How soon after harvest?

[Tony Morgan]

Most people I speak to, including keepers, recommend going out ASAP and that seems to be the consensus on here. Thanks chaps.

 

[SussexSteve]

First night best night

 

[finnbear270]

If they are very local to the field, then the evening of being cut, they are usually out; although sometimes quite spooked by the cutting. The following few nights will draw others in from afar that may have come across it later during their travels. If there is good food to be had, they will show up there when first out. It is however, easier to catch up with them when the field is bare….. amazing how they can disappear in the middle of a rowed up field

If you can't pick up ....

 

[Rhodesianjess]

If you can't pick up .... View attachment 261924

I once,30 plus years ago,loaded a batch of 243 with 70 grain noslers. Shot at 4 cubs in field of combined wheat, still in rows awaiting the baler. Couldn't find a single cub despite hearing the thump and seeing them move when struck.
Baler found them next morning all in rowed straw. Got carpeted for that by the boss, breaking off needles was a costly experience never mind 4 times in one field.
Pulled a few rounds, you could pick the noses up with a magnet! Some copper jacket with lead infill. Never used them since

 

[Longstrider]

I like to get out onto fresh cut hay fields on the night they're cut or the day after. Gather a small pile of hay together and stick the caller inside it then play 'Mouse' and in they'll come .....
Had 5 foxes dead around a small heap of fresh hay one night a couple of years ago, and still got home in time for tiffin (Toasted crumpets with cheese on, washed down with rum-n-coke IIRC )

 

[User00036]

Cut hay fields are a magnet, whether its because we cant see them when the hay is tall, regardless, get in there & start shooting them, if there are round bales scattered around even better, you can creep up on them, use bales as a rifle rest. Hares & rabbits plentifully on new cut, everything is very naive. Kill em & kill em good Marv. Stubbles after corn not so good, they are a desert compared to cut grass. Good hunting.!!

 

[User00036]

Get out the same night. I've often seen foxes hanging around when the field has been in the process of being topped.

The buzzards certainly arrive soon after cutting and I've often wondered if the foxes see them, a bit like some predators see vultures hovering over carrion in Africa.

Your dead right, Buzzards & Kestrels & Crows follow the topper like seagulls behind a plough.

 

[Paddy_SP]

While I agree with most of what's been said above, I find that the main problem around here is that everyone cuts their grass at the same time - consequently, the foxes have so much ground to choose from that you can waste a lot of time searching for them. When a solo field is cut though, I like to be there that evening!

 

[Shotgun572013]

We had a family of 5 on a bare silage field which had been lifted over a week previously.

 

[Cyres]

If its first cut and not much cut you need to be on the field at least 1 hour before dusk and stay a couple of hours. If it coincides with roe kid births or pheasant laying it is a certain draw. Later cuts may not be such a draw. This week cutting conservation hay fields so out at dusk but it can be v difficult if there is a heavy crop, sometimes better to wait a day until its spread to dry makes spotting easier. Often the evening it is baled can be productive. When they are combining you need to be out before dusk and I have shot lots when combining and baling on going. On very hot nights things may be more productive when it cools down a bit.

If possible I always get out the first evening anything is being cut or combined.

D