Fox's Aren't Seen In The Day

[Rizzini]

HOLD FIRE, Its not what you think.

 

Yesterday, i was browsing through the forum and found a comment a gentleman had made about how he had only see 1 fox in daylight in 32 years. Well, it was my day off and I had nothing much else to do so after reading this comment I decided to protest the fact that fox's aren't active during the day (never mind I had shot one in clear daylight not 3 days ago).

 

I grabbed the Tikka, applied the mod and grabbed my coat, and camera of course. I wanted photographic evidence for this. !

 

I was heading for a local sheep farm, not 2 miles from my house. It is a great little place, lots of rabbits, open ground, cover, woodland. It is a place where everything can be found (apart from deer……….yet). The weather was perfect, warm, a slight breeze with plenty of sun to really warm those foxes coats up.

 

The first watch was about 100 yards from the farm yard overlooking a wood which once held foxes in their earths, sadly over taken by badgers. I placed myself on the mound of mud which has always been on this farm, not even sure why but it comes in handy at times like these. The caller was set to rabbit in distress and away we went.

 

 

I gave it a very generous 15 minutes of calling and came to the conclusion that there was no fox here, its a small wood and he would have appeared by now. He was some where but not here. Caller switched off and rifle over my shoulder supported by the butler creek sling (Mighty comfy these things) and off i went to another place where i knew foxes would cross. This farm is almost a mound like shape, its high up and has a hill all around it, one side cover in woodland and the other gorse. A fox paradise some would say ?

 

I walked about this place very carefully, I knew if i was going to achieve the outcome I wanted I couldn't go about with a heavy foot andy clumsy step, you won't see foxes in daylight if you're movement is as such. Instead I was quiet, slow, careful and clever. I noticed along side the old brick wall a mound of mud. I had dug a litter of foxes from here two years ago, the memory came rushing back. As I moved closer to the wall, it came apparent some activity was occurring here. Maybe the relative of the fox i had once removed from this earth has moved in ? Watch this space.

 

 

I arrived at my destination and watched for a few minutes before I put the caller into action, just incase mr fox was about. If he was, he didn't cross between the wood and gorse so I activated the caller, again my call of choice was rabbit distress. What fox could resist a juicy rabbit in this weather ? I placed the caller at the base of a tree in-between the two covers and retreated to a safe distance with the rifle.

 

 

A healthy 25 minutes where spent in anticipation for a fox to appear and come into my death call. But, to my surprise, nothing! I was adamant that a fox would appear from either side. Theres no reason why there wouldn't be a fox in the vicinity. Maybe i was too loud, maybe i was to quick, maybe i was too stupid. Maybe i was looking in the wrong place. He was not left, he was not right, he was there, right in front of me !!!!

 

Across the valley, about 600 yards away, a field with a small patch of cover held a happy, playful, healthy FOX !!!! I looked at the time, 6.00pm ? and its still daylight, well, my experiment has produced the expected result. I looked through the scope to see this fox walking about the field, stopping, starting, running, walking. He was enjoying the weather i would also enjoy if i was a fox.

 

 

I watched him, through the leupold at 9 times magnification. He was still small. I think i need a nightforce or something.

 

He played like a terrier would in the long grass, rolling on the bank, jumping in and out of cover, even lying down and jumping up. Maybe he knew i was watching and decided to show how cute they could be. Well, he was being entertaining to say the least.

 

I recorded through the scope to PROVE that foxes are about in the day time, you have to be in the right place at the right time,. No fox shooter will tell you that foxes aren't about in the day, if so they are probably lazy and shoot from vehicles. You can't enjoy the country side from a seat.

 

Anyway, heres a little video of the fox in daylight, enjoying life………..while it lasts.

 

Josh

 

[kent]

good write up! I think its easy to pre judge others land and conditions as I have shot areas were a day fox is a rare thing away from first or last light and others that con provide fair shooting by day (un-disturbed forestry can be particularly productive).

 

Tell us more about your caller and how you use it as I am considering joining the modern world

[Thunderbird]

I've seen numerous foxes in the daytime, only usually it seems when I don't have a rifle with me or I'm where I can't shoot them. Very frustrating.

 

Thanks for sharing this.

[flynny]

Excellent write up mate, and great reccy ,

 

Not a truer comment made bout " lazy shooters"

 

It's all about being in great surroundings and doing it on foot to see the details ,instead of just rushing thru with a kill at the front of the mind,

 

Atb

 

Flynny

[belly47]

excellent write up.

 

http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/topic/281654-worzels-first-fox/

 

me and my shooting buddy called a fox in the other evening `in daylight` to 27 yards, shotgun took care of the rest!!!

 

check out my post above for details

 

belly

[Bangon]

Ive seen a few in the daytime. As above usually when im opening a farm gate or driving to my set up positions.

[Frenchieboy]

Great write up and pics mate, thanks for sharing!

There is no real reason why foxes should not be seen "out and about" in daylight! Having said that I believe that while it is quite possible to see them in daylight during the autumn and winter the dog foxes and barren vixens nore commonly seen out and about and hunting about during daylight while the vixens are feeding cubs, namely this time of the year, and as Thunderbird says, usually when you either don't have a gun with you or where you don't have permission to shoot!