Surely they are hungry

[maddog546]

Well after all the snow around the country this week you'd expect the Foxes to be hungry and so did I,off I set yesterday morning before dawn,down to the cost where there are lots of new born lambs as bait.

On driving in the long lane to the farm I was met with black ice and fresh snow,strange I thought I just come down over 300 ft from above sea level and it was definitely cold down there,oh well wrap up warm and lets take a wander to see if we can find a Charlies sneaking home.

After two fields I was overjoyed to be out as the tears were running down my face,no it was the cutting wind that was bring tears to my eyes really,I couldnt believe how cold it was and crisp underfoot,which made the task of travelling around more difficult.

Four fields out from the yard and I find the remains of a lamb,by the looks of it more than one fox had had a fill on this one as there wasn't much left,but still no signs or smell of Charlie.

After the first 300 acres I still had nothing to go on,then whilst crossing through the wood and over the stream I put up 22 pheasants out of one tree no more than 15 foot across,where had they all been on New Years day when we came armed with the scatter guns on our annual foray!Nevermind on I track but all I come across are bunnies peeking out of there holes at me even they arent going to venture out in this biting wind and then the temperature drops and you just know dawn is on her way.

Still further I travel fresh tracks are found as I cross a lane in the middle of the farm,these not having any snow in them I know they must be fresh,no more than half an hour old,but still I can find anything.

Now the sleet and snow start again and I need to be home for nine to go and cut a tree up which has fallen in a river not far from home,do anything for free fire wood!!!

 

After the first boring game of rugby the phone rings and Mike is on for the evening jaunt,at about 7.30 he arrives and into his Landie we jump,where shall we go tonight,lets try the moors as the got a real covering of Snow around Launceston so they'll be hungry!

Sure enough as we head down one of the minor roads the road was a frozen rutted mess withdrifts over 5ft high,superb they'll be easy to spot in these conditions,mind you so will we in our Camo!! clothing.

Driving in across the hillside of the first farm we are all of a sunden aware that something is walking past us up the hill just out of the lights,Mike stops and points at a large Fox standing no more than 25 yards away just looking at us,as quietly as I could I chamber a round in the 270 and slide out of my side of the landie and sneak around the back,on with the light but the fox is now on the brow of the hill and cant be taken.

Back in the truck and through the yard we go to gain an advantage on our foe,but after loading up and making off in the direction that the now obvious dog fox is barking we cant find him and decide to go higher,as we are walking to the next gate we are startled by something running past us snorting and on turning the light in the direction are met with the sight of two badgers chasing one another around in the snow,they then cotton on that they are not alone and scarper for the woods.On we go now be mugged by the cows as they aobviously appear to think we have food for them,do we look like we have a round bail with us,I know Mike has a fair paunch on him but really.

Another 200 acres later still no sign of Charlie and its started to snow again,Oh well its got to be time to try calling as we are running out of ideas to ambush this Fox.

I gave four quick squeaks to be met by a pair of eyes in full flight up the hill towards us,I told Mike to take the first shot and I would cover,this one didnt seem to cae about the two large shapes standing out in the field of snow and wouldnt slow down,Mike let drive with the 243 and are foe went into a mad dance and took off across the field but he didnt get far when I gave voice of the 270.Mikes shot had gone straight down across his back and he put it down to the hollow in the ground the fox was coming through,yeah right.No more here so on to the next farm,where the Foxes are probably afraid to come out going by the number of rabbits that were running around.

Seeing as we could see for at least 900 yards it was decided to try calling here aswell instaed of wandering through the frozen snow making a din.

Two squeaks and sitting at the top of the field was a fox which we had seen on the first shine of the lamp,my turn to go first,up with the 270 and squeeze ,bang,bang,Mike had been that close to firing that he flinched and fire as he heard the 270 boom.On walking to the top of the field a small vixen was found nearly in half from the double tap,over the gate to see if there wee any others and straight up to the baby making tackle in a snow drift,it was then that I remembered how much the next field drops away,but nothing else was to be found and we decided to call it a night.

Sorry no photos of the foxes as I left the camers in my Landie from the mornings outing but a couple of the dawn.

 

More bad weather coming so they'll be hungry this week,keep at it boys or the price of lamb will go up!!!

 

Keith

[scout]

Really good write, some success as well .

[shot shot]

good write up