Lamping the night away-johngalway on tour!

[tikkamark]

Hi folks im a bit late putting this write up on pw but better late than never

 

Myself and john arranged for him to come over to my place on saturday for him to see what the terrain is like here in comparison to the wilderness over in Connemara i generally have open grassy fields and a lot of tillage to deal with very different to the boggy rocky swampy stuff in galway

 

John had a long trip over from the west of Ireland to the east coast where i am its about a 4 hour journey over he sent me a text at 3pm to say he had left so to pass a few hours 'till he arrived i took my springer bitch spot and the extrema for a walk behind my house not expecting anything major i had it loaded with rc3 trap cartridges so i set off bringing my electronic caller to take a few pictures of a few magpies that have settled down in the area behind my house

I found a nice corner to hide in loads of cover to settle down in i placed the caller about 15yards out and turned on the magpie call and ran back into position got my camera ready in one hand gun in the other just in case the picture didn't turn out well,first of all a jackdaw swooped in to see what the commotion was that drew my attention to that direction and out in front but never paid much heed to my extreme right its a small gap in the hedge leading into a field of rushes but what suddenly drew my attention was when i seen spots ears ***** up and then she sat up i looked to the gap and could not believe a fox was sat there no more than 10 yards away looking straight at me :o i put the gun as quick as i could to my shoulder and dropped the fox like a sack of spuds-ten yards full choke and 28gram's of 7.5's to the chest it was a really nice dog fox that just came in to investigate the racket that was going on in the corner i was after this fox with terriers and a few nights with the rifle put he always got away his time ran out today I sent a text to a lad who lives very near this spot that had lost 60 chickens recently to say i had nailed another.

 

John arrived down at around 7pm and i went into the hotel an hour late at 8 sorry john we had a fillet of steak and a chat then had a look at some gadgets john brought down to show me what really impressed me was his remote control callmaster and the clearest binoculars i have ever looked through in my life i think they were opticrons or something like that-whatever they were the quality is something else

As it got dark we set off out to my place to meet Shane my lamping buddy and to pick up my .223 and gear the first spot i wanted to try was about 10kms away i have not tried it in ages so thought we would see something here,i control foxes on this land for a sheep farmer who in turn lets me shoot wigeon on the pools that form on this land during the game season.

As we approached the field we seen a fox out in the field in the headlights of the car so straight away we were onto a fox :o we got johns lightforce and i got the tikka ready then we set off over the hill after him but as we came over the hill the fox seemed to have other plans and ran across the nearby road-we swiftly followed but the land in here was very overgrown and made it very difficult to spot foxy i did have it in the scope at one stage but the shot was too risky so i let the fox continue.

We headed back across the road to the first field and went further in over the hills john and Shane doing the lamp me with the rifle john spotted a fox in the distance so i signaled for john to get to the crest of the hill so i could see the fox from the bi pods when i got into position i could see the fox was way to far for a shot maybe 350yards out so we tried the electronic call but the fox didn't budge so i tried calling with the palm of my hand-this got the foxes attention and slowly it came closer and closer then disappeared behind a brow of a hill in front of us, i continued to call and then the fox came into view about 100yards out i settled the X on its front leg for the bullet to pass trough the heart which it did and made a fairly loud thump the fox dropped without a twitch

 

We cut the tail then headed back up the hill towards the car and by a stroke of luck the first fox we were after came back out from the far side of the road and started feeding in the field we were in this time totally oblivious to the lamp he was shootable at this stage but there was a house in the background so the shot was not on but it stayed in that area sniffing the ground then slowly worked its way off the hill towards the hedge making for a safer shot but he just would not stop moving long enough for a shot eventually he walked to a spot near a thick fence post then john gave a squeal to make it stop moving i had the fox tracked all the way so it didn't take me long to settle the rifle on his shoulder i squeezed and the fox dropped instantly and terrified john and Shane in the process as they didn't think id fire so quick I was fairly happy with that shot because the fox was easily 180+yards out, you can see from the foxes ears it must have been in a fight or two in its life

 

So two foxes in the one field i was happy so headed to spot number 2 and let john use the rifle we spotted 2 foxes but someone else must have been educating them as they ran straight away it was very frustrating to have a lad come all that distance and not get a crack at a fox but that's the way it goes unfortunately

It was near 4am at this stage and well into dawn so on the way back home we tried a tactic i have never done before-we drove down a private road and parked up we put the callmaster on the roof and played a rabbit distress call shane got set up at the back of the car there is views down into both fields either side of the road nearly straight away magpies responded in the distance then slowly worked there way closer and closer i noticed there was something up when i seen them trying to hover over something coming in through the long grass in the neighbouring field then a fox hopped out trough the hedge and came straight in and sat down in the field only 100yards out but as bloody **** law would have it only i seen all this going on in front of us and me with no gun Shane with the rifle at the back of the car and me in the passenger seat i tried to whisper "fox in front-fox in front" but the blind ****** holding the rifle still didn't suss out what was going on so i got ****** off and shouted "******* fox in front can you not see it" sure enough the fox heard this then turned and ran then shane spotted it it ran and ran then made the mistake of looking back just as it was about to cross a drain shane took it out with a cracking shot at about 170yards it hit its chest near the front of its body and exited at the foxes hip the 55gr v-max hornady's did the job very well on all the foxes dropping them all on the spot If we had got the last fox on video it would have made amazing viewing

 

I cant get all the pics to fit on this post so will stick up Shane's fox on the next post.

 

Thanks again for coming over john was a good bit of craic and hopefully me and Shane can come over to yours some winters night

[tikkamark]

This is the fox we called in at dawn and shane shot Thats him just cutting the tail.

[JohnGalway]

Thanks again for the invite Mark I do believe I kept you and the lads waiting once or twice myself so no worries on that score. Grasshopper phoned before you arrived and I was joking with him you were late on purpose would have served me right too... I read up on the bins here on PW, a tip Fisherman Mike gave, I took the chance since I'd never looked through a pair and came up with a winner. I'll do a bit of investigating and get you the details of that caller tomorrow, worked very well on that daylight fox.

 

The first fox we saw in the sheep field didn't like that mouse squeek I tried to stop him one bit, that's why he scarpered. The one that came up from the bog from 350 yards took his time coming in, he wanted to do plenty of investigating before commiting. When he did though he came up to our left and Mark took him out with a well placed shot, as he'd say himself "can't argue with that!"

 

....and terrified john and Shane in the process as they didn't think id fire so quick....

 

***** sake he took so long going along that fence line we'd half fallen asleep I thought he'd never leave that spot infront of the house. Hope they'd their curtains drawn otherwise I think I may have ****** them off ever so slightly with the lamp Credit where it's due now, it was Shane who stopped him That was a really sweet shot

 

Once I got the rifle Mark and Shane brought me to where all the akward foxes live That fox we saw across the ditch into the next field, we moved past a big tree onto a big hill, I had him in the scope for as long but he just wouldn't stop. I was sure he'd look back eventually but no such luck! We saw another then out past a bit of forrestry, he came in and went the wrong side of us. Again I had him in the scope going up a hill away from us, this time he did stop, right behind tall grass just showing eyes so no shot I was going to shout at the first fox to try and stop him but I thought better of it, I'd do it on my own patch but the last thing I wanted to do would be educate that fox anymore for Mark to deal with.

 

The last fox was a bit of a comedy, we were parked up as Mark has said. Shane was out on the boot with the Tikka and myself and Mark were sitting in the front, I'd the rabbit distress playing away on the roof. Myself and Shane both thought the maggies were narky about the call but Mark had seen the fox early on and neither of us had. MArk was trying to point him out to me but blind as a bat (Specsavers here I come) I didn't see him until later. He was doing his best to let Shane know, who was looking the wrong side of the road at that stage :o I was trying to see the fox and trying not to laugh as well as Mark started getting animated about that deaf lad at the back, can't remember but he could also have been blind (like me) as well! :o

 

Next thing all hell breaks loose, Mark lets a roar at Shane, I spot the fox taking off like a rocket, Shane finally sees him but he's on the run. We looose sight of him and there's the usual comments I think we thought he'd gotten away until Kissshhhhh THUMP! Foxy number three in the bag Great shot by Shane

 

We did see another couple of daylight foxes but they weren't interested in hanging around. A large thistle also escaped with it's life by the skin of it's thorns I think we got back to Marks around 6am and with the best of intentions of hitting the hay proceeded to talk complete and utter for another two hours... as you do! Then it was really time to go as we were worried if we stayed much longer it'd start getting dark again and none of us was fit for another night out! I had me brekkie and headed West, in the door and straight to bed and was I ever glad to see it!

 

Thanks again to Mark for the invite It was great to meet Shane and Stevie (think I'm getting his name right!), Stevie we met in the pub before we headed out. He was a bit sickened he had to go to work in Dublin instead of going AWOL with us, he'd have been more than welcome too!

 

The return invite is always open Mark, whenever you like mate I had a great time, I never mind not getting a shot as long as someone does when we're out and we knocked three nice foxes so it was a good night out in my books anyway!

[tulkyuk]

Well done boys - absolutley cracking write ups from both of ya

[magman]

Enjoyed that well done

 

Nice to see a few off the site getting together

[Frank]

Good men....

[Devon Fox]

These are the posts that i love to read, keep up the good work .

[bullet boy]

Well done tikkamark and john,and cracking write-ups fom you both!Well done again guys!

[malkiserow]

thanks for sharing

[tikkamark]

Thanks again to Mark for the invite It was great to meet Shane and Stevie (think I'm getting his name right!), Stevie we met in the pub before we headed out. He was a bit sickened he had to go to work in Dublin instead of going AWOL with us, he'd have been more than welcome too!

 

The return invite is always open Mark, whenever you like mate I had a great time, I never mind not getting a shot as long as someone does when we're out and we knocked three nice foxes so it was a good night out in my books anyway!

Stevie is his name alright very sound chap he is

 

Thats sound john i will definitly head down to your patch some night most likely in november or december id reckon as the night's would be really long and you would get a nice bit done

 

Shane was out this evening behind his house in the town and seen a lot of fox activity and a freshly killed and half eaten adult cock pheasant he was not impressed so as i write hes waiting out with his remmie if that does not work its the next spot that will have to be lamped

 

Did you get to re-zero your rifles since you got back?

[JohnGalway]

Did you get to re-zero your rifles since you got back?

 

Yeah I got the .22lr (roughly in this wind) done today Put the Viper back on it I have that bait out waiting for hoodies now but they've not found it yet, or aren't interested as I saw five hoodies, two magpies and a seagull in the area but nothings been down for a peck as of yet.

[tikkamark]

Yeah I got the .22lr (roughly in this wind) done today Put the Viper back on it I have that bait out waiting for hoodies now but they've not found it yet, or aren't interested as I saw five hoodies, two magpies and a seagull in the area but nothings been down for a peck as of yet.

So the loopy is sidelined you have too much money/too many scopes

 

It might be worth opening up the bait a bit it would be messy but might be more inviting to the crows and maggers Shane came up with a good plan involving bait similar to what your using and a decoy magpie bird i reckon it would work very well im definitly going to try it if i can find a bait subject

[JohnGalway]

So the loopy is sidelined you have too much money/too many scopes

 

It might be worth opening up the bait a bit it would be messy but might be more inviting to the crows and maggers Shane came up with a good plan involving bait similar to what your using and a decoy magpie bird i reckon it would work very well im definitly going to try it if i can find a bait subject

 

Too many scopes But now I don't want rid of any of them, the Leupold has better glass, the Viper a better reticle for the .22lr Now if I had a HMR or some other flat shooting rifle then the Leupy would have a perfect home oh yes

 

If you can find bait How about two or three of the half a trillion wabbits I saw up there It's worked for me in the past. No need to shoot them even, just open the car door and they're bound to hop in

[tikkamark]

So the loopy is sidelined you have too much money/too many scopes

 

It might be worth opening up the bait a bit it would be messy but might be more inviting to the crows and maggers Shane came up with a good plan involving bait similar to what your using and a decoy magpie bird i reckon it would work very well im definitly going to try it if i can find a bait subject

 

Too many scopes But now I don't want rid of any of them, the Leupold has better glass, the Viper a better reticle for the .22lr Now if I had a HMR or some other flat shooting rifle then the Leupy would have a perfect home oh yes

 

If you can find bait How about two or three of the half a trillion wabbits I saw up there It's worked for me in the past. No need to shoot them even, just open the car door and they're bound to hop in :yp:

You now have a perfect reason to go shopping for a hmr

Only problem with using bunnys as bait 9 times out of ten foxy takes bunny long before the magpie or grey crow gets near it im thinking a ewe or ram would be the right job

 

Did you ever have much success ambushing greys or maggers over a few well chopped up bunnys yourself john?Its something i would love to do a bit more of as its great craic and a good way of getting them.

[JohnGalway]

Never had to chop them up really. I wonder could you fashion some type of wire mesh cage, a slim one you could put a dead bunny into? Greycrows could peck away at him but the fox wouldn't be able to take it.

 

I've gotten a few over rabbits. The problem is always the same, they wise up and sod off. I'd be thinking have a few ambush sites in mind and don't shoot one for more than two days in a row and give it at least a fortnight, more likely a month, before using it again. I've found the best tactic so far to be feed them for a few days first. Let them get used to the idea there's grub there, then hit them hard. I have done most of this when the days are shorter. I'd get into position a good half hour if not 45 minutes before daylight. You'd be surprised how early those **** are out and in very bad light. Often happened I couldn't shoot the first few I would hear simply because I couldn't see them. Same at the end of the day.

[Frank]

Sound advice their John & Mark.

I use to find, in the winter, when stock was off the land, diging a shallow long hole, putting the bunny with guts our, into it, then covering it with chicken wire and securing it. Th magies and grey crows, would be mad trying to get at it threw the mesh holes. I did this, good bit before dawn, under torch light, as if they see you at it, they get very suspect, especially, the grey crows..

Id say ye know about this anyhow..

[JohnGalway]

Too right, once the greycrows see you up to something they don't come near you again in that spot. It's difficult to get around that this time of year without losing sleep. Winter does have it's comforts that's for sure

[grasshopper]

Cracking stuff as usual fellas :unsure: been stuck out at work all week wondering how you got on and didn,t take a phone with me

 

Told you he,d be late John...at least he`s consistent with it

 

Just got back,so tonight it,s off to see if any fields have been cut :look: i feel an ambush coming on..

[JohnGalway]

Cracking stuff as usual fellas been stuck out at work all week wondering how you got on and didn,t take a phone with me

 

Told you he,d be late John...at least he`s consistent with it

 

Just got back,so tonight it,s off to see if any fields have been cut :yp: i feel an ambush coming on..

 

Better late than never, I think the most thing against us was the time of year, tall grass, hedges in full whatever (no hedges here thank God), and a short not so dark night. I had sent you a text about it I pity any fox around your way this weekend :look: Went out myself last night for some long range bunnies. It didn't go to plan :unsure: It's usually more of a help when I range where they are rather than where they're not I don't know what's happened to the rabbits here, saw four the last night I was out and five last night, place used to be full of them.

[tikkamark]

Never had to chop them up really. I wonder could you fashion some type of wire mesh cage, a slim one you could put a dead bunny into? Greycrows could peck away at him but the fox wouldn't be able to take it.

 

I've gotten a few over rabbits. The problem is always the same, they wise up and sod off. I'd be thinking have a few ambush sites in mind and don't shoot one for more than two days in a row and give it at least a fortnight, more likely a month, before using it again. I've found the best tactic so far to be feed them for a few days first. Let them get used to the idea there's grub there, then hit them hard. I have done most of this when the days are shorter. I'd get into position a good half hour if not 45 minutes before daylight. You'd be surprised how early those **** are out and in very bad light. Often happened I couldn't shoot the first few I would hear simply because I couldn't see them. Same at the end of the day.

 

Thats a really good idea with the mesh john chicken wire might do the trick id say i must try that as the rabbits are fairly plentiful round here as you have seen,no shortage of spots to try that out in either

This time of year really is a disaster for dawn shooting alright 4am is tough enough going

 

Myself and shane shot 130 pigeon's over a wheat field that got a bit flattened with the rain there on saturday some serious shooting so it was i shot 6 greys and a maggie there yesterday with the hmr between showers so a good weekend on the vermin

Sound advice their John & Mark. B)

I use to find, in the winter, when stock was off the land, diging a shallow long hole, putting the bunny with guts our, into it, then covering it with chicken wire and securing it. Th magies and grey crows, would be mad trying to get at it threw the mesh holes. I did this, good bit before dawn, under torch light, as if they see you at it, they get very suspect, especially, the grey crows..

Id say ye know about this anyhow..

Thats also a really good idea frank would you leave the bait in the hole for a few days to let them know where the food is or would you just set it up and shoot it that morn?

 

 

Thanks for all the reply's lads......and jeff i am always bloody late for everything dont quite know how i manage it my boss does'nt find it all that amuseing anymore though

[Frank]

Thats also a really good idea frank would you leave the bait in the hole for a few days to let them know where the food is or would you just set it up and shoot it that morn?

 

Good going on them pigeons Mark.

 

About the bait, i use to dot it just before dusk and before it got light at dawn. It works well, but the best is gone off fish guts ect, fish, REALLY, draws them id big time, as well as half the country's population of feral cats, mad badgers ect...

For the winged vermin, set up an hour before dawn and get in place quick and try not to move too much, aswell as having your faces/hands coverd.

I use to get good results, putting it down before dusk for the foxes, then lamp them, switching the lamp on and off, to chack the bait, from time to time. My record number of foxes i got on a January night, was 19 foxes......It can get very cold though, so you need to really rap up and have a good seat to sit on. I think, if you coud set up a high seat of some sort, that would be magic.

Edited July 8, 2008 by Frank