Ad Hoc foxing

[SportingShooter 0]

I had my first lot of Pheasants in on Sunday, ex layers.

 

They had settled in fine and were laying eggs by the dozen, make very good omelets if you can get hold of them!

 

Anyway, after chatting to someone in the chat room on here, I had an idea and just thought I would go and have a very late check to see if fox was wandering about looking for an easy meal.

 

It was about 2:15 am when I finally got out of the house all loaded up, the farm is only a few minutes, if that so I would be there in no time.

 

I turned into the dark lane and parked up.

 

I strapped the lamp around my waist and checked to see it was working, it has a new red filter attached which I bought at the Welsh Game Fair.

 

I loaded up the .222 and off I went.

 

The pens are, at the furthest point, about 600 metres from where I was parked.

 

At this time of year, the lane is incredibly dark, the leaf cover almost blocks out the light completely.

The lane is enclosed on both sides by high hedges and trees which are in full cover, it is about 1/2 a mile long, the car was parked about half way along.

 

I walked down the lane a bit, which now seems like a dark and never ending tunnel. About 100m along, I walked through a gateway into a large open field, bordered on my left by a double fence.

 

My first pen is about 70 metres along the fenceline, set in against a small copse. I stood in the gateway and flashed the field.

 

I picked up a pair of eyes about 130 yards from me, I could not see a body so I looked through the scope.

I could just make out his outline, excellent!! Fox.

 

I put the Bi-pod legs out and steadied myself.

 

I hate this feeling, I know if I missed him I would have a hell of a job to get him again. It felt like it took me 10 minuted to take that shot but within 10 seconds, I had pulled the trigger and a speeding Remington Accutip had found its mark, square in the engine room.

 

He had gone down like the proverbial sack. As I walked the 134 yards to him, the spooked pigeons fluttered noisily out of the trees and the pheasants had woken up and one or two were doing summersaults in the pen, at least thats what it sounded like.

 

Another Dog, the last three I have shot on this patch have been dogs.

 

I thought that would be it for tonight as I had fired a shot but seen as I was this far out, I would carry on my circuit. Around more of this bleak farm, more hedges which seemed never ending, even though I had walked them at night many many times, tonight seemed somewhat desolate on this farm. After the initial excitement the place seemed to be totally silent, no Owl, not even a Rabbit in sight, it seemed somewhat empty and made me feel slightly uncomfortable for some unconscious reason. If anyone knows the feeling as If you are being watched.

 

I walked to within about 150 metres of the car when I spotted another pair of eyes in the lamp on the last of the fields before I left for home.

Again, I had to look through the scope to identify my target clearly.

It was a very small cub, smallest I think I have ever seen. At first I though it was a cat, but oh no, it was a fox.

 

Bi-Pod legs went down, I went down, lamp went back on to my target, although it was much much smaller this time.

 

I pulled the trigger a bit fast and roughly this time and missed over his back and saw the dust coming from behind him.

B*****ks!! I muttered under my breath.

 

He jumped and kneeled and then ran for 30 yards or so. I was following him in the scope all the way, he paused for one brief moment, I pulled the crosshairs onto his front fore and fired.

 

Slam, the round had bowled him over, a bit like a wrecking ball hitting a mouse.

 

I walked over to it, he was about 110 yards from where I was stood. This time a young vixen but still very small, no idea how old, I cant think of a smaller one I have seen.

 

I dragged it to the hedgerow and carried on my rounds back to the car down the seemingly increasingly dark lane with that feeling come back, as if I was being followed, not to worry if I was, im sure a .222 is equally effective on trespassers as foxes.

 

Not an altogether bad night. A Dog and a cub, I have one minus to the whole show though, I forgot the bloody camera!

 

Regards

SS

[Malt 379]

Nice write up SS mate!

[weejohn 3]

super write up sounds like a great walk out.

[AJWH 0]

good read there again SS

 

bet you felt good as the sun came up - like

Alex

[Guest JohnGalway]

Well done on the foxes Not so sure about the tresspassers though

[SportingShooter 0]

Well done on the foxes Not so sure about the tresspassers though

Just me being paranoid I think John, what these long nights in the chat room, your mind begins to play tricks on you!

 

SS

[gilly-93 31]

nice one SS good write up as usial

[dytkos 17,896]

Well done on the foxes Not so sure about the tresspassers though

Just me being paranoid I think John, what these long nights in the chat room, your mind begins to play tricks on you!

 

SS

Good post mate, again, I was there! First time I've seen the Latin phrase "Ad Hoc" on here also! Cheers, D.

[SportingShooter 0]

Well done on the foxes Not so sure about the tresspassers though

Just me being paranoid I think John, what these long nights in the chat room, your mind begins to play tricks on you!

 

SS

Good post mate, again, I was there! First time I've seen the Latin phrase "Ad Hoc" on here also! Cheers, D.

Got to be a first time for everything, Ill use more know I think people will understand it

 

Glad you enjoyed

 

SS

[Guest lurcherboy2008]

cracking write up, do you need a license to hold pheasants? where can i buy some from? ex layers,layers or chicks, pm please