First Blood.

[Michaeli]

So about 8 weeks ago I contacted my guide ad arraigned two stalks (Saturday night and Sunday morning) on Roe does. So this allowed me Deer on my licence etc.

So 4 weeks ago my new (to me) Riflecraft TS1 (based on Rem 700) .308 was collected and it was time to make my first home loads. This was a learning process made easier with this forum. So off to the range I went to try a range of powder weights to which would suit the 150grain Hornady interlock SPBT. After two visits we got it grouping at under half an inch at 100 yards with 43.5 grains in N140.

So now the wait was on until the time was here. Weeks passed and finally the 22^nd arrived.

Met my guide and off we went to prove zero. So target set up at about 100 yards and my rife on a set of sticks with nice weather. Now I have only shot this rifle and another big rifle off a bench with bags or bipods etc. So .308 and sticks was new to me.

Here we go.

Boom (well not so, I was surprised how quite the T8 mod was compared to when shooting it in a tunnel)

One inch down and about 2 to the left. So a dead subject but I knew I could do better.

Bang again

Half inch up smack in the middle of the bull. Dead and happy.

So off we trot to the first stalk site and the weather is not on our side, rain wind and hail. So a few hours passed by of driving and walking before ending in a field before last light.

This was also the first time I had tried my scope out in low light. And I was surprised how good and £200 odd scope was. But the light faded quick due to the cloud and the night was called to an end.

So chip shop it was and a few pints of cider in the hotel before bed.

4:50am the iphone wakes me up to another day.

Quick pack up and out I am to meet my guide at 5:20am.

With a quick drive were at the first stalk site and the good thing is while its cold the skies are clear. About a mile or so later we arrive back at the car after a nice walk and lots of stopping and glassing the fields but no deer this time.

So a 2 min drive before ditching the car again and off we trot. Lots of glassing and walking we start to see slots and then slots that have nice sharp edges so could have only been from last night (after 7 ish) or this morning as the rain would have taken the sharpness away.

So were on the right track but another mile later still no deer and then lots of pigeons spoke from a wood so we decided to stop for a little while to see what it was and if any deer would come out of the wood. About 2 mins later out pops an ATV from the other side of the wood (about 700 yards away) but no deer. So we deicide to wait another 5 mins to let things calm down.

And then at a distance of about 200 odd yards away something is seen moving, up goes the binos so see who it is and there stands a very nice clean looking bright......... Red fox. So not a deer but something still on the list to shoot and seeing as I have never shot a fox before I was still excided.

So we watched it for a few minutes so see what is was doing and it came to about 180 yard mark away. Did not know we were there but was not coming closer as it was slowing heading for a loud pheasant calling in the opposite wood.

So I said let’s try and get another 30 yards or so closer. So a nice slow low walk was made as both us and the fox were in the open with the only advantage being we knew the fox was there and it was not aware of us.

So standing now about 150 yards away I was on my sticks watching and waiting for the fox to present a shot. Now this seemed to take for an age as it was always behind some new planted trees. It was still on the move and looking around but had also gone back another 5-10 yards so it was now at 150-160 yard ish mark.

So standing about 30 degrees off broad side it was decided the shot was to be made. My guide was whispering don’t worry if you miss as it’s only a fox and it’s a small target at quite a distance (for me anyway)

So the boiler room was aimed at, breath held and thinking this is my first fox, first shot at a animal with the rifle and first time at more than 100 yards and off sticks.

Squeeze and boom off were the 150grain bullet, down it went.

But.....

Up it then got but had clearly been hit but in the back end as it was now running towards us but dragging is back end. Looks like I had been about 2 inches to the right but due to the angle of the fox hit the back end rather than 2 inches next to the heart etc.

So about 20 seconds later another round was in the chamber and it was now at about the 100-110 yard mark looking straight towards us with its bright white bib straight at me.

Breath, squeeze, boom and thud.

Definite hit and down it went. Congratulations were made on two good and difficult shots. And my first fox was in the bag and first blood on my new rifle.

On inspection she looked liked last year’s litter as still on the small size but in very good condition with a very mean and clean looking set of pheasant snatches on her.

So a quick photo was done and off we went to see if we could still find any deer on the way back to the car. Nothing was seen on the way back but I was still happy with my fox.

So a really good weekend, shame a deer did not present its self but I still enjoyed my weekend and ready for another stalk.

Below is the photo and thanks for talking the time to read my waffling story.

Thanks
Michael

[martyn2233]

Always next time well done on the fox good write up 👍

[Rimfireboy]

Well done Michael.