Jump to content

A moment of mutual respect!


Nick8310
 Share

Recommended Posts

Now this is a little something which happened not to long ago, one of those moments which only happen a few times in your life. I was out on a permission of mine on a cold frosty morning a while back, out after for some rabbits. I was wrapped up warm laying prone in my favourite spot with my bipod extended, just admiring the sun glistening off of the frost covered ground when the first rabbits started to emerge. About 2 hours later and several rounds in I have got some clearing up to do and perpetrations for the dinner table to begin, But just as I am about to get up to fill my bag a young adult fox walks out of the bush-line i'am prone in, and walks 10 yards in front of me and then freezes. I knew that he had spotted me and he knew that he had walked right in the line of sight. As I looked down the scope cross hairs fixed firmly on him, my finger slowly squeezing he just stared at me, and then he done the unthinkable he just sat right there in the field. If it was fear or not knowing what to do that made him do it I don't know but he just sat there and relaxed as if he knew that these were his last moments. So I relaxed and let go of the trigger, it didn't seem fair 10 yards with a sat still target, I stood up which made him run down to the zone which I had been firing in and followed, as I made my way down he grabbed one of the rabbits only pausing for a brief moment to look back knowingly that for today we was both out just to get some food, but another day he might not be so lucky as to walk away with part of my food.

 

What would you have done?

 

Nick. :-)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

one right between the eyes,sometimes you get them easy but more times than not they are smarter, doing a job i don't have a chance to let them go as somebody would be taking the ground off me if i told him i let one walk, just making nv to make life easier,lol and you can bet he won't offer you the same respect back :lol:

Edited by mereside
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Well done for not pulling the trigger. It's moments like that which make being out in the countryside the pleasure it is.

 

There will probably be another time when you might shoot him, hopefully a more sporting shot. But you'll remember that moment with far greater clarity than any that you just see in the crosshairs and bang their dead.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

I think you did the right thing Nick, 2 hunters both out for their dinner and all that. Cheeky little sod tho' for nicking a bunny...but you've got to admire it. Evolution at it's best - those brightest enough to take an opportunity etc. etc. get to survive and pass on their genes. If you'd shot him there would have been no skill or pride...at least now you have a story to make you chuckle in years to come.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have often wondered why quarry stops when it knows it has been spotted. I suspect its the reverse of you suggestion and entirely about self preservation as everything is easier to see moving. In answer to your question Depends entirely were the fox was, not doing any harm and I should leave it be, this has nothing to do with offering a so called sporting shot (IMO sporting means difficult in this cortex and no rifle shot should be taken that isn't easy to make)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd place good odds that all replies that involve letting it go for another day have come from people who don't have chickens or lambs that have been taken by foxes.

 

I'll put it this way. If you'd done that on a permission from me, and I found out about it, you'd be gone.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Following on from my last post ...

 

Out this evening to do a bit of rabbit control, so only took the .410 shotgun with me. Saw a fox at about 50 yds or so, by some gorse bushes. It didn't appear to have seen me, and was settling down for a nap in the sunshine. Twenty minutes on hands and knees followed, as I got close enough (for me, close enough for a fox with a .410 is roughly 15 yds max, that way it's going to be very seriously injured at the least, and I'm going to be able to administer a killing shot). At about 10-12 yards, come up onto my knees, and pull the trigger. Fox spins a bit, and is still. Walk up to it, is twitching, possibly some small signs of life, so a second shell to finish the job. It was a vixen, most likely this years cub by the size of it.

Was it particularly sporting ? No. But we've got sheep with young lambs (finished lambing last week), and our chickens.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...