Full moon and Foxes .. Good or bad ?

[Smellydog]

Out again this am - moon very much on the wane but incredibly bright and casting a very clear shadow. Same drill, same field and 10 mins with the Icotech another vixen! I just don’t get why there are so many in this field. That said the numbers of snipe feeding spotted through the Axion has been phenomenal this year. I would have thought snipe would be a bit of a challenge though - even for Mr fox!
View attachment 289171

Maybe lots of grubs, if snipe are there FB.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Maybe lots of grubs, if snipe are there FB.

Indeed so SD. The ground is wetter than I have ever seen it so the Snipe are making the most of it. Lots of Woodcock over here since last full moon too - if Scotland gets a big frost or fall of snow the Antrim Coast is their next port of call though I haven’t lifted the gun to one since forever. Reminds me of the last time I saw one shot - it was by a friend in the Languedoc who was using a pointer with a device on it which beeped if it stood still/pointed in the very heavy cover - I couldn’t figure out where the damned reversing lorry was every time!
Probably my favourite bird though the hares this early a.m. are right up there.

 

[Smellydog]

Indeed so SD. The ground is wetter than I have ever seen it so the Snipe are making the most of it. Lots of Woodcock over here since last full moon too - if Scotland gets a big frost or fall of snow the Antrim Coast is their next port of call though I haven’t lifted the gun to one since forever. Reminds me of the last time I saw one shot - it was by a friend in the Languedoc who was using a pointer with a device on it which beeped if it stood still/pointed in the very heavy cover - I couldn’t figure out where the damned reversing lorry was every time!
Probably my favourite bird though the hares this early a.m. are right up there.

I've not shot them this year, definitely less of them by me this year. If a good year I will take a few but with a muzzloader.

 

[Foxyboy43]

I've not shot them this year, definitely less of them by me this year. If a good year I will take a few but with a muzzloader.
View attachment 289208

Lovely!

 

[User00036]

Foxyboy, you got it going on, damnit, man on fire! All this talk of Icotech might just persuade me to break my code of silence. I'm just not seeing anything atm, except for one old Dog that I called a truce on, he's a hell of a critter, beautiful with an enormous tail, he can stay for the moment, its vixens that I'm after. This is the time to get rid of them, now till March. Do you notice a call that draws more Vixens than dogs?

 

[Foxyboy43]

Foxyboy, you got it going on, damnit, man on fire! All this talk of Icotech might just persuade me to break my code of silence. I'm just not seeing anything atm, except for one old Dog that I called a truce on, he's a hell of a critter, beautiful with an enormous tail, he can stay for the moment, its vixens that I'm after. This is the time to get rid of them, now till March. Do you notice a call that draws more Vixens than dogs?

Aye - it is a gift, sought by many but granted to few!
To be honest I hadn’t made a lot of use of the Icotech as I couldn’t be bothered carrying it any distance so except for the Distressed Pheasant call on our wee game shoot late last year where in mid-afternoon it called a number of foxes out which had been ignoring my hand squeak.

This last week or so the 500 ‘s Wam and Rabbit calls have both done very well for me as you will have seen from earlier posts - 3 dogs and 2 vixens and, ahem, one missed….. The great thing about a caller is you can place it and yourself to suit the wind - usually I stand off about 100 yds and can watch them trotting in through the Axion totally unaware of me - a loud shout, they stop, usually broadside or they even sit down to study me (who can blame them?) and I take the shot - brilliant job! I also changed tactics by going out at a couple of hours before dawn rather than just after dusk and I am definitely seeing more foxes. As a thought - too early yet in your part of the world to have a litter but are the vixens busy sorting out their accommodation?
Now - as an old dog myself I quite understand and appreciate your feelings for that big fox - they are beautiful and even after all my years of controlling them I still get a thrill seeing them coming in - always coupled with a pang of conscience with each one I have to shoot but as I only shoot them where there is a problem that kinda salves my conscience.
Good luck in your endeavours my friend - may your aim be straight and the wind always to your face.

 

[User00036]

Earths usually opened after mating, during pregnancy, territories established around the same time, usually about 1 sq kilometre. I;ve seen mother & 2 daughters share the same earth, with 12 cubs, but its unusual. Maybe it was because they found an easy abundant source of food, our farm ducks & geese, & guinea fowl, & my sisters cats.!

 

[Smellydog]

Just received this. It sounds awesome.
Can't wait to get out.....

 

[Foxyboy43]

Just received this. It sounds awesome.
Can't wait to get out.....View attachment 289251

Nearly afraid to ask - how does one play, blow use it? Can we have a video preferably with sound, pleeezzz?

 

[Smellydog]

Nearly afraid to ask - how does one play, blow use it? Can we have a video preferably with sound, pleeezzz?

Just bite either side. One sound is more like a raspy hare and the other a squealing rabbit.
Good volume to it.
Got it via eBay.. not much...

 

[Foxyboy43]

Just bite either side. One sound is more like a raspy hare and the other a squealing rabbit.
Good volume to it.
Got it via eBay.. not much...

Terrific! Be keen to hear how it goes.
Out this a.m. from 5:30 (must be mad) - wind swung through 90 degrees, looked very rough in the Irish Sea - not a creature in sight - maybe word has gone out on Fox News……

 

[wabbit warren]

Out again last night and couldn't do a thing because of a big bright moon
Shot one early before the moon appeared, then it all went pear shaped
see three more foxes but couldn't get near enough because of the moon and no wind, plus lack of hedgerows where i needed them lol
Why is the moon brighter for longer when you want it dark lol

 

[Nick703]

I was out Sunday night,good bright moon , had one walk to me within 20y (not safe) then it turned and walked to a safe shot ,one down ,5 minutes later another appeared sniffing his pal,two down ,full moon never stopped me going out just don’t sit out in the open

 

[Gunner223]

Im out tonight, not the best night , full moon looks likely , but the longbow will stay at home and I'm
going to try my new purchase , the Senopex S10 , cant wait, even if i don't see anything it will be a late night probably just looking around.

 

[Gunner223]

Well i had a few hours out, didn't call , just kept to the shadows, playing with my new toy, then across the field came a vixen,
i played more with the settings on the S10, got it to how i wanted ( i think ), fox was mooching around approx 100-125 yds
then i took a shot , and down she went , not a single movement from her , 223 55g bts did the job, but the Senopex wow im very impressed.

 

[Tugmanade]

Out last night for the first time in quite a while & with the new Pard DS 35, not quite a full moon but still very bright. This one came to the fox bark.