spandit Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 Went out on my permission tonight, without a gun, to see if the advice I'd be offered by a friend of where to go was sound. As soon as I switched my torch on, three rabbits bolted for cover, right in front of a good back stop. I then moved over the field towards another boundary and shone the torch along the hedgerow. After a bit of squeaking, I suddenly had two eyes trained on me, shining white in the torchlight (no filter). I squeaked a bit more but they vanished. What are the tell tale signs of a fox rather than a cat? Have you ever shot a cat by accident? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 90 Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 As a responsible shooter you NEVER shoot anything by accident - if you can't make positive identification then DON'T SHOOT !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRNDL Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 Went out on my permission tonight, without a gun, to see if the advice I'd be offered by a friend of where to go was sound. As soon as I switched my torch on, three rabbits bolted for cover, right in front of a good back stop. I then moved over the field towards another boundary and shone the torch along the hedgerow. After a bit of squeaking, I suddenly had two eyes trained on me, shining white in the torchlight (no filter). I squeaked a bit more but they vanished. What are the tell tale signs of a fox rather than a cat? Have you ever shot a cat by accident? Tin hat time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted October 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Believe me. I'm not going to shoot unless I can positively identify the quarry but I read of people shooting foxes at night over long distances. Perhaps I would have seen more through a scope. I'm guessing this isn't the kind of thing that people would admit to even if they had? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pstenson123 Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 I can only imagine what's going happen on here now !!!!!! Querying shooting over roads & now ID ing fox's from cats!!!!! + 1 V8. 90. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbiep Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 (edited) If anyone has ever shot a species 'by accident' then, in my opinion, they are / were not fit to be in possession of a FAC. If you cannot clearly identify your target, then you have no idea if the eyes you are shooting at belong to a dog, badger, fox, cat, sheep, goat, deer, child ... Edit ... in fact, wasn't there a case a few years ago where a bat recorder was shot 'by accident' by someone after foxes ? Edited October 23, 2013 by robbiep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted October 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 It seems I enjoy fishing too It's stopped raining for a bit, I can get on with something more constructive now Can I shoot cats from over the road? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted October 24, 2013 Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 I recently lifted the gun upto a rabbit I thought but on looking through the scope I realised it was a cat. So they look like rabbit eyes in the lamp . I said to my mate its a lucky cat as was sat between 2 rabbits .thank god for scopes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted October 24, 2013 Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 I find that cats eyes shine green, whereas foxes are a very bright orange. I don't know how you could mix the 2 up, there are like night and day difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filzee Posted October 24, 2013 Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 I find that cats eyes shine green, whereas foxes are a very bright orange. I don't know how you could mix the 2 up, there are like night and day difference. This is right in my experience too. Height is another thing you could consider as fox's are a lot taller. I don't think we should bash this guy too badly as he did say he went "without a gun" and was just asking for advice on ID'ing different species. Its good that your going out to check the safe areas and learning what is what. As others have said the most important thing to remember if you are in any doubt that it is either not safe, or not the right species just don't pull the trigger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe soapy Posted October 24, 2013 Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 Cats have the abilty to "shapeshift" Local farm has a few cats eyes doted about!. caused a fair bit of frustration when they diddent respond to call Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted October 24, 2013 Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 Don't just rely on the eye shine. Be sure of what it is with just enough light to ID the rest of the animal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted October 24, 2013 Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 I find that cats eyes shine green, whereas foxes are a very bright orange. I don't know how you could mix the 2 up, there are like night and day difference. Usually very true Ollie,but we have shot a fair few that shone green in the lamp fella. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted October 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 These eyes were white. Difficult to tell how high they were as couldn't really see the ground. One of my dogs has bright white eyes, the other has bright orange (in torchlight) - it's one way I identify them at night, the other is the way they move. I don't know enough about fox (or cat/badger etc.) behaviour to use that to my advantage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flynny Posted October 24, 2013 Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 (edited) don't think we should bash this guy too badly as he did say he went "without a gun" and was just asking for advice on ID'ing different species HERE, HERE he is only asking a fair question and should be answered accordingly, Fair play mate theirs nowt wrong in asking, Fox eye shine is usually bright orange, but never just rely on the eyeshine, as some of the above posts have said , positive ID first before you pull that trigger , if your unsure don't let the shot go,( but im sure you already know that) ATB Flynny Edited October 24, 2013 by flynny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted October 24, 2013 Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 Apologies if it sounded as though I was bashing the OP, that was not my intention. It is clear the poster is inexperienced, but when you are a bit more experienced there is no way you could mix both up. As many have said, don't just fire at eyes. I was lamping last week and I could only see eyes through the scope; I knew it was a fox as I saw it when it was closer, however, I am never happy firing at eyes because you don't know what was the fox is standing etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted October 24, 2013 Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 This is right in my experience too. Height is another thing you could consider as fox's are a lot taller. I don't think we should bash this guy too badly as he did say he went "without a gun" and was just asking for advice on ID'ing different species. Its good that your going out to check the safe areas and learning what is what. As others have said the most important thing to remember if you are in any doubt that it is either not safe, or not the right species just don't pull the trigger. The one on the left is a cat, the one on the right is a fox.Glad i could help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted October 24, 2013 Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 The one on the left is a cat, the one on the right is a fox.Glad i could help Are you a face man or a leg man ...... ? You have really confused the OP now............. oh and 1/2 of PW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted October 24, 2013 Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 You think that's confusing, i couldn't decide what this was,a cabbit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted October 24, 2013 Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 So you mean you can't shoot cat like creatures accross a road on a telegraph line? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted October 24, 2013 Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 So you mean you can't shoot cat like creatures accross a road on a telegraph line? You would find it very difficult to get a steady aim whilst balancing on a telegraph line Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted October 24, 2013 Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 You would find it very difficult to get a steady aim whilst balancing on a telegraph line Haha! But if you could, you would get a pretty good vantage point... and probably be able to shoot along it at pigeons down the line a bit... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon6ppc Posted October 29, 2013 Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 i have let so many foxes live even though i know they are fox but not just 100 percent, i can tell how they act most of the time as a deer,sheep,cow and some times cats usually keep still and don't move, a fox looks more paranoid i always say and never stops blinking also moving as well, as said above i do believe more folk have let loose at targets more than what they will write on here but thats just human nature.atb simon..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted October 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2013 Went out again last night and saw the eyes again. They watched me for a few minutes and didn't seem too bothered by the dogs. When one came within a few feet, they disappeared. I suspect it's a cat but couldn't pick it out in my torch. Quite eery having something looking at you in the dark... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoolhandMal Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 Went out again last night and saw the eyes again. They watched me for a few minutes and didn't seem too bothered by the dogs. When one came within a few feet, they disappeared. I suspect it's a cat but couldn't pick it out in my torch. Quite eery having something looking at you in the dark... A torch is no good get yourself a tidy lamp or if you have a few quid invest in the NS200.. I wouldn't part with mine it's given me excellent results even when spotting you see plenty of animals you wouldn't have seen with a lamp e.g Woodcock,Badgers etc just "AWESOME"...!! ATB chm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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