Last night's results

[steve_b_wales]

Last night, I met up for the first time with Alpha Mule, who invited me down to his permission to do a spot of lamping. When I got there, it was still light, so Alan showed me around the area that he had permission on to shoot. We waited until it started to get dark, then set out to see what we could find. Within a few minutes of walking, Alan picked up a fox with the lamp. I looked through my scope, and it was a large fox, on the other side of the field. It just looked at us without any fear, as Alan said that no foxes had been lamped in that area before. I took the shot, and the fox seemed to fall forwards. We walked across the field to get it, but we think it had fallen down into a small ravine. We searched for it, but could not find it. I definetly hit it in the chest area, so I knew that it would not have gone far.

Anyway, we went further into the fields, and entered a small wood. It was reaking of fox, and I said to Alan that we should tuck into some trees and I would try and call one in. I used my home made caller, and Alan was viewing the area through his NV monucular. After a minute or two, Alan whispered to me that he saw a fox coming through the trees. I kept on calling, and he scanned the area again. He then said that the fox was sitting opposite us, just looking. I got ready with my rifle, and Alan switched on the lamp. Sure enough, a large fox was just watching us, at a distance of about 50 yards. As the fox was looking at us face on, I could only see his head and chest, so I placed the cross hairs low on his chest, and a .243 100gr SP found it's mark. The bullet exited through it's back, as can be seen in the second photo. We walked up to the fox, which turned out to be a good sized male. It's coat was in excellent condition, and the tail was a good colour.

After we disposed of it, we walked back towards where I shot the first one, and Alan picked up another fox in the lamp. I looked through the scope, and could only see it's face. I tried calling it in, but the fox disappeared into the woods.

All in all, a most enjoyable evening. Two foxes,although we only picked up one. My thanks to Alan for inviting me down, and I look forward to our next outing soon.

The photo's are of the second fox, and I also took a picture of the tail, when I got home.

[Alpha Mule]

It was good to meet my first PW'er.

That 243 and those rounds certainly did the business Steve. Pity the brambles, gorse and bush were too thick to locate number 1, but he dropped like a stone and I have no doubts whatsoever that he was dead before he stopped rolling. I'll go back this morning for another look for him once the kids are in school.

I'll take a copy of the pictures to show the farmer and see if I can get his permission to shoot some more of his land too.

 

Excellent night, thanks for bringing the rifle down and looking forward to some more

[Spaniel]

Sounds like you had a good night on the foxes, what do you do with the tail Steve

 

Cheers

[Shotgunspud]

Well done

[Frenchieboy]

That sounds like a good night should be - good land , a few foxes and great company . Well done to the two of you!

[mick54dog]

good work lads!......an excellent result

[verminator69]

Nice one guys another two bite the dust.

[Alpha Mule]

I reckon Steve would have had 3, if the wind hadn't swung round just as i spotted the last one,but hey ho, he'll keep for another night.

[steve_b_wales]

Sounds like you had a good night on the foxes, what do you do with the tail Steve

 

Cheers

 

 

Hi Spaniel. I take the bone out, if already not done on the fox, and give the brush a soak for 48 hours in tanning solution. The end result is very good.

 

steve.

[Alpha Mule]

Sounds like you had a good night on the foxes, what do you do with the tail Steve

 

Cheers

 

The weirdo mumbled something about his sandwich

[steve_b_wales]

The weirdo mumbled something about his sandwich

 

Yes. All this time I've been getting it wrong. I thought it was 'Foxtail Soup' not 'Oxtail'

[bullet boy]

Excellent result Steve.Well done both.

[ricky green]

good shooting there steve,aint forgot about that long range shooting,but were looking to go when it gets a bit warmer.keep up the good shooting.

[gurus5000]

Sounds like a good outing

[pixie]

Ive got one of those Lidil night vision monoculars and for the price they are brilliant. I see you have put blue tape around the eye piece to stop it going out of focus, I must do that, I put a rubber band around the exit lens to stop that moving.

Edited April 14, 2010 by pixie

[SSS]

Good shooting steve and alpha mule

[smig4373]

Nice Shooting Steve.....Sounds like you had a top night out....Nice 1 to Alan for sharing permission too.....Well done gents....

[MM]

[Alpha Mule]

Nice Shooting Steve.....Sounds like you had a top night out....Nice 1 to Alan for sharing permission too.....Well done gents....

 

Two birds, one stone thing really, Steve got a bit of virgin land to shoot over (which I can't), the farmer and his sheep had a couple less predators to worry about and lastly I got rid of a couple rabbit hunting competition.

A win, win, win situation.

And Steve turned out to be an OK bloke (first one that suggests that we get a room gets a biatch slap!).

 

 

Ive got one of those Lidil night vision monoculars and for the price they are brilliant. I see you have put blue tape around the eye piece to stop it going out of focus, I must do that, I put a rubber band around the exit lens to stop that moving.

 

Intended pun???

It certainly impressed Steve too, especially when I told him about the fox coming in from the other

I find being able to focus the exit lens comes in handy, even if it's only by 1 or 2 degrees, but the eye piece one was a nightmare. I put one Tipex spot on the body and one on the adjusting ring opposite it. I can usually just see enough to get them more or less lined up, enough to get reflecting eyes clear enough to locate.

[blackbird]

Well done Steve

[chrispti]

[digit]

Nice shooting Steve and Alpha Mule

[ollie]

Hi Spaniel. I take the bone out, if already not done on the fox, and give the brush a soak for 48 hours in tanning solution. The end result is very good.

 

steve.

 

Steve how do you take the tail off? We used to take the tails off and we would literally cut round the base of the tail, get 2 short sticks, place one of each side of the tail bone and pull the tail off. It can be very tough sometimes but it saves slicing down the tail. When you have them cured what do you do with them?

[steve_b_wales]

Steve how do you take the tail off? We used to take the tails off and we would literally cut round the base of the tail, get 2 short sticks, place one of each side of the tail bone and pull the tail off. It can be very tough sometimes but it saves slicing down the tail. When you have them cured what do you do with them?

 

 

Hi mate. I just cut the tail off, including the bone. When I get home, using a surgical blade, I cut about 2 inches down the length of the bone, and peel back the fur. I place the bone in my vice, and pull the fur back gently. Sometimes the fur falls apart, but I seem to be getting the hang of it now. I soak the fur in tanning solution for 24-48 hours, and then wash the fur and hang it up to dry. I have quite a few hanging in my shed now. I sent a few over to America about a year ago and got a Coyote's brush in return.

[monkeyboots]