To shoot or Not to shoot - That is the Question ?

[SikaStag]

H. I am not condemning you for doing it. Nor is any justification required. We all do things differently in life. Because I chose not to do that, does not make it wrong.
I am probably spoiled here. Hill Foxes can cover a large territory. I do not have the luxury of going out of a night and even seeing a Fox. There is less food for them the higher up you go above sea level. We have no Rabbits in numbers that would upset a Farmer with a 4 acre field. They come in to the squeak almost always. I have said this on the forum in a previous post. I watch videos on youtube and elsewhere. People will squeak a fox in till it is 3-300y out, then it sits on its arse like it is at the movies, just watching. It knows the sound is not changing, That are assessing the situation. If you turn your head to the side or muffle the squeak, 8times out of 10 the Fox pricks its ears and thinks, its on the move, I need to get after it pronto. I have seen them come in so fast you have to shout at them to stop them. I also bark like a Fox does to stop them in their tracks. They usually always stop dead in their tracks side on.

I also bark at Roe Deer. Stops them in their tracks as well. I have shot a Roe and Barked at the second one that was at full gallop, stopped and turned side on. Two different sounding barks that work a treat.

I can remember the first time I purchased a fox whistle from the Australian guy that brought out the videos. I had also just bought a camcorder. I drove around the Farm across the road from where I lived at the time. Over 14 years ago this would be. After three days of annoying the wife trying to get a tune out of the whistle, I eventually got it. I drove around the farm whistling away, filming rabbits. I could park the land rover 90 and whistle away an low and behold the Rabbits were emerging from their burrows. Weird site. I could only think that they thought one of their own was being attacked by Mr Fox. They felt no threat. I had no rifle with me just the camera and the whistle. The whistles like Michael sells are also good for shooting Crows. Once you master the art of getting the raspy tone from the whistle. The Crows start flying in the area of the squeal. I have shot a few in broad daylight doing this. Sitting in a hide.

Ian

[Hartshot]

Ian, mate. You made it perfectly clear to me that we make our own choices, with absolutely no condemnation and merely based on what we need to do at the time there buddy.
I was only trying to expand on what shots were taken and in what circumstances.
I feel confident taking these shots in the right circumstances, which is I suppose, half the reason I do.
When I get the chance I have to take it, if it's a safe shot.

As said previously in this thread there are many people around the country taking pot shots at foxes. In my area there are poachers galore and travellers periodically trying to clear the area of rabbits and foxes, with dogs and illegally held weapons too - that's a whole other thread there !!!
For example, last Friday I found a blood trail (not made by me) while walking the dog. This led up a public footpath and came from a public area, it turned out to be fox blood. It had been shot by an unknown man, on an area of public land. The reason I know is because I found the carcass with the tail hacked off next to a car park, on MY patch. TWAT !

So we have two opposites on show, bound through our common interest. We have different ways, different surroundings and different pressures. Essentially we are the same people living different lives. We do what we need to, neither is right and neither is wrong. Crucially, we agree on that too

H

[SikaStag]

I agree totally H.

Amen to that.


Ian

[Fox Hunter]

I do not own the Farm. I moved here seven years ago. Renting the Farm house and all the outbuildings apart from the main big Green shed that is used for working the sheep.

I lived here for three months, when the Farmer asked me to do some work for him, it went from doing that work to me having a sheep dog and looking after the Sheep. The Farmer and his two sons and I would work together gathering and working with the sheep. I had a good thing going.
The Farm had been in their Family for 117 years. I thought they would never sell it. As we hear people say. Nothing lasts forever. The youngest son didn't like sheep that much, he was more into cattle and arable ground. He was bought a new farm on good land, The Farm here was sold to the next door neighbour. They own more than half a dozen farms, with workers on each Farm. I was welcome to work my arse off but was not getting paid for it. No thank you. Get on with it. The owner asked me the other day, How is your lambing coming on. I told him I do not have any sheep to lamb. They want you to work for free. Part of the deal to keep my rent the same price,was that I continue as I had always done to feed the sheep in the winter. I have an 8 wheel drive Scottrack machine that I use to pick dead sheep up on the Farm. they supply me with my fuel.

I would go back to how it was before in a minute. My sheep dog is coming up on 4 years old. I bought her as a pup and started her off myself, her training was progressing nicely. She was working on the Farm. Then they told me they were selling and it put a stop to her getting the work she needed to keep her going forward in her training. I had bought another pup and was bringing that on too. I sold her to a herd that was going to bring her on himself. I miss working with the sheep. Was a good living.

Ian

Interesting reading there Ian, it's funny we've got someone here exactly like yourself. He just loves working his dogs with the sheep and working on them. We don't pay him though (he doesn't need it and wouldn't take it anyway) and he probably works harder now than he ever has just for the love of it. He's got bad knees and get's knocked about all over the place but just won't listen and take it a 'little' easier. He's the most reliable person I've met and even paid employees wouldn't turn up and work the hours he does. Like you he's got his own transport but it's a quad and 4x4 and feeds some of the sheep here every day through the winter even on Christmas. He loves tractor work although we've had several unplanned road widening schemes but I've got to just let him get on with it. Best of all he's got a few green houses up here, a veg garden and a shed with almost full catering facilities on the yard for when we are working on the sheep, it's a pity he wasn't as handy as you are on a lathe . It can be an enjoyable life at times but I feel for some of the sheep farmers North of me with this recent winter we've had.

On another note I had a nice surprise when I fed this morning, a barren vixen in one of the traps

[SikaStag]

The man you mention must be financially secure. I am not. I break out in a sweat when anyone wants me to do work for free gratis. I will help out any friend that needs me. I will be the first there if the call is received.

I do not like giving my time for free to people that are really rich and can afford to pay me. If you start doing it, it leads to another job then another then another, till you are a full time unpaid worker. I aint going down that route.

I am a profesional mole catcher as well. I get paid to trap Moles. Farmer here wants me to do it for free.

As a Farmer. Would you raise a lamb and give it to me for free on maturity. Nope. You would want paid for the work that you have put into bringing this fine beast to an age for killing.

Free work does not pay for repairs to my machine. I pay for it.

It is a good life. It is an even better life if you can make money from it to pay the bills.

Ian

[Fox Hunter]

Too right Ian, I totally agree with you on all counts.

The bloke here is financially secure, he's retired but doesn't really need his pension if you know what I mean. It just amazes me the punishment he endures for no financial gain, he's just 'mad for it'.