JohnGalway Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 It has not been the nicest of days. Bucketing it down in fits and starts. I've spent the day semi drenched sorting out sheep and lambs after a wire gap opened, God knows how. I was still thinking about the night before, wondering if that was 2 or 3 foxes that I'd seen. Either way my phone beeps and I'm informed about another missing hen in less than 160 characters. Back home, farting around the interweb for a while, I check on the weather. There's supposed to be a spell of dry, I say dry, they say heavy showers, weather moving in from the Atlantic after dark, it'll do. But, what time will it come as these foxes seem to be on the job early enough, so there's a little nervous waiting in store. After a hefty and definitely unhealthy dinner to keep me warm, washed down by a mug of tea, it's time to go hunting. What a difference from last night, when God had a spotlight turned against the world. It's heavily overcast, comparatively warm, not much of a breeze though, great night for waiting out on a hillside. I'm not two minutes on my perch, keeping watch on the valley opposite when there's a glint of an eye low and to my left, less than 100 yards from me. Here we go. I turn the rifle on the grass and crawl in behind it attaching the lamp. Here's the problem with this place, there's my fox only his head visible above some dead rushes, with a hill to his right and a dip to his left. For about one second I've the crosshairs planted on his forehead. I don't honestly like head shots, so I instinctively hold off waiting for a neck shot. And he's dropped the shoulder and away behind the hill to his right... I can't see him now but he goes below the farm house, through some trees, over the lane way and I pick him up 200 yards away again heading into more thick stuff. I could have shot him, Texas heart shot style but I don't believe my little .223 is up to that particular task on a fox sized animal. Your card is marked friend. About 90 minutes pass, I'm kept amused watching the sparse traffic on the roads below, and doing my best to turn each sheep's eye into a fox's eye. There's nothing particularly interesting to keep an eye on, no shooting stars or big moon or frost glittering like last night. Just me, the dark, and the sheep. I may have said too much... BING! Gone. What the hell? That was a fox. Had to be. Where is he? I search the valley opposite. Doubts start to creep in, no, maybe a hare? Maybe my mind playing tricks on me? No, no, no, I did see something! I know I did. BING! Ahhhhhh, got you now. takes me a few seconds to pick out the fox shape in the scope. It's looking at something on the ground. I'm higher up, so I've a lovely vantage point, this time a head shot is definitely on the cards. As the rifle pushes against me I can see the fox violently swatted to it's right, and thump! That'll do. Dog fox, 160 yards, some mange on him. About 20 yards uphill from where I shot him I found an egg, clearly broken by teeth, and a fox scat beside it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowz Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 nice one, what a picture that is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
village idiot Posted December 12, 2009 Report Share Posted December 12, 2009 Nice write up JG, glad you held off on the THS, shows a healthy respect for your quarry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperman223 Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 Cracking shot and write-up, as usual john, i doubt a headex will cure that headache well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munkjack Posted December 27, 2009 Report Share Posted December 27, 2009 Great head shot wll done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGalway Posted December 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2009 Bit of double vision going on there I think Farmer has seen another fox very near her boundary, we had a look two nights before Christmas, didn't see him. We did see two dogs who shouldn't have been there however. Rang the farmer to ask what we should do about them. After a detailed description she eventually found the owners, another farmer caught up the dogs. They've had their chance now, and it's been explained to the owner what could happen next time. Hope we won't be seeing them again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabbitbosher Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 What a Great Shot , and even better write up Wb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGalway Posted December 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Cheers WB & welcome to UKV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxshot Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Good read John and a fine clean shot as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tikka69 Posted March 24, 2010 Report Share Posted March 24, 2010 Bet that never felt a lot............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streeker59 Posted April 1, 2010 Report Share Posted April 1, 2010 Nicely done John..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sauer Posted April 1, 2010 Report Share Posted April 1, 2010 nice one john job well done always good to know your making an inroads to a troublesome fox good to see folks still taking livestock protection seriously in reall shitty weather as i keep telling meslf you dont get owt sat on the setee!!!! nice one sauer / paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGalway Posted April 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 Too right Paul! Not getting as much time out this Spring with various commitments, got three last night mind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrelsniffer Posted April 7, 2010 Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 Great write up john and smashing shot. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemasis243 Posted April 7, 2010 Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 Hey John that rifle is on fire with you know, well done there cracking shot,mate. ATB Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGalway Posted April 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 I'm only half way to my last years tally Andy. Still, no matter, there'll be foxes next year again Off out again in a few minutes, just stuffed myself with over peppered fish... must remember to bring water Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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