Out last night.

[Foxyboy43]

Out for a couple of pre-dawn hours this morning over a couple of cliff-top fields which will soon be home to this year’s crop of newborn lambs. A lot of foxes have fallen to the triple deuce here since the farmer’s call bang-on a year ago and recent outings have resulted in complete blanks though encouraging to see the noticeable increase in Snipe, Woodcock and Hares.
Another blank today in the cold blustery wind but a wee reminder just how good the Zulus is without the IR - fantastic light gathering, the hares were 300 plus - with the naked eye I could barely make out the hedgerows!

 

[Nickb]

Noticed there was a break in the weather last night for a few hours so out we went in search of

Even though the rain had stopped, thermal conditions were poor but still able to see plenty hares and roe. Headed for the big splash in a field where we knew of a fox knocking about. Nothing there but around 50 wigeon on the splash whistling .
Kept scanning about when suddenly a fox appeared from nowhere and was reading straight towards us. Up on sticks and watched it come in through the Alpex only for it to disappear around a mound in the field , Bugger I thought as lost sight of it only for it to reappear 25 yds away.

Quick acquisition of sight picture and a dog fox was in the bag

Did see another pair but over the boundary, hopefully catch them next time.

 

[Nickb]

Out for a couple of pre-dawn hours this morning over a couple of cliff-top fields which will soon be home to this year’s crop of newborn lambs. A lot of foxes have fallen to the triple deuce here since the farmer’s call bang-on a year ago and recent outings have resulted in complete blanks though encouraging to see the noticeable increase in Snipe, Woodcock and Hares.
Another blank today in the cold blustery wind but a wee reminder just how good the Zulus is without the IR - fantastic light gathering, the hares were 300 plus - with the naked eye I could barely make out the hedgerows!

That image is outstanding

 

[Foxyboy43]

That image is outstanding

Yep - someday I will compare my S&Bs next to the Zulus as darkness falls. I think I know which will win……

 

[75]

I know we're in danger of straying wildly off topic (which has so far never happened on this thread ) but this clip was my Alpex with no IR last week. It was a murky, overcast morning and I had a perfectly good image for 10 mins prior to this (may have been earlier but that was when I arrived). The deer are 190yds out and, as I was a very good boy, this is 1 minute after legal shooting. I couldn't make the deer out or even the field boundaries by eye and reckon I was 20+ mins away from being able to take a shot with glass. I know they have their haters but truly incredible tools.

 

[finnbear270]

All grist to the mill guys, all grist to the mill.

 

[Nickb]

Rabbit night again tonight. Weather not great , drizzly and still but plenty rabbits out. Hard to get near to a lot of them as the ground is soaking and they can hear you squelching towards them.
HMR and Alpex doing the business ended on 31 rabbits , left a few in a rape field .
Off in morning to offload £1.50 a rabbit

 

[blueeyes]

Shepherd had txt at w/end saying he had seen a fox in the lambing field, had a window in the weather last night so headed out. Arrived at app 6.45pm just got set up and seen a fox coming out the wood and started going away left , fired up the caller (Adult Rat Distress) and away it went like a bat out of hell lol, let things settle just watching from my vantage point where I have 180 of view and shooting downwards, fired up the caller again and after about 5 mins could see two heat sources coming away over from the field on the left got myself in position and they came into the field and up towards me one a bit further behind the other , first one had obviously seen me and sat down at just over 100yds and down it went with a bib shot ,the other got out of dodge lol , sat for a while hoping it was the vixen in front and the dog might come back, but after couple of hours picked it up another large dog , question guys if have a pair running in and shoot the one in front what is the average of dogs and vixens , just wondering if the vixens are hanging back as the need to reproduce etc

 

[Smellydog]

Shepherd had txt at w/end saying he had seen a fox in the lambing field, had a window in the weather last night so headed out. Arrived at app 6.45pm just got set up and seen a fox coming out the wood and started going away left , fired up the caller (Adult Rat Distress) and away it went like a bat out of hell lol, let things settle just watching from my vantage point where I have 180 of view and shooting downwards, fired up the caller again and after about 5 mins could see two heat sources coming away over from the field on the left got myself in position and they came into the field and up towards me one a bit further behind the other , first one had obviously seen me and sat down at just over 100yds and down it went with a bib shot ,the other got out of dodge lol , sat for a while hoping it was the vixen in front and the dog might come back, but after couple of hours picked it up another large dog , question guys if have a pair running in and shoot the one in front what is the average of dogs and vixens , just wondering if the vixens are hanging back as the need to reproduce etc View attachment 403803

I usually try and determine the smaller animal if a pair come in. Usually though you just have to get on with it.

 

[finnbear270]

As Smelly states above, but sometimes I get lucky & shoot the one that squats to pee first.

 

[blueeyes]

I usually try and determine the smaller animal if a pair come in. Usually though you just have to get on with it.

As Smelly states above, but sometimes I get lucky & shoot the one that squats to pee first.

Lol thanks guys but didn't have time for that , and none stopped for a pee they were charging in

 

[jall55]

As Smelly states above, but sometimes I get lucky & shoot the one that squats to pee first.

The vixen i have found is always so much more cautious - hugs the hedge etc - where "normally" a dog just rocks up

 

[blueeyes]

The vixen i have found is always so much more cautious - hugs the hedge etc - where "normally" a dog just rocks up

Yip that was my thinking ,makes sense tks

 

[Smellydog]

The dogs mission soon is to feed her and the cubs . He becomes a killing machine but she is worse once she emerges!

 

[Foxyboy43]

Lambing full on now so I was out for 5 hours last night looking for number 30 on one sheep farm but saw nothing. Tried 4 other farms and spotted only one fox maybe 500 away - zero response to anything I could offer so might just have to try baiting. That said I do think that after 29 foxes on one small farm I have got on top of them - certainly no losses this January whereas last January I got the phone call after 12 lambs went in one week!
Delighted however by the numbers of snipe and woodcock I could see with the thermal - like Christmas Tree lights - so the fox culling is paying obvious dividends! Love to see the fruits of my labours and no-one else shoots the ground. Woodencocks are my all time favourite bird - utterly magical and in the words of the late, great, Colin Willock, I have merely saluted them by touching my cap upon flushing for the last ten years or so - I know for sure I will just leave it that way….

 

[jall55]

Lambing full on now so I was out for 5 hours last night looking for number 30 on one sheep farm but saw nothing. Tried 4 other farms and spotted only one fox maybe 500 away - zero response to anything I could offer so might just have to try baiting. That said I do think that after 29 foxes on one small farm I have got on top of them - certainly no losses this January whereas last January I got the phone call after 12 lambs went in one week!
Delighted however by the numbers of snipe and woodcock I could see with the thermal - like Christmas Tree lights - so the fox culling is paying obvious dividends! Love to see the fruits of my labours and no-one else shoots the ground. Woodencocks are my all time favourite bird - utterly magical and in the words of the late, great, Colin Willock, I have merely saluted them by touching my cap upon flushing for the last ten years or so - I know for sure I will just leave it that way….
View attachment 403824

I have not shot a fox all month - have 1 about and despite many hours sat on bait no joy yet - just downloaded the pics from the camera and its eating anywhere between 12 am and 3 am FFS !

 

[Foxyboy43]

I have not shot a fox all month - have 1 about and despite many hours sat on bait no joy yet - just downloaded the pics from the camera and its eating anywhere between 12 am and 3 am FFS !

 

[Smellydog]

#9.
Just a touch forward the shot went!
A follow up shot fixed it.
In the video you can see the fox looking for me! As he approached in the distance he kept stopping looking my way! Clever little buggers!

 

[finnbear270]

Bernard Sausage!

 

[Nickb]

Couple of hours this morning looking for an end of season pheasant.
Lovely morning but very little about.
Managed a brace and a few squirrels.
Also found this poor ewe that got caught up in a fence.