walt1980 Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 Was out on a perm sat night and saw a couple of foxes but too far away for me to shoot, went back weds night and sat up in the same place, no rabbits about which is unusual, phone beeps, look back thru ns200 and theres a fox walking towards me, kinda panic and just as I'm about to shoot he turns fast. Definetly hit him pretty hard, was jumping about like a mad man, but bolted into the next field and not allowed in there! Shone torch about, could hear him but couldn't see anything, sure he went off n died but gutted couldn't find it! Sat back down for another 10 mins and a young one walked out about 70 yards away, dropped him where he stood! Well chuffed! So technically my 2nd but if you can't find it it doesn't count in my book! Took it to the farmer who was pretty chuffed and asked me to shoot more often if I can, and also said he's more than happy for me to get a .243! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOXHUNTER1 Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 I wouldnt shoot at a fox with a .17HMR unless I was sure of a clean kill , totally irresponsible just to hope for the best . You should have still followed the fox up to despatch it in my opinion.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walt1980 Posted June 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 First one was was about 60 odd yards, was thought it was ok, turned quick just as I pulled trigger! Didnt think it'd be wise to go on someone else's land without permission and with a firearm?! Thought I was doing the right thing, maybe not, the 2nd one dropped where it stood, like I was expecting the first one to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the crowman Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 Excellent tool in the right hands my friend :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAD1927 Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 I wouldnt shoot at a fox with a .17HMR unless I was sure of a clean kill , totally irresponsible just to hope for the best . You should have still followed the fox up to despatch it in my opinion.... Sorry Walt1980 but I shoot .17HMR and I would not take a shot at a fox unless it was a clean no quibble head shot and probably less than 50yds. Bad score I'm affraid :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walt1980 Posted June 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 Wouldn't of shot unless I thought it ok to do so, it moved fast just as I pulled! Heard and seen foxes hit, then run 20 yards and drop, I'm convinced that's what it did! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 Mistake made , I'm sure the op didn't want to cause suffering,but will have learned from the experience. Chances are the fox was dead in the grass, how many times have we scoured a field looking for the body only to go back the next morning and find it 5 foot away from where we looked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walt1980 Posted June 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 Mistake made , I'm sure the op didn't want to cause suffering,but will have learned from the experience. Chances are the fox was dead in the grass, how many times have we scoured a field looking for the body only to go back the next morning and find it 5 foot away from where we looked. Yup! Cheers mate, appreciated!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 You certainly done the right thing by not going onto other people's land where you don't have permission to shoot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon6ppc Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 ye pal we all wound animals from time to time, some more than others,you did nothing wrong i dont think, only a hmr some folk dont just rate them as a fox gun which i under stand why, get that 243, thats a serious fox stopper ha ha. cheers simon.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the crowman Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 I wouldnt shoot at a fox with a .17HMR unless I was sure of a clean kill , totally irresponsible just to hope for the best . You should have still followed the fox up to despatch it in my opinion.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 .17hmr is fine for fox. Sometimes you're just unlucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 .17hmr is fine for fox. Sometimes you're just unlucky. Very true,and the same can be said for all calibres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telf Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 Very true,and the same can be said for all calibres. totally agree,a.22lr will kill a fox at the right distance so a hmr,no problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l1ukeRS Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 Sorry Walt1980 but I shoot .17HMR and I would not take a shot at a fox unless it was a clean no quibble head shot and probably less than 50yds. Bad score I'm affraid :( 50 yards? I regulalry shoot foxes out to 150-175 with my HMR and havnt lost one yet and out to about 80 with the .22 Good Shooting mate sometimes things happen which are out of your control you did right not going on land you dont have permission on its not worth the risk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjm Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 50 yards? I regulalry shoot foxes out to 150-175 with my HMR and havnt lost one yet and out to about 80 with the .22 Good Shooting mate sometimes things happen which are out of your control you did right not going on land you dont have permission on its not worth the risk You must be very sure of yourself taking a fox with an HMR at that range! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 Sorry Walt1980 but I shoot .17HMR and I would not take a shot at a fox unless it was a clean no quibble head shot and probably less than 50yds. Bad score I'm affraid :( Even a so called clean no quibble head shot can go wrong as the fox could move it's head at the last moment. As i have said it can happen to anyone,and if you believe you have never wounded any quarry you have shot,then you must truly be the best shot in Britain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 50 yards? I regulalry shoot foxes out to 150-175 with my HMR and havnt lost one yet and out to about 80 with the .22 Good Shooting mate sometimes things happen which are out of your control you did right not going on land you dont have permission on its not worth the risk I think you should reconsider shooting fox with hmr and .22 out to those distances,as that in my opinion is beyond the range both rounds are effective/accurate,by that i mean that they both will still kill,but the margin of error is greatly magnified and a lot of factors will affect their accuracy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 I would rather have too much gun than not enough - accidents do happen but we all strive to reduce the possibility to a minimum and regret it when they do. Always a 'learning experience' as they say but perhaps better kept to oneself, especially on a public forum. I prefer to drop them dead and will wait or not shoot at all if thats not possible. I dont have an HMR and tend to regard them as a longer range bunny gun. I shoot foxes in traps with a .22 - if I have to. I actually agree with the police criteria that the smallest suitable calibre for fox is a .22 centrefire - just my viewpoint, not everyones view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l1ukeRS Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 (edited) I think you should reconsider shooting fox with hmr and .22 out to those distances,as that in my opinion is beyond the range both rounds are effective/accurate,by that i mean that they both will still kill,but the margin of error is greatly magnified and a lot of factors will affect their accuracy. I am aware of the factors that effect accuracy, at these ranges and when they come into play i will not take the shot but i am comfortable with the equipment i use and its capabilities so i see no problem taking long range shots with small calibers as long you are confident in what you are doing. at 175yards the drop with hmr is only just over 5" which is not much really and for a small round it is more than capable of dispatching a fox however i only take shots at the mentioned ranges in the daylight. I prefer long range shooting as i get the most satisfaction from it, i shoot rabbits to 60 yards with a PCP airrifle and 400+ with the .223 which people try to argue with but as ive said if your confident it doing it i dont see a problem Edited June 7, 2013 by l1ukeRS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flynny Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 Happy days, get that variation in asap, dont worry mate anyone can pull a shot and wound but as some have said if you hit em with a 243, its rare that they do a runner. Keep up the fox control, ATB Flynny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAD1927 Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 (edited) Totally agree with all the comments on here yes I have winged a rabbit or 2 which is why I would never go beyond what I see is my limmit for a fox being such a sizable animal. We all like to consider ourselves as the Tom Beringer sniper which is all well and good but I prefer to keep the odds more in my favour and try to insure a clean kill. I have never missed or winged a fox with the .17HMR but then again I have always shot within my comfort zone and only shot 5 to date. Each to their own is the what I say but as much as these creatures are pests they still deserve to die quickly and with minimal suffering. As for long range sniping I would suggest sticking to paper targets or get a c**k enlargement. Only my opinion. Edited June 7, 2013 by BRAD1927 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 (edited) Each to their own is the what I say but as much as these creatures are pests they still deserve to die quickly and with minimal suffering. Something i think we can all agree on(which is quite rare) Edited June 7, 2013 by welsh1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 Speaking personally, I have never wounded a fox, or had a runner, other than approx 10 yards when it dropped. But I have only shot them with centrefire rifles, either my 22-250 or my 243. I know how deadly an HMR can be, and what damage they can do. But I will never use one on a fox, unless it's 40 yards or less from me. And then I would only aim for the heart/lung area. I have never ever shot a fox in the head, with any caliber or any distance. I don't see the need to. A foxes head is a very small target, even at close range, and the slightest movement of the head, just as you fire, can, and has caused horrific wounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 I think people tend to forget though that a fox isn't a very big/heavy animal. The first one I shot with the HMR,(admittedly only at 20 yards) exited out the other side of the chest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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