stupidsalmon Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 Just went out with my S400 Air rifle before it got dark to see if i could pick off a rabbit from a nearby burrow. Upon arriving a scanned the area through my scope and saw nothing atall and thought i may as well walk up to the burrows just in case one was down behind lump in the ground. I got about 50m from the holes and spotted a small reynard, vixen probs, sleeping beside the holes. Having my .177 airrifle with me there was no point in even thinking about taking a shot, so i thought i'd have a go stalking up to it and seeing how close could get. Putting a tree in between me and the fox i slowly stalked up to her, looking around the tree to check she was still there. To my surprise i narrowed the gap down to about 20m and looking around the tree could see she was still dozing. When i reached the tree, after the slowest stalk ive ever done, i was 12 metres (paced it out) and poked my head around the tree and she immediately lifted her head and scooted down a hole. Probably was a deaf old fox, but i was still surprised at how close i got. Just need a shotty or rifle now as shes probably the bitch thats been nabbing our hens. Anyone else ever stalked this close?? Cheers SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 once stalked a vixen and 2 cubs within 50yards (lay of the land required the stalk to get a safe shot) one of the cubs is no longer with us, the 6.5 made sure of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilishdave Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 This lad was about 50m at about 2 in the afternoon in an open field he did not even see me until it was to late. He must have had his ye on a mouse or rabbit in the near by wood. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natures_son Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Back in november was out doing a bit of ferreting with the 4"10 imagine my surprise when i looked up and saw a fox about 80 yards away. boxed up the ferret and left it where it was and started to creep over this fox was hunting mice as youd see him jump and try to land on them. I reached some chest high grass and crouched down and proceeded i ended up 10 yards away from him i could of shot him but chose not to. He was a healthy dog fox and i knew where his earth was so im going to go back with the terriers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 On a local piece of land that I only have permision for a 12ftlb (a 15 acre "once was farm" now smallholding bordering a city and surrounded by roads) I was taking a breather behind a fallen tree when a small fox limped along. It was really scruffy and I recon it was probably having a hard time feeding itself. I watched it enter a patch of thistle (it was summertime) and waited for it to reappear. After 20 minutes or so I crept up for a looksee and found it curled up in a ball asleep. Thinking to myself that because it was limping it's probably unable to catch much - maybe I ought to put it out of it's misery so to speak and put my gun muzzle about an inch from it's head between its eyes but could'nt bring myself to pull the trigger. I'd had several thoughts passing through my head - a once in a lifetime opportunity for a 12ftlb'r - what if I dont kill it outright - it just does'nt seem sporting etc. Amazed that I had crept up on this normally alert creature I was beginning to feel a bit ridiculous for being so indecisive about what should come naturally for a hunter - still I could not pull the trigger - and it was at least two minutes that I had spent there by now. So I said HELLO in a loud voice and it scarpered off about fifty yards or so and sat on its haunches watching me In retrospect, on this partiular piece of land I had been "stalked" - well watched really - by three foxes on previous lamping occasions and felt that these foxes were accustomed to seeing humans and have found no reason to be wary of us. Although farmer had asked that I leave my bag somwhere near the house for his dog - I have left a trail that should feed foxy if he just happens along at the right time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marlin.45 Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Dave, 12ft/lb into the skull of a fox. You might get penetration but I doubt you would kill outright. Good to know you didn't take the shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Dave, 12ft/lb into the skull of a fox. You might get penetration but I doubt you would kill outright. Good to know you didn't take the shot B) Hi, Not that I would but do you think a .22 air rifle would kill humanely in a trap at point blank especially if you put 2 in with a multishot because a mate of mine is adermant that it would but I don't know. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natures_son Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 An air rifle at point blank will kill a fox if put in the right place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Hi, Brain, heart or eye? I'm not sure I would fell comfy doing it on a fox that wasn't caged though because it could do a runner if it went pear shaped. FM B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natures_son Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 behind the ear or the eye mate either will kill it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilishdave Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 I would not recomend any one shoot fox at any range with air guns but years ago when we were kids a m8 of mine went to check the snairs to find a fox in one of his rabit snairs ne did not know what to do so shot it in the head with his webly tempest (all he had with him) and killed it stone dead. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marlin.45 Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 I stand corrected if the rifle is up to it but I would not condone it except as a last resort as humane dispatch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mr Pieman Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 Stupidsalmon, scanning fields with a rifle scope is incredibly dangerous - scanning is why they invented binoculars PP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stupidsalmon Posted January 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 Pardon the naivety Pieman.......... Please enlighten me......?? Cheers SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mr Pieman Posted January 22, 2006 Report Share Posted January 22, 2006 (edited) SS, picture the scene. As you scan the field you are, in effect, pointing your gun at everything you see. You scan and, through the scope, see a cat, and keep going (unless you hate cats !!!). You scan and, through the scope, see a rabbit and take a shot. You scan and, through the scope, see a person and keep going etc. However, you have now pointed a loaded weapon and two non-quarry species - specifically a human being. If, for whatever reason, sometihn bad happens at that point (albeit you'll be sure in your own mind it never would) you could shoot something you dodn't mean to. With a small pair of binos, you get the same effect but with out the risk I'm sure many members will agree with my dislike of the scanning procedure wth a scope and, probably equally, others will sing out to how it 'isn't an issue'. However, I can catagorically state, 100% correctly, no one has EVER been shot by a pair of binocluars :blink: :blink: Shoot in whatever style you think is best. My opinion is only worth what's paid for it - ****** all PP Edited January 22, 2006 by Mr Pieman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stupidsalmon Posted January 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2006 Completely understand what you've said and, even though my rifle was unloaded, i can appreciate your line of reasoning. Maybe a small pair of binos would be a good investment. Anyone use monoculars? Worth a buy? Cheers for all the replys, SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatingisbest Posted January 24, 2006 Report Share Posted January 24, 2006 i got to 2 metres away from a rabbit once-raised my air rifle and BANG, i saw it flip over through the scope. :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnskevena Posted January 24, 2006 Report Share Posted January 24, 2006 SS, picture the scene. As you scan the field you are, in effect, pointing your gun at everything you see. You scan and, through the scope, see a cat, and keep going (unless you hate cats !!!). You scan and, through the scope, see a rabbit and take a shot. You scan and, through the scope, see a person and keep going etc. However, you have now pointed a loaded weapon and two non-quarry species - specifically a human being. If, for whatever reason, sometihn bad happens at that point (albeit you'll be sure in your own mind it never would) you could shoot something you dodn't mean to. With a small pair of binos, you get the same effect but with out the risk I'm sure many members will agree with my dislike of the scanning procedure wth a scope and, probably equally, others will sing out to how it 'isn't an issue'. However, I can catagorically state, 100% correctly, no one has EVER been shot by a pair of binocluars :blink: Shoot in whatever style you think is best. My opinion is only worth what's paid for it - ****** all PP Very good point to make :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatingisbest Posted January 28, 2006 Report Share Posted January 28, 2006 If you are not sure about it, dont do it. You did the right thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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