Out last night.

I've got a fox coming just after 1am, slightly better than 3am!
Hopefully it likes these chicken flavoured dog biscuits going off it looking for just one more!
Hopefully it'll start coming earlier.
It doesn't look like the elusive vixen that stares at the camera!
Never ceases to amaze me how foxes just keep coming - thank god! They really are fantastic animals and worthy of our respect - bring ‘em on!
🦊🦊
 
I often wonder just what is the population FB?
Yep me too - I really think estimated populations are nowhere near reality.
As an example one of my primary fox grounds is a perhaps seven by two miles long arable peninsula (sea on three sides) with a fairly narrow land link to the mainland (and a road causeway) so one could assume that it is a fairly good contained “sample area” - especially if foxes are as territorial as we believe. It has a very few rabbits and only a small number of hares on it and I only started to shoot it two years ago. In two nights I shot five in one field; since then I have shot a further seven in that area which probably covers no more than a mile square and a further five two miles away on the same peninsula and yet they just keep coming!
Sooo unless there is a Vulpes express bus/boat service from the mainland there must be/have been one hell of a fox population which at best I am probably only holding in check?
Someone will know more about these incredible creatures and hopefully can detail on here.
🦊🦊
 
Yep me too - I really think estimated populations are nowhere near reality.
As an example one of my primary fox grounds is a perhaps seven by two miles long arable peninsula (sea on three sides) with a fairly narrow land link to the mainland (and a road causeway) so one could assume that it is a fairly good contained “sample area” - especially if foxes are as territorial as we believe. It has a very few rabbits and only a small number of hares on it and I only started to shoot it two years ago. In two nights I shot five in one field; since then I have shot a further seven in that area which probably covers no more than a mile square and a further five two miles away on the same peninsula and yet they just keep coming!
Sooo unless there is a Vulpes express bus/boat service from the mainland there must be/have been one hell of a fox population which at best I am probably only holding in check?
Someone will know more about these incredible creatures and hopefully can detail on here.
🦊🦊
They soon become an obsession!
 
Daz
What set up are you using? Rifle stock scope details pls.
Big dog fox or that Vixen is tiny. Did you weigh it by any chance?
D
 
Another vixen last night out the bedroom window, next to the big dog I had earlier in the week. Not the best pic but huge difference in shoulder to hip length. And massively heavier.

That’s 4 vixens and only 1 dog though. More to come!


IMG_5312.webp
 
Just got through loading a batch of fifty new Norma 25-06 this morning, Having recently missed two separate fox one after the other, broke down two rounds to check powder charges & they were bang on weight ... conclusion, sub zero temps may have dropped the speed significantly, maybe even as much as 300 fps?, due to check zero back on the farm when weather not so foul.
 
Just got through loading a batch of fifty new Norma 25-06 this morning, Having recently missed two separate fox one after the other, broke down two rounds to check powder charges & they were bang on weight ... conclusion, sub zero temps may have dropped the speed significantly, maybe even as much as 300 fps?, due to check zero back on the farm when weather not so foul.
Or the zero is just off...? Does happen 👍🏻
 
What range highly unlikely to be ammo. More like operating error. When did you last clean the barrel?
D
 
maybe even as much as 300 fps?,

This really caught my eye as it seems like a hellish drop-off for the range of temps we experience in the UK.

I had a cursory look online and found these (not suggesting they are fact - just found it interesting)


"temperature has a minimal effect on bullet drop at reasonable hunting distances."


"All things being equal, bullets will drop more at lower temperatures, but the difference is negligible. "


Are you able to chrono in the field (eg using a magnetospeed)? It would be interesting to hear what the cause of this turns out to be.
 
Not been out yet, but only remaining cause would be an electrical fault / reticle shift with the T Ceptor, No worries on where the two rounds went as a massive backstop of rising ground, with full target representation in the scope.
As to temperatures, I had minus six showing on the dashboard.
 
Not been out yet, but only remaining cause would be an electrical fault / reticle shift with the T Ceptor, No worries on where the two rounds went as a massive backstop of rising ground, with full target representation in the scope.
As to temperatures, I had minus six showing on the dashboard.
Mate, I've shot on the hill at -18 and at many many other temperature changes with many many calibre rifles and only ever been around 1" of difference.
Some of my rifles , in fact most of them would need a seasonal rezero of around an inch of shift but that's all.
I did though recently bin a NV unit for not holding zero!!
Do test and test again buddy 🙏
 
Mate, I've shot on the hill at -18 and at many many other temperature changes with many many calibre rifles and only ever been around 1" of difference.
Some of my rifles , in fact most of them would need a seasonal rezero of around an inch of shift but that's all.
I did though recently bin a NV unit for not holding zero!!
Do test and test again buddy 🙏
Smelly, An inch miss is an inch miss :)
 
Just had a look in the diary, temp on the farm when zeroing was 22 degrees, still nagging in the back of my mind that's what has affected things, ammuniton had been in the motor for an hour before loading up, I usually have my ready use ammunition in my pocket .. minus 6 to plus 22 degrees is a reasonable change on a 300 yarder.
Still snorkelling here, so will be a couple of days before it's resolved.
 
More likely to be scope than ammo. Keep your ammo in your pocket until you load your rifle. Keep 5 spares in pocket as well.
D
 
Went to the farm at 18.15 yesterday in persisting rain ( for a change!) and checked over the fence with the old thermal and there was Charlie a good 100 yds away sitting upright.
Back to car and got the rifle, back to fence and still there…..rested on fence and fox moved as I fired.
Don‘t know how shot hit the vixen where it did. Put some bait out then set my brolly and chair up and sat until 20.30 and saw nothing and left.
Much prefer not having to show any lights in the field, not least because I’m working very close to public roads and properties.
Ken.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1092.webp
    IMG_1092.webp
    769.2 KB · Views: 20
  • IMG_1094.webp
    IMG_1094.webp
    761 KB · Views: 20
Sometimes you get lucky. But remember with small calibre CF bullets gone through target before you consciously squeezed the trigger. About .1 sec to reach 100 yds.
Foxs luck ran out.
D
 
Back
Top