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How to shoot a fox?


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Okay here's the story, just put in for my FAC and have put a 22lr and 17hmr (planning to put a variation in for .243 in 6-12 months when more experienced) and before i get told this time after time, i know neither are a good dedicated rifle for foxing and simply i don't intend to use them for that it is just if i come across one. However when out on a walk last night with my 12 bore i came across a fox maybe 200 yards, so i decided to stalk up on it and see how close i could get. i got to with in 100 yard of it then it ran at something and took a barrel roll and i don't think it got anything, I'm not sure if it was playing with cubs or hunting a rabbit. Anyway back to the point, what will i need for foxing, if a shot gun what sort of carts as in weight of load and size of shot? (i have 32g 5s at the moment) then onto what is a realistic distance with a shotgun? also what caller would you recommend? then a lamp, i will be using it for lamping rabbits when my FAC comes through, it will be a solo mission most of the time so I'm thinking a scope mounted one, i would like a good bit of distance so what would you recommend? Finally is there anything else I'm missing? Thanks for the help

 

George

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The general consensus seems to be keep it inside 40 yards and use BB's or 1's. 36g+ preferably. I see your gun has a 3'' magnum chamber so you will be able to go heavier than this. :lol:

 

You will run out of pattern long before you run out of penertration so don't worry about the larger shot sizes such as AAA, SSG etc. These will have a less dense pattern so it will be more hit and miss whether you kill your fox. They are also more prone to richochet in woodland.

 

FM :D

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From what I've seen the WAM caller is good and cheap too. Lamp wise I use a Clulite shootalite (the higher spec one) which is fine for rimfire ranges and quite light and small for its power.

 

For shooting Foxes with a shotgun I'd say under 25 yards with BBs. I use Lyalvale Express 50g BBs, they hit both your shoulder and the Fox pretty hard which is what you want!

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Since you'll be upgrading to a .243 in the near future buy yourself a scope mounted Lightforce 170 Striker. Don't listen to anyone telling you that you can't use it handheld, you can, I do, it's **** easy. You do not need a second dedicated handheld lamp, it's throwing money away.

 

I use a Callmaster digital caller. Sometimes, it's best not to call, find their path, wait on or near it on the right night (windy, dark) and stalk the fox.

 

 

 

I use my scope mounted 170 as a hand held also no problem :good::yes::lol:

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Thanks, so a light force 170 seems to be getting good reviews, anyone else agree with this or have anything else to suggest? :good:

 

George

 

I have three 170s that get used on an almost daily basis. They offer the right combination of rabbit-melting intensity, whilst being easy to manouevre on a windy night (unlike the Blitz 240). Mine have 100w bulbs, and have all been re-wired. I wouldn't buy anything else.

 

Re shotgun loads, I would stick firmly to pellets in the #1 to AAA-buck range for fox, with BBs being my preferred choice. Use a heavier load of pellets in this size band, rather than mucking about with SGs (which also ricochet rather alarmingly on stony soil).

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