Out last night.

[BenBhoy]

Although Ratty

He was a water vole though!

 

[hammo]

He was a water vole though!

What? Called ratty? Now I think about it weren't the rats baddies on there too?
Not watched it since my lot were nippers.

 

[Mr Tree]

An hour on the rats last night, cattle have been moved out of the most 'ratty' stall so nailed a few in there. 7 in total, which isn't bad for this farm. I have got the numbers down over several visits, but fully aware they soon bounce back if left unmolested. Had a great fat one that the 40gr sub made a proper thwack, also a tiddler that was in bits.
Lucky for me I bet there's no sympathy posts for rats on social media! Poor old rats, nobody loves the wild ones. The only 'humanised' ones i remember are generally portrayed as the baddy. Although Ratty in Wind in the willows was a nice chap I think.

Ratty was a water vole I believe, he also had a speedboat. I remember as a youngster I went round to visit a punk rocker with a friend of mine, he had a rather nice gothic girlfriend, he also had a pet rat which he placed on my friends shoulder. My friend grabbed the rat & slung it on the floor, stood up & stamped on its head, killing it stone dead. Time for a sharp exit.

 

[BenBhoy]

What? Called ratty?

You know sweetbreads.....? spoiler alert!!

 

[Smellydog]

Cheers Smelly - would it take a 6.5 or .308?

Think so, I'm sure they are rated to that.
The daylight image isn't as good as the zulus though.

 

[Smellydog]

What? Called ratty? Now I think about it weren't the rats baddies on there too?
Not watched it since my lot were nippers.

You'll get in trouble shooting water voles you cruel rotten sod....

 

[Foxyboy43]

Think so, I'm sure they are rated to that.
The daylight image isn't as good as the zulus though.

Good advice Smelly - thank you, I would find it hard to give that up…

 

[reddog]

View attachment 450230
I was given some dead ducks couple weeks ago, been using them as bait with them going regularly on camera. Last night of takeaway duck for this little lady. Watching her take it through pard, it really showed how much of a huge IR flash the trail cam set off, the fox visibly troubled by it, hesitant. Soon as got her teeth into bait she was off looking very pleased with herself. Had to give her an "oi" then 32gr of Mr.Hornadys finest. Drop on spot 204. Thats the 3rd young vixen ive had in a row (I think- going to start counting/writing down as NY resolution!)

it really showed how much of a huge IR flash the trail cam set off, the fox visibly troubled by it, hesitant.

Interesting, is it an 850 or 940nm i.r?

 

[BenBhoy]

Interesting, is it an 850 or 940nm i.r?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MAXDONE-Bluetooth-Waterproof-Rechargeable-Monitoring/dp/B0DCZJ6QF1

850. Fox was very spooked by it.

 

[Mr Tree]

I got a fox here that is spooked by camera flash, & bakers meaty chunks, it keeps him away. Fortunately it is not one I want to shoot at anymore, old longarse! Heres an interesting one, fox eyes lit up by camera going off at exactly the same time the gun was fired from my bedroom window. The bullet must have been feet away from him, you cant miss the flash from the gun blast..

 

[Smellydog]

The camera has to be high up to stand a chance of not being noticed.

 

[20-250]

Just in after a walk round on some ground where foxes weren't the primary aim. Only took half a dozen cartridges so just shot this dog and vixen, but would have shot another 3 or 4 had other things not been more important. Came away with a single cartridge, a very productive night indeed.

 

[BenBhoy]

Watching her take it through pard, it really showed how much of a huge IR flash the trail cam set off, the fox visibly troubled by it, hesitant.

Here's video from my trail cam as I took shot. You can see the amount of "light" my scope mounted IR torch is casting as she approaches. Sound of shot is 32gr 204 through calibre specific wildcat evo.

 

[Nickb]

Too windy last night 40mph gusts. Went to a new permission, got set up and the wind was ridiculous, my mate got blown off the back of the truck so went home.

 

[20-250]

Still at them. Another tonight with my 6.5

 

[finnbear270]

Just trying out the gear for tonight.

 

[20-250]

Still at them. Another tonight with my 6.5View attachment 450563

A lucky shot if I'm honest. It came in behind me as I was calling another fox, stopping momentarily as a last ditch bleat made it stop. I fired as it realised I wasn't a sheep and ran, but the bullet caught it in the neck, exiting out of the back of the head.
What the hell is wrong with me, a middle aged bloke making sheep noises (I find this more effective than a shout to stop a fox on ground where sheep aren't kept) in the middle of nowhere and middle of the night??

 

[Nickb]

On checking the forecast last night the wind was about 8mph so I thought I would try for some

The ground was soaking and muddy after all the rain we had but I still squelched about.

Started off with the breeze in my face , it was dark and the rabbits sat well.

Wasn't expecting a big bag but the numbers started to grow and I shot really well.

Shot a couple of youngsters and also a pregnant doe , so they are still breeding.

Ended on 57 but never picked a few that were shot in the field of sheep fodder which was longish.

 

[BenBhoy]

A lucky shot if I'm honest. It came in behind me as I was calling another fox, stopping momentarily as a last ditch bleat made it stop. I fired as it realised I wasn't a sheep and ran, but the bullet caught it in the neck, exiting out of the back of the head.
What the hell is wrong with me, a middle aged bloke making sheep noises (I find this more effective than a shout to stop a fox on ground where sheep aren't kept) in the middle of nowhere and middle of the night??

Thats what happens now you've moved to Derbyshire!

You should make a compilation with @Foxyboy43

 

[Bo Diddley]

View attachment 450230
I was given some dead ducks couple weeks ago, been using them as bait with them going regularly on camera. Last night of takeaway duck for this little lady. Watching her take it through pard, it really showed how much of a huge IR flash the trail cam set off, the fox visibly troubled by it, hesitant. Soon as got her teeth into bait she was off looking very pleased with herself. Had to give her an "oi" then 32gr of Mr.Hornadys finest. Drop on spot 204. Thats the 3rd young vixen ive had in a row (I think- going to start counting/writing down as NY resolution!)

I chop my bait up with a small billhook the MIL gave me, and use an upended log as the chopping block, which makes them hang about longer rather than grabbing a big piece and making off somewhere safe to eat it.
That bit of duck I'd chop into three bits.