Foxing quartet

[Foxdropper2]

 

 



We've lately had a call from a shoot captain to ask for assistance in thinning out the foxes .
Birds went in last week and the inevitable has happened with up to a hundred birds being lost so far .Theres no keeper on this place just a bunch of lads taking it in turns to feed and water .
It's not far from where I live so after a cuppa at mates place off we went at about 2115.
Nights drawing in now and it was dark by 2130
This place lends itself to shooting with steep slopes and wooded areas .We drove to the brow of a hill and scanned the lower ground .A fox crossed a track just below us carrying something at about 259m .It disappeared into the undergrowth on the left to reappear in the field headed left .I was on sticks already but couldn't see the fox which was under a large oak tree .Our elevation working against us here .
A muntjac appeared close by and this moved the fox to a better position .Shot number 1 at 234m .
I'm using a tikka lite in 223 with an alpex pro atop .Ive had IR issues recently so I had with me my old dragonfly plus a much smaller torch generously lent to me by a lad off another forum  .What a gentleman and was thanks to his generosity that we managed to save the evening .
After the last shot the dragonfly decided to start flashing despite brand new charged batteries .Infuriating but no bother ,on with the small IR already fixed in an adjustable torch mount earlier in the evening .
I've tried this little torch before but unaware I had alpex update issues at the time .That sorted ,the little torch was more than enough for this place .Not going to break any distance records with it but perfectly adequate for up to 250m .
With confidence restored we set off for the pen woods ,leaving number 1 on the track .Approaching the first pen we could see 3 foxes playing out in the middle of a field .Theres a gate between us so I called hoping to bring them singularly but no all 3 came in like dogs .
Couldn't stop them with any amount of whistle ,grunts or foot scuffs with the result they piled in to about 15 m then all stopped .
Just about to shoot one and the vixen called from our right ,unseen by us .They scattered into the hedge line leaving us fox less 😁.
I'd say they weren't spooked at all just did what mother said so onwards and it was a different story in the next field .
One Cub was sat in the V of the pen wood at 278m .On with the kit and a decent enough picture to shoot at .Number two cub in the bag .
A call brought a 3rd which I shot at 76 m .I saw another fox run down a slope in the far background and disappear behind a hedge destination unknown .After a while I'm pretty sure same fox popped out infront the wood and was shot at 137m .
Called for another 2 hours seeing only badgers and muntjac .
Decent night and hopefully secures a days shooting for the two of us .Did last year so we will see .