Jump to content

Tales of a fox hunter.


Underdog
 Share

Recommended Posts

Monday I shot some pigeons and I left a few to see if a fox would take them.

Tuesday first light and the pigeons are still there. So I walk a mile or so and stand on some high ground overlooking an old quarry.

After half an hour I see no foxes I take the same path back. Not 100yds from where I had been standing there was a fresh pile of scat! I could not believe it so I went back to my stand and as I approached, rifle still slung and stood out like a sore thumb two foxes trot past me below me. I froze and patiently waited to see them again.

I never did see them again and fearing I had been winded retreated but circled the area down wind. I never did see them but heard a vixen in the spot I thought they were held up in, an impenetrable tangle of bracken and bramble.

 

I slipped away happy to have seen and been amongst them again. Nice dark red ones they were, possibly two brothers, maybe the vixen is a third animal or maybe it was just the two. I have heard of dogs trailing a vixen in line but never seen it before. Mating seems later than last year!

 

This morning was raining, cold rain but I had to go look again!

 

As I rounded a corner and close to my baited area I bumped into one of these foxes. 20yds away! But I had a patch of willow canes in the way! I aimed the rifle trying in the low light to find a window as it finished of what turned out to be pheasant wings. All of a sudden it lifted its head and scented the air, it busted me via a swirl of wind and took off across the field. I readied myself for a shot but every time it stopped to look back it would not give me time enough to steady myself for an off hand shot.

 

After it was gone I continued to stalk my way around down wind, then the heavy rain and sleet poured out the sky drenching me! I was forced to shelter under an ivy clad oak and sit it out. Half an hour passed and it started to ease so I continued on my way and saw nothing. I heard some pheasants in the distance sounding not to happy! I knew it may be another fox, one that is hanging around a farm that is lamp shy. When I got there the birds were quiet but looked alert so I hung around.

Nothing! I was sure one had gone through them but where it was now I had no idea.

 

After a while I started for home. I climbed a sown field that rises steeply. Near the top I looked back and across the valley. 400yds away I saw something catching the now visiting sun light and using binos it was my old friend the farm fox and just below the farm.

 

I rushed back, crossed the stream, crossed another drilled field heading straight for him. As I crested the top he was curled up in the shade of a small holly bush looking away, 100yds. Then he got up and went the other side of the holly, I moved in.

He was the other side of a fence with tall dead grass in the bottom, I could see his back slowly walking up the fence as I crept closer and fully exposed! If he had looked my way it would of been over but maybe the sun being slightly behind me helped!

 

Eventually he moved away from the fence and I would be easily spotted so up came the rifle and as he entered a clear spot the sight settled and a crack was emitted from the rifle. Instant death. A quartering away shot at 53paces.

 

What a morning, still drying out! The picture.

 

DSC09052_zpsixzpq2ue.jpg

 

U.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I understand mate.

Daytime is my fave. The colours are better.

:lol: Thats for sure. I have no clue what colour the fox is with the NV until I go and fetch it. I may keep it to myself if I get a white one though.

 

It only ever seems to be the deer that I get to shoot during the day and I have to make a trip to Exeter area for that so I dont get down there as much as I would like.

 

Take it easy and good luck with the job hunting :good:

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...