Cosd Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 On a very quiet shooting day out on Monday, a very healthy looking fox trotted in front of me having no idea I was sitting there with my 12g fully loaded. I have never shot a fox before, and the farmers rules say we can shoot them if we want but he isn't bothered if we don't. It trotted right across my field of view about 20 yards out but my shottie was only loaded with 2 32g no6's; I didn't know if I would have taken him out enough to bring him down, obviously I could have got to him in seconds for a second shot so it didn't suffer, but I didn't want to wound him and he bolts and suffers. I know I will probably get slated for this, but though I am not offended reading posts of foxes being shot and understand the damage they can cause, a part of me felt like I would be shooting a dog.............. Was I right to let him pass by? Would a shot using the cartridges I was using have brought him down? Am I a woos in a big girls blouse? Cosd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benelli montefeltro Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 why feel bad about not shooting it when you clearly did not want to?? there is no law saying you must kill a fox on sight. actually refreshing to hear that. ive never shot a fox in my life and i never will either. i know a fox can wreak havoc but at end of day they are following there instincts. just like all predators. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codling99 Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 carts would have dropped it at 20 yds,but well done on using ya head,if in doubt leave it alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docholiday Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Dont worry, you did the correct thing, never take a shot unless you are 100% confident you will kill, you would have killed the fox but thats not the point. well done doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 That load, at that range would have been more than enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Don't worry someone else will shot it, or statistically speaking it will most likely get hit by a car. If you didn't want to shoot it you did the right thing, there is no point in doing it just because everyone else seems to. I never quite get the "I didn't shoot is as it looked nice" lots of attractive animals need to be controlled. Based on that theory we would be overrun with Roe deer - for example. You are not a woos, but I for one, would have shot it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewiss Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 what do you guys do with fox's you have shot? ive had the chance to shoot them. but always thought there to nice to shoot and they dont really do any harm to the crops i shoot over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benelli montefeltro Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 i was gona ask the same question. i assume they end up in a ditch just. its not for me at all, but as stuartp says sumone else will do it readily. i just dont get the euphoria with shooting foxes on here. they cant be used for nothing and 9 times out of ten are basic shots i wud say Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deny essex Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 It was your choice and doubting your cartridge load you made the right choice, any doubt with any shot is best left for another time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chandelierman Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 I couldn't shoot a fox either they look too much like a mans best friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 what do you guys do with fox's you have shot? ive had the chance to shoot them. but always thought there to nice to shoot and they dont really do any harm to the crops i shoot over. You can sell them on to Game Dealers who pass them on to wig makers for those afflicted with the curse of strawberry blonde Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 If your farmer doesn't have chickens or a game shoot then they're fine to leave. I'd have shot it but then I tend to shoot them on sight and that load would have been fine. Ours get slung into hedgerows from where they go back to nature and its amazing how fast they go and how little is left within 2 months. Checked a few since we've been beating and been fairly amazed to just find the odd piece of bone and hair left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lacrowbasher Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 I was standing in a hedge one day when a fox came within 6 feet of me I too had 32g number 6 and I also could not shoot and this fox was really in a poor condition and I would have done it a favour trust your instincts I did . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 I was standing in a hedge one day when a fox came within 6 feet of me I too had 32g number 6 and I also could not shoot and this fox was really in a poor condition and I would have done it a favour trust your instincts I did . So your instinct said don't shoot it beacuse it's in poor condition and you'd be doing it a favour? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daveo26 Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Id have shot it, I have a strong dislike for Magpies and foxes and will shoot them both on sight. In a situation like yours i would give it both barrels to make sure. Each to their own mate, If you didnt want to kill it you did the right thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daveo26 Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 I was standing in a hedge one day when a fox came within 6 feet of me I too had 32g number 6 and I also could not shoot and this fox was really in a poor condition and I would have done it a favour trust your instincts I did . So you left it to suffer then? why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbart Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 I was standing in a hedge one day when a fox came within 6 feet of me I too had 32g number 6 and I also could not shoot and this fox was really in a poor condition and I would have done it a favour trust your instincts I did . I was in the same predicament the other day.. Leaning on the bonnet looking through my scope there was a fox 318 yards away and i could only see it's head, as it was standing in a hollow.I only had a 50gr ballistic tip bullet and was debating wether to shoot or not..i chose to shoot.I didnt do the fox any favours as i put a hole in it's nut,but i did do the chicken farmer a favour As for the original question(if it was a question)The load you had in would have done it in at 20 yards easily,but it doesnt really matter what load you had in if you dont want to shoot foxes.I can understand why some people dont want to if they have no real need to and are not doing it to protect game birds,chickens,sheep etc but for me personaly,every fox i see on the land i shoot on gets shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lacrowbasher Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Looking back I should have shot it but just couldn't and your right it would have stopped it from suffering just couldn't on the day . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 At the end of the day, if the landowner isn't fussed and you didn't want to shoot it then everything is fine and dandy. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbart Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Just back from lamping and i didnt do another 3 foxes any favours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 Well done Cosd-the mark of a true sportsman is the compassion for animals-he was doing you no harm and his life is hard enough in the current weather-its sometimes nice to just sit and admire even our pest species without blasting them to hell.You have earned respect by your actions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevethevanman Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 You did the right thing, if in doubt, dont pull the trigger I was told, a friend of someone I shoot with uses a .410 with .No 5's, and shoots them in the head, for park dispatch work, apparently it goes straight into the brain and mushes it. I have killed a fox, at this distance, if you are close and some pellets hit the head, you can birng them down, but the pellets could also slide inbetween some ribs, and hit the lungs ect.... I would have taken the shot, but towards the head/neck region. And had a cart out ready, to finish him off, should it not mortally wound him first Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody4x4 Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 (edited) Just back from lamping and i didnt do another 3 foxes any favours nice one.. Edited December 31, 2009 by woody4x4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeksofdoom Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 I was told, a friend of someone I shoot with uses a .410 with .No 5's, and shoots them in the head, for park dispatch work, apparently it goes straight into the brain and mushes it. The head is generally where the brain is situated with most animals, so i'ld say that by shooting one in the head you'ld have a fairly good chance of mushing its brain...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bicykillgaz Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 your not a wuss mate, on one of my old permissions the guy had chicken sheds any seen round there was in serious trouble but on one of my other permissions where there was no chickens/game i've sat and watched 2 cubs playing for 5 mins and then gone on my merry way as they was not causing any trouble. the cartridges would have been more than sufficient as everyone has said but if your not comfortable doing it and the farmers not bother as there not a risk don't worry about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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