Pest Control Diary: The Five Week Battle

Though I don’t normally write about a certain situation in two consecutive months, I did say I would let you know how I got on with a particular fox that was playing hard to get. Though we all come across some hard to get foxes, some really stick in your mind and can become an obsession, so much so that you make silly mistakes. For example - moving to another favoured spot too soon, or letting your mind wonder, wondering whether there’s something you’ve not done, like check the wind direction. I should mention at this point, that when sitting there with the wind buffeting the hide about, it’s near impossible to tell if the wind’s changed direction, especially if there’s no long grass or something to give you some indication. One simple but effective thing you can do, is push a stick in the ground with a ribbon tied to the top of it in front of the hide; not too close though, as it may give you a false indication, something I found out for myself later.

SITTING FOR AGES

I sat there for ages in my hide out of sheer stubbornness and determined to put an end to this troublesome fox, if only so I could catch up on some much-needed sleep! Only to find that when I did step out, the wind had indeed changed direction. The wind changing direction (without me knowing) could be the reason I drew another blank that night and a stick with a ribbon tied to it isn’t exactly high-tech. It could be I am getting worn down.

But apart from the wind when out on your own, you are in control of everything; from lamping, calling and taking the shot, it’s all down to you! Get it wrong and you will only have yourself to blame and you will probably have to change tactics and equipment from lamp to NV, if you have it. But whatever your method and kit used, there’s one essential - a mobile phone, especially when out on your own as I am. I never leave home without it, as it’s just as easy to have an injury by tripping or slipping, as it is to walk into an electric fence that wasn’t there the day before!

EXAMPLE

I’ve had my fair share of surprises but a mobile is useful for other reasons too. One night’s foxing was cut short when I came across a cow trailing a length of stock fencing, complete with a post, behind it. You have no idea what it took for three of us and a tractor to get it cornered in order to free it. An animal of that size, in distress and at night, is dangerous and no attempt to free it should be made on your own!

The first thing I noticed was that the cow was very alert; holding its head upright and the slightest thing would spook it into charging off. Additionally, and as cows are herding animals, there’s a real fear of the distressed animal taking the rest of the herd with it, crashing through fences and hedges alike. Without a mobile to summon help, god only knows what the outcome would have been. Back to the plot; my next night out looking for my tormentor was four nights later.

KEEP MOVING

Swapping from one known crossing point to another and trying to cover as much ground as possible by keeping mobile, I just couldn’t get on to this fox! I can wait all night, but within an hour of me packing up it puts in an appearance, almost like a ghost, which was driving me round the twist at this point.

I don’t know if it’s going to be persistence or sheer stubbiness, either way I will get my prize and it’s not as though I can call on someone to help out. I have one friend I can completely trust and have no problems sending him out on his own, but he won’t go without me. I have a similar situation with another friend, though he’s still fairly new to the game, but 11pm is late enough for him!

LAP OF THE GODS

At times like this, I wish I had someone else I could call on but teaming up with someone that thinks the same way as me, that I can trust 100% in relation to how I work as to safety etc is a bridge too far. Believe me I have tried; but you have to build a relationship first. All these thoughts and more where whirling through my mind, as I continued my lone vigil to bring the fox to book.

Time for a scan - half-heartedly looking through my NV scope I froze, for there it was in the middle of the field, nose down but some distance away, going from right to left. Due to the Kite’s reticule, there’s a lot of room for era! I didn’t want to call, as it must have heard every call there is and yet I daren’t let it out of my sight, not until I was sure which direction it was travelling.

Knowing the ground like I do, I should be able to head it off but if I get it wrong, well, I didn’t even want to think about it. All I could do was to walk a little and keep looking back, my heart sank when I lost sight of it, I doubled back to where I last had a visual but nothing. There was a chance the fox had picked up a scent, as it had its nose down, probably sending it in the opposite direction. I don’t get buck fever, never have, but being in pursuit brought me out in a cold sweat.

ONE CHANCE

The horror that I had it in my sights, and then lost it again, was awful. All I could do now was to go to the exact same spot where the fox was standing and scan from there with my unloaded rifle mounted on my sticks. I hoped I would be down-wind; I picked up a dry stone wall and followed it to the far corner, using its cover to help break up my silhouette. But still nothing, so I continued on, making a complete circle, cautiously checking every 20 yards or so until I got within 150 yards of a small but deep valley.

Then I caught a glimpse of a shape disappearing in the rough grass; if it was the fox I would have to take a shot, as there was no way of crossing over to the other side of the valley.

I have taken long shots using the Kite before and been right on target, then again I’ve also missed too! The beauty of NV is you don’t need light, so you can’t educate them and if they haven’t been shot at before will settle down again after a 100 yard sprint. Steadying my rifle on the sticks, I chambered a round in anticipation. Within minutes (that seemed like forever) the shape re-emerged; there it was, my tormenter, broad side on! Slipping the safety off, I took a shaky breath and touched the trigger. After all those weeks it was all over- from the first sighting to the touch of the trigger within half an hour.