Biggest dog fox

[David Hancock]

I spent Christmas with my folks in Shropshire and I've recently been given permission to shoot on a farm I worked on when I was 14. I'm now 52.

 

Mary, the farmer's wife had bumped into my mother recently and asked if I was still shooting. When my mother replied in the affirmative, I was told to get up to Shrewsbury as the farm was black with crows and jackdaws and nothing was deterring them from the damage they were doing to the feed and defecation over silage bales and in the sheds, squirrels in the garden and foxes seen alongside the calving pens.

 

Taking the .223, three trips. no foxes. I did however clear out over 30 feral pigeons from the barn with the HW100, much to the astonishment of the farmer who could not believe how quiet and effective the little .177 pellet was. Trust gained. The black stuff took a hammering as the farm allowed several sniping points with safe backstops. I love that air rifle and covert pest control. The magpies went mad over the little owl decoy. Five shots, five less nest thieves.

 

I walked down the fields and the wood with a stream running through it yielded no foxes on either visit.

 

That is until Christmas eve when we drove to the farm in daylight to hand over Christmas card and bottle of red as a token thanks.

 

SHEEP !. Sheep everywhere !. I went for a quick walk using the Vortex Rangefinder to scan down the copse. Returning at dusk later on, I took the HW 100 and the Hanna Howa together with the Pulsar Recon870.

 

The fields were sodden and a storm was coming in so I sheltered in the hollowed truck of an old oak. The driving rain was foul but ten minutes later the soft sheen of the moon showed through, the wind dropped and the fields in the wood and valley below were bathed in a silver glow. I set the FoxPro onto a rabbit distress call and scanned along the wood and over the fields. Nothing. Then a bark right, followed by a response left.

 

I felt an eerie shiver of excitement. Stood in an oak, no-one else around. What the hell sort of job is this. ? Pub or field ?

 

Scanning, the Recon picked up six or seven rabbits some 350 yards away, then two eyes barrelling up the hedgeline around 400 yards away over the road, stopping, then out across the field, then back, I assumed down the back side of the hedge, appearing 200 yards away at the bottom of the field. Then a tawny made a commotion from the copse and another set of eyes appeared. Fox, badger, sheep ? Two foxes ? I was really not sure so left the hollowed oak and used another solitary oak 50 yards away as cover.

 

The Recon showed eyes and a dark body at 150 but no backstop over the stream into the next field and the other pair of eyes at around 180 - 200 with around 300 yards between them. Switching to an Original Foxcall, I focussed on the nearest fox and switched on the NM800 with a red lens. Foxy went, quicker than Usain Bolt through into the copse, but eyes still there blinking like little rubies.

 

I wanted to get closer to the other fox and there was no other way than to drop and crawl. The bipod was not high enough to give me a clear view and to be honest, I was not 200% sure it was a fox due to the size of the thing, until it started to come away from the hedgeline and mouse.

 

Some soft squeaks brought up it's head but it was not coming in. 150 yards. Using the cloud to cover my movement as I crawled along some hollows in the field and the new Nightforce SHV on 12x allowed me to watch as it worked the field. 10 minutes lying there. Soaking. Note to Santa - I need some better waterproofs - Just as the cloud broke, I watched it through the Recon and confirmed in was foxy.

 

Ten more minutes. Three previous trips. No fox. Me turning up, all the gear, no results. Credibility on the line here. What's ten minutes in the wet ??

 

I switched on the NM800 and Fox 2 took four or five steps, paused then ran. I think it was my shock at the size of the thing resulting in a girlie shout but it stopped. Perfect frame in the illuminated floating centre of the new scope and the 55grain Vmax took it clean broadside. A deep whuump. Total confidence in the Howa and the set up with the polished trigger.

 

First result for the Nightforce. Happy days. Cost forgotten !

 

Another round chambered, a quick scan, nothing. Safety on and paced 100 yards to find the most beautiful dog fox I have seen. Perfect coat, long full brush. Teeth that Colgate would be proud of.

 

The shock was when I picked it up. I really have to stop watching the YouTube Coyote shooting videos and eat more spinach. It was HUGE. Wanting a 'photo, I found the mobile had 4% battery and not enough for a flash pic, so I picked it up and carried it the 700 yards back to the farm and left it discreetly for my farmer to find the next morning. Two rifles, rucksack, coyote sized fox, ankle deep mud. Who needs a gym ?

 

One lamb killer less and the promise by my farmer to put in a word to the owner of the adjacent land.

 

Back out last night and 100 yards from the barn, the Recon picked up foxy eyes in and out of the hedgeline. (A brilliant purchase for £330) The wind was absolutely horrendous and no with solid base for the rifle and a calm shot, it went. Walking across the field down to the hollow oak, I again set up the caller and scanned. Bugger me, another fox, exactly as Christmas Eve. 200 yards and a huge cross wind. The .223 is zeroed at 200 but I left this one. I'm not going to shoot, miss and educate Foxy. The sheep will be lambing over the next month and I'm going to be there.

 

I do want some lightweight, low 4 leg shooting sticks if anyone knows where to get some.

 

 

[leeroy]

Good write up.

I was their with you, its a funny feeling when you spot a pair of eyes making there way in your direction, still makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck even though I've been doing it for many years now, good read.

[ergid]

Enjoyed the wright up ,you could make a quad stick"s for under £20.

[Montey]

Thanks for the exalant write up just got in from a blank night out so even better.

[Swarovski1]

Great read

[tony]

Well done that man, it pays dividends to be patient, I have learned that over the years!

[paratrooper]

An enjoyable read,well done.

[andyham]

Nice write up david!

 

First thing I did was get a brew made, then settle down for a read of it. I have found myself in a similar place, permission wise; recently got permission for about 25 acre wood and surrounding fields. This is ground I shot over aged 14 - 17, now I'm 45. One perm often leads to another, two fox problems nearby to sort out now. Just need suitable rifle.

Recently got back into shooting, FAC application in; still waiting.

 

Andy