excuses for not doing so. I have shot roe in an east wind, geese on nill wind and on a high tide etc etc.
wabbit warren
Well-Known Member
I had my first trip of the year Monday evening
the moon was very bright for a 3/4 moon i was in a highseat
the first fox i saw was at 65yds to my right and as soon as i moved it saw me
it ran back into the bushes where it came from never to be seen again that evening
the moon was very bright for a 3/4 moon i was in a highseat
the first fox i saw was at 65yds to my right and as soon as i moved it saw me
it ran back into the bushes where it came from never to be seen again that evening
Foxyboy43
Well-Known Member
Bugger! I was having a 4:40am coffee and thinking of my warm
wabbit warren
Well-Known Member
a bit off thread but ive just sat and worked out dog and vixens shot last year
it was 55 dogs and 42 vixens (97 total) for 2022
2021 was totally different 30 dogs and 19 vixens (49 total)
so a lot more vixens this year to last
it was 55 dogs and 42 vixens (97 total) for 2022
2021 was totally different 30 dogs and 19 vixens (49 total)
so a lot more vixens this year to last
Foxyboy43
Well-Known Member
Well then - inspired by Smellydog (not often you see those three words in the same sentence) your man set off before 5 (I think!), armed with Axion Thermal, Pard 008, Sirius IR and beloved triple deuce.Bugger! I was having a 4:40am coffee and thinking of my warmMrs FBbed but your post just convinced me to go in search of it’s big brother!
Conditions were not good - a lot of moisture in the air and high temperatures - the first doesn't help the Pard and the second doesn't help the thermal but it was still good to be out on God’s Green Earth at a time when most are deep in the arms of Morpheus.
First fields were absolutely sodden, much rain here of late and water simply not getting away so sneaking around was impossible - squelch, squelch, squelch! Another portent of disaster…..
What was really good to see though was the vast numbers of snipe feeding in the mire, the thermal picked them up well and the Pard got me some rather nice footage so already not a wasted trip at all.
Anyhoo, on I went to the whins hedgerow which being on a slight rise gave me a pretty good view across three or four fields in either direction. Rifle firmly snuggled into B&Q’s finest deluxe quads, Axion on, Pard on standby, rifle loaded with 50gns Vmax over 19gns of Viht N120, cocked and locked - let the fun begin……..
All of 20 seconds later a very obvious heat signature appeared in my probably second scan of the fields - fox-shaped and sitting staring straight at me from halfway across the large field - where the hell did it come from? Anyways the usual pantomime ensued, getting everything smoothly into their right position though not necessarily in the right order and mr fox was in my crosshairs; slight pause to steady
Said fox in mid-leap - the barsteward!
Well that was
So what to do? On the “where there’s one there
Happy bunny - fox down! Anytime I shoot a fox I wait and call for at least ten minutes before walking in, frequently a second fox (mate) will appear unbothered by the shot and so it was this time too. Spotted again with Axion coming down the same field and through the same place as it’s now ex-friend, slightly spooked by the IR but turned perfectly sideways at just the right time and bang - fox down - number two in the bag!
As it turned out they were a pair - both in fine coat and pretty as a picture but deadly on my pal’s fowl so they had to go. As ever looking at them I felt quite remorseful for they are indeed beautiful and our apex predator.
Long may I continue to feel that way - I am a better man for it….
Thanks Smellydog.
NB the pictures are not anywhere close to what you see on the video or Pard.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
I'm glad you had a grand old time out but come on now, Mrs FB kicked you out of bed for being a grump....right?Well then - inspired by Smellydog (not often you see those three words in the same sentence) your man set off before 5 (I think!), armed with Axion Thermal, Pard 008, Sirius IR and beloved triple deuce.
Conditions were not good - a lot of moisture in the air and high temperatures - the first doesn't help the Pard and the second doesn't help the thermal but it was still good to be out on God’s Green Earth at a time when most are deep in the arms of Morpheus.
First fields were absolutely sodden, much rain here of late and water simply not getting away so sneaking around was impossible - squelch, squelch, squelch! Another portent of disaster…..
What was really good to see though was the vast numbers of snipe feeding in the mire, the thermal picked them up well and the Pard got me some rather nice footage so already not a wasted trip at all.
View attachment 288093
Anyhoo, on I went to the whins hedgerow which being on a slight rise gave me a pretty good view across three or four fields in either direction. Rifle firmly snuggled into B&Q’s finest deluxe quads, Axion on, Pard on standby, rifle loaded with 50gns Vmax over 19gns of Viht N120, cocked and locked - let the fun begin……..
All of 20 seconds later a very obvious heat signature appeared in my probably second scan of the fields - fox-shaped and sitting staring straight at me from halfway across the large field - where the hell did it come from? Anyways the usual pantomime ensued, getting everything smoothly into their right position though not necessarily in the right order and mr fox was in my crosshairs; slight pause to steadymyselfthe sticks and tighten gently on the trigger - easypeasy! Except the fox clearly was spooked by the IR as he leapt up and ran off at a great rate of knots never to be seen again - bugger!
Said fox in mid-leap - the barsteward!
View attachment 288095
Well that wascrapfun, though mildly disappointing thought I, as you do, probably the only chance I will get said the inner me as a wave of utter despair swept over me. Bugger! Bugger! Bugger!
So what to do? On the “where there’s one theremightwill be more“ basis my hand squeaking recommenced and then it started to rain - which of course further cheered me up no end. However, just as quickly and only a few minutes later it stopped and two fields away I could clearly see a signature streaking towards my utterly brilliant impression of a rabbit/hare/woodpecker/coyote pups/foxshooter in distress but it disappeared behind the thick hedge between us. Bugger again! Where the hell will it come through, indeed will it even come through? Quick well rehearsedfumbleswivel of quads and the rifle was pointingearthwardsin the general direction as the Axion and I went into overdrive. As it turned out the hedge is thick whins which explains why one minute I could see nothing and the next a fox was in full view, just sitting down my side of the fence - 100yds or so away. Axion released to hang on neck lanyard, Pard on, Sirius on and game on - perfectly centred in the scope - breath bated, gentle squeeze and bang - satisfying whumppp - job done!
View attachment 288091
Happy bunny - fox down! Anytime I shoot a fox I wait and call for at least ten minutes before walking in, frequently a second fox (mate) will appear unbothered by the shot and so it was this time too. Spotted again with Axion coming down the same field and through the same place as it’s now ex-friend, slightly spooked by the IR but turned perfectly sideways at just the right time and bang - fox down - number two in the bag!
View attachment 288092
As it turned out they were a pair - both in fine coat and pretty as a picture but deadly on my pal’s fowl so they had to go. As ever looking at them I felt quite remorseful for they are indeed beautiful and our apex predator.
Long may I continue to feel that way - I am a better man for it….
Thanks Smellydog.
NB the pictures are not anywhere close to what you see on the video or Pard.
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