Guest Posted June 20, 2017 Report Share Posted June 20, 2017 Hello. Found a load of cubs the other day playing in the sun, close to their earth. Watched for a while but couldn't find an adult with them. So I started to shoot, got 3 but the others wisely legged it. My question: how likely is it that the others will return over the next few days to that same spot? Is it worth my ambushing this sight over the next couple of weeks trying to pick them off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted June 21, 2017 Report Share Posted June 21, 2017 There is a chance that the vixen will move the cubs so you may well find the earth is abandoned. I would watch the same spot on a nice sunny evening again and see whats about, I bet they will be a tad more wary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruity Posted June 21, 2017 Report Share Posted June 21, 2017 Yeah as Mike says good chance she may move them ,but always worth keeping a eye out for couple days. If you can always best to take vixen first when she returns at some point with food . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 21, 2017 Report Share Posted June 21, 2017 Yeah, they were in the same field again today. Still no sign of an adult, just cubs charging around. Surprised they were stil there tbh, playing in the open like nothing had happened to their siblings a couple of days prior? Thanks for the replies so far chaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruity Posted June 21, 2017 Report Share Posted June 21, 2017 Yeah, they were in the same field again today. Still no sign of an adult, just cubs charging around. Surprised they were stil there tbh, playing in the open like nothing had happened to their siblings a couple of days prior? Thanks for the replies so far chaps. Did you take the rest ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 21, 2017 Report Share Posted June 21, 2017 (edited) 2 more, I sat there watching them for ages but they weren't in one group. A pair in some reeds and then another group separate to them in and out the hedges nearly 100 yards away. I'm guessing that's most likely it now? If any are still alive surely they can't hang around after I've shot at them twice and there's 5 of them gone?! Edited June 21, 2017 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted June 22, 2017 Report Share Posted June 22, 2017 Did they see where you were when shooting at them? If not then its just a few large bangs that spooked them. So potentially they will stay. No sign of adult also may mean they are weened?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 22, 2017 Report Share Posted June 22, 2017 No they never saw me, I made sure of being good and hidden, they never even looked in my direction. The only thing they may have seen if they were hanging around was me collecting the bodies about 20 minutes later. I'd imagine they may not put the two together though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted June 22, 2017 Report Share Posted June 22, 2017 No they never saw me, I made sure of being good and hidden, they never even looked in my direction. The only thing they may have seen if they were hanging around was me collecting the bodies about 20 minutes later. I'd imagine they may not put the two together though. Id think they may still be about. I had three adults off the same highseat three nights in a row. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruity Posted June 22, 2017 Report Share Posted June 22, 2017 As said keep going until there mopped up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 22, 2017 Report Share Posted June 22, 2017 Marvellous. I can't shoot now until after the weekend. That should ok shouldn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted June 22, 2017 Report Share Posted June 22, 2017 Marvellous. I can't shoot now until after the weekend. That should ok shouldn't it? No reason for it not to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 22, 2017 Report Share Posted June 22, 2017 Excellent. Out of curiosity how long until cubs will be old enough to leave and go off to live on their own? Surely it's getting on in the year now no? Thanks for the replies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruity Posted June 22, 2017 Report Share Posted June 22, 2017 (edited) Excellent. Out of curiosity how long until cubs will be old enough to leave and go off to live on their own? Surely it's getting on in the year now no? Thanks for the replies I find really depends on the birth date .I've shot big cubs recently and are almost adult size and seem relatively independent, but on flip side shot 2 the other night along with the vixen and they were still really small for the time the year Edited June 22, 2017 by fruity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 22, 2017 Report Share Posted June 22, 2017 Interesting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruity Posted June 22, 2017 Report Share Posted June 22, 2017 Interesting Not that it answers your question either but I find my permission in Herefordshire is always further forward than Gloucestershire. Hence any juvenile animal are always further advanced Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted June 22, 2017 Report Share Posted June 22, 2017 I think a lot is down to which foxes you shoot and when...bear with me.. If there is a dominant vixen on some ground and she tolerates subordinates (her own cub for example) she will be the one to breed. If you shoot her when she is heavily in cub there is a fair change that her daughter will then breed and as such you can end up with very late cubs. I find that food availability also massively affects litter sizes and density. I shot cubs from at least 4 litters on 1 400 acre farm last year but there is a lot of food. ...in summary...very much like humans..some small and thin and some big and fat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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