Frenchieboy Posted May 12, 2010 Report Share Posted May 12, 2010 (edited) Just got back in from an evening session to be told by the wife that one of "my farmers" has phoned and wants me to deal with a family of foxes (Dog, Vixen and 5 Cubs). It's a shame that he didn't call on my mobile number as I was only about 3/4 mile away from his land dealing with another fox problem. The farm I was on this evening has 2 earths, both with cubs. I took out a young dog cub on Monday but the batteries in my camera were kernackered (Very much like me) so I could not get a photo of it. I went back to the same earth and took out a young vixen cub this evening. (See photo) I had to play a "waiting game" as there is not too much cover within about 65 yards of the earth so it was a matter of crawl for over 100 yards or so and then wait with the Hummer on the bipod with me lying in the grass and a bed of nettles (Not very comfy I can tell you). I had to wait for about 40 minutes but it was worth it. First 1 cub came out closely followed by what looked like the adult vixen. I decided to bide my time as I was not prepared to take the vixen out at this stage, I would rather wait till I have most of the cubs and then use a terrier man to check the earth straight after I have taken the vixen out. Anyway I think the vixen might have spotted a slight movement from me as she shot back into the earth closely followed by the cub. I waited about 10 more minutes and out came another cub but it was staying just in the mouth of the earth, not the ideal situation so I waited and after a few minutes 2 more cubs came out and started playing about. One of them made the fatal mistake of wandering about 12 yards from the earth and down a small bank and offered me the "perfect head shot" - almost broadside on and perfectly still for about 5 seconds with it's head about 45 degrees to me. That was all the time I wanted as I had followed it with the crosshairs all the way. The Hummer gave a quick "crack" and that was that, the cub (A young vixen) rolled over and started to twitch with it's feet up in the air. I could see through the scopes that it was a perfect head shot and no follow up shot was needed even though I was ready to fire one if need be! The other couple of cubs ran back into the earth and as I was not comfy in the nettles I called it an evening and went on to shoot a few bunnies to use for a "bait station" I am setting up for a fox that is proving to be a little ellusive and difficult. The other photo shows one of the rabbits I got which I was very pleased with as it was over 175 paces and a perfectly placed head shot. Allin all quite a lpeasant evening even if I did get stung half to death by nettles. Edited May 12, 2010 by Frenchieboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave1979 Posted May 12, 2010 Report Share Posted May 12, 2010 nice shootin....nettles aint the best bed are they!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blister Posted May 12, 2010 Report Share Posted May 12, 2010 Just got back in from an evening session to be told by the wife that one of "my farmers" has phoned and wants me to deal with a family of foxes (Dog, Vixen and 5 Cubs). It's a shame that he didn't call on my mobile number as I was only about 3/4 mile away from his land dealing with another fox problem. The farm I was on this evening has 2 earths, both with cubs. I took out a young dog cub on Monday but the batteries in my camera were kernackered (Very much like me) so I could not get a photo of it. I went back to the same earth and took out a young vixen cub this evening. (See photo) I had to play a "waiting game" as there is not too much cover within about 65 yards of the earth so it was a matter of crawl for over 100 yards and then wait with the Hummer on the bipod with me lying in the grass and nettles (Not very comfy I can tell you). I had to wait for about 40 minutes but it was worth it. First 1 cub came out closely followed by what looked like the adult vixen so I had to bide my time as I was not prepared to take the vixen out at this stage, I would rather wait till I have most of the cubs and then use a terrier man to check the earth straight after I have taken the vixen out. Anyway I think the vixen might have spotted a slight movement from me as she shot back into the earth followed by the cub. I waited about 10 more minutes and out came another cub but it was staying just in the mouth of the earth, not the ideal situation so I waited and after a few minutes 2 more cubs came out and started playing about. One of them made the fatal mistake of wandering about 12 yards from the earth and down a small bank and offered me the "perfect head shot" - broadside on and perfectly still for about 5 seconds. That was all the time I wanted as I had followed it with the crosshairs all the way. The Hummer gave a quick "crack" and that was that, the cub rolled over and started ti twitch with it's feet up in the air. I could see through the scopes that it was a perfect shot and no follow up shot was needed even though I was ready to if need be! The other couple of cubs ran back into the earth and I was not comfy in the nettles so I called it an evening and went on to shoot a few bunnies to use for a "bait station" I am setting up for a fox that is proving to be a little ellusive and difficult.The other couple of photos show a couple of the rabbits I got, one of which I was very pleased with as it was over 165 large laces and a clean head shot. Allin all quite a lpeasant evening even if I did get stung half to death by nettles. nice one mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albob Posted May 12, 2010 Report Share Posted May 12, 2010 nice shooting and the young seem to be close to the earths by all accounts. al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted May 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2010 (edited) That's is what it sems like Al. It is a waiting game where you have to give them plenty of time to get a reasonable distance from the earths. I guess things will be a bit easier as they grow and get a bit bolder and start wandering a bit further afield! Edited May 13, 2010 by Frenchieboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albob Posted May 12, 2010 Report Share Posted May 12, 2010 i noticed that more so now,as one shoot we go on,we see adult foxes and no cubs but,on another shoot which we went to,has earths on a banking and we seen one adult and later a fox cub. no clear shot for these foxes though. i suppose the beauty of the cubs being seen at the earth,you then can be more tactical when dealing with them. al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSS Posted May 12, 2010 Report Share Posted May 12, 2010 Nice shooting frenchieboy, its one less Its all good fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted May 13, 2010 Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted May 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 i noticed that more so now,as one shoot we go on,we see adult foxes and no cubs but,on another shoot which we went to,has earths on a banking and we seen one adult and later a fox cub.no clear shot for these foxes though. i suppose the beauty of the cubs being seen at the earth,you then can be more tactical when dealing with them. al Yes mate, that's a fact. Some earths will show the cubs quite frequently all through the day yet some will not, I think it has something to do with the age of the cubs (I could be wrong though)! Most of the earths I have to deal with are on a bit of a bank where I can position myself above them (Subject to the wind being in the right direction) so that I have a "safe backstop" but with just one of them the only position I can get in leaves the earth right on the skyline making it impossible to take a shot unless the cubs stray down hill a bit. Oh well, at least I can wait for the warmer evenings to sort that earth out as I play my "waiting game"! I will try to take a video camera on a few sessions and post a few clips, maybe with it mounted on top of the scopes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verminator69 Posted May 13, 2010 Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 Nice one Frenchie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 13, 2010 Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 nice one but if you take the vixen and just lay her by the hole you should be able to mop up all the cubs in one go at the moment while they are young. If you leave her she will either keep them down the hole or then move them somewhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decoy1979 Posted May 13, 2010 Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 I agree with al4x, playing the waiting game is ok, but don't be surprised is she moves them on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted May 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 I appreciate the feedback and input, thanks guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandmartin Posted May 13, 2010 Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 Nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albob Posted May 13, 2010 Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 I will try to take a video camera on a few sessions and post a few clips, maybe with it mounted on top of the scopes! be nice to see that and good luck in getting them. al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted May 13, 2010 Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 Excellent read and a good result.Except for the nettles of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikee Posted May 13, 2010 Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 nice one frenchieboy, i had a couple of hours doing the same this evening but nothing showed, not sure if theyre still using the hole now, there is a big flattened area of grass around the hole but no signs of any fresh droppings etc, so like you i went and annoyed some rabbits to christen my new hummer, 3 for 3 out to about 170yds, much nicer to shoot now ive fitted a trigger kit, cant wait to try it out on some crows and magpies mikee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted May 13, 2010 Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 :good: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatingisbest Posted May 16, 2010 Report Share Posted May 16, 2010 Personally i'd have waited up for the dog and vixen and got rid of them before taking on any cubs, atleast shoot her as the dog wont move cubs. You can have plenty more time to deal with the cubs. Best way in my opinion to deal with the whole family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davie mac Posted May 16, 2010 Report Share Posted May 16, 2010 Nice shooting Frenchieboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted May 16, 2010 Report Share Posted May 16, 2010 Personally i'd have waited up for the dog and vixen and got rid of them before taking on any cubs, atleast shoot her as the dog wont move cubs. You can have plenty more time to deal with the cubs. Best way in my opinion to deal with the whole family. I'm afraid your wrong here mate. We had a family of foxes last year; shot the vixen and couldn't find the den to get rid of the cubs. 3 months later went back to the same strip of cover and shot the dog and 4 half grown cubs. The dog fox had raised them; obviously the cubs were old enough after we had shot the vixen to survive without milk but the dog will move cubs and also raise them if it comes down to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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