Out Foxing Charlie 21
Out Foxed By Charlie.
Now as many know I write a famous series called Out Foxing Charlie (that's why you are reading this episode) all about my Professional Fox Control Work, I only usually include the bits that go right, but this story and Fox is worthy of note.
THE GHOST FOX
I was called in to a Sporting Estate I do some work for, the head keeper there is a wonderful old school keeper who has forgotten more than I will ever know about foxes and how to deal with them, he called me in as he said you have them Night Pearl Thermal gadgets things don't you? I said yes why, he said I am old school and only need a lamp, but this fox is something else.
Scratching his head saying I have been out foxed, he said this fox has outwitted me every step of the way, it's a ghost Fox I tell you, I laughed and said let's see what we can do to stop him eating the pheasants and grey Partridges.
Scratching his head saying I have been out foxed, he said this fox has outwitted me every step of the way, it's a ghost Fox I tell you, I laughed and said let's see what we can do to stop him eating the pheasants and grey Partridges.
Pic above out on the estate dealing with some rabbits using Eley ammunition.
Hunt One.
I got there in daylight and worked out his game trails etc, indeed he was coming from the neighbouring estate, after talking with that keeper who said the same, its a ghost Fox, again I started chuckling and remembering a fox on my uncles farm from my boyhood, in fact that's where The Out Foxing Charlie Series started with a chapter in my first book.
Night fell, a thick Cloudy night but with a full moon, not ideal I know, after parking my truck on the hillside by a farm gate adjacent to 2 of the main woods, I stealthily stalked off to the other side of the estate, I mounted the rifle and Night Pearl Seer 50 on to my Primos trigger sticks and waited, spotting with the Night Pearl Scops Max III all was set.
Entrance stage left right on cue there was The Ghost Fox, no safe shot due to live stock and backstop etc, so I watched him quartering the field, he stopped for a pee on a telegraph pole, still no shot on, he made a direct line for the first roost wood, I gave a rodent squeal, he stopped, all pretty standard stuff so far or so I thought, he looked right at me then showed me his brush disappearing round the outside of the bottom of the wood.
Quick as a flash I was after him taking the high ground to head him off, as I got to the top end of the first roost wood I scanned with the Spotter, there he was the bugger, sat next to my truck, he took a pee against my wheel and disappeared under the gate right into the main wood never to be seen again.
Challenge accepted Ghost Fox I will bring you to account, for all those game birds birds you have munched and for peeing on my truck wheel.
I got there in daylight and worked out his game trails etc, indeed he was coming from the neighbouring estate, after talking with that keeper who said the same, its a ghost Fox, again I started chuckling and remembering a fox on my uncles farm from my boyhood, in fact that's where The Out Foxing Charlie Series started with a chapter in my first book.
Night fell, a thick Cloudy night but with a full moon, not ideal I know, after parking my truck on the hillside by a farm gate adjacent to 2 of the main woods, I stealthily stalked off to the other side of the estate, I mounted the rifle and Night Pearl Seer 50 on to my Primos trigger sticks and waited, spotting with the Night Pearl Scops Max III all was set.
Entrance stage left right on cue there was The Ghost Fox, no safe shot due to live stock and backstop etc, so I watched him quartering the field, he stopped for a pee on a telegraph pole, still no shot on, he made a direct line for the first roost wood, I gave a rodent squeal, he stopped, all pretty standard stuff so far or so I thought, he looked right at me then showed me his brush disappearing round the outside of the bottom of the wood.
Quick as a flash I was after him taking the high ground to head him off, as I got to the top end of the first roost wood I scanned with the Spotter, there he was the bugger, sat next to my truck, he took a pee against my wheel and disappeared under the gate right into the main wood never to be seen again.
Challenge accepted Ghost Fox I will bring you to account, for all those game birds birds you have munched and for peeing on my truck wheel.
*Photo for Illustration purposes only*
Hunt Two and Three.
After the other night when this Ghost Fox out smarted me then took a pee against my wheel, I swore I was going to bring him to justice.
This week I have been out after him 3 times, 1 night he out foxed me, 1 night I didn't see him so I chose not to write about that night, last night we had a close spiritual encounter.
Knowing full well I was positioned right on his regular track, the night was dark, the sky full of clouds, the wind just perfect taking my scent away, the trap was set, this livestock killing Charlie will be brought to account tonight.
There I am laid in wait, the ole 243 Fox stopper mounted on the Primos Trigger Sticks with the Night Pearl Seer 50 thermal on the my scope, the Night Pearl Scops Max III as a Spotter, this fox was mine tonight, I was completely confident of it.
How wrong can one man be, there I am stood Eagle eyed watching for this Ghost Fox, the entire valley and indeed woodlands perfectly in my view, all of a sudden I feel some movement by my feet and a sniffing sound, looking down said Fox is looking back up at me, neither one of us saw each other until we literally bumped into each other.
Laughter I bet he is telling this story to the other foxes today, we both jumped in opposite directions, I was that close I could of put salt on his nose, let alone on his tale, safe to say we jumped in 2 different directions, the fox never to be seen again this night, a worthy Fox this one and worthy of note, actually I will feel quite sad when I bring this one to justice.
After the other night when this Ghost Fox out smarted me then took a pee against my wheel, I swore I was going to bring him to justice.
This week I have been out after him 3 times, 1 night he out foxed me, 1 night I didn't see him so I chose not to write about that night, last night we had a close spiritual encounter.
Knowing full well I was positioned right on his regular track, the night was dark, the sky full of clouds, the wind just perfect taking my scent away, the trap was set, this livestock killing Charlie will be brought to account tonight.
There I am laid in wait, the ole 243 Fox stopper mounted on the Primos Trigger Sticks with the Night Pearl Seer 50 thermal on the my scope, the Night Pearl Scops Max III as a Spotter, this fox was mine tonight, I was completely confident of it.
How wrong can one man be, there I am stood Eagle eyed watching for this Ghost Fox, the entire valley and indeed woodlands perfectly in my view, all of a sudden I feel some movement by my feet and a sniffing sound, looking down said Fox is looking back up at me, neither one of us saw each other until we literally bumped into each other.
Laughter I bet he is telling this story to the other foxes today, we both jumped in opposite directions, I was that close I could of put salt on his nose, let alone on his tale, safe to say we jumped in 2 different directions, the fox never to be seen again this night, a worthy Fox this one and worthy of note, actually I will feel quite sad when I bring this one to justice.
Hunt Four.
As you will see in the video, it was a ghastly night to be out on this night, the wind is not a problem its the ghastly rain I cant stand, a night filled with encounters, rabbits playing almost at my feet as I stood there in complete silence in the dark, voles squeaking around me, I even had a tawny owl land on a fence post not 10 feet away, deer grazed in the field behind me, a brace of hares bimble about completely unaware I was watching them on the Night Pearl Thermal Systems, the horses now know me and find I am boring so don't bother with me, I stayed there till 2am, but not as much as a sniff of this ghost fox, I am booked to go back later this week as he is still munching the game birds each night.
As you will see in the video, it was a ghastly night to be out on this night, the wind is not a problem its the ghastly rain I cant stand, a night filled with encounters, rabbits playing almost at my feet as I stood there in complete silence in the dark, voles squeaking around me, I even had a tawny owl land on a fence post not 10 feet away, deer grazed in the field behind me, a brace of hares bimble about completely unaware I was watching them on the Night Pearl Thermal Systems, the horses now know me and find I am boring so don't bother with me, I stayed there till 2am, but not as much as a sniff of this ghost fox, I am booked to go back later this week as he is still munching the game birds each night.
Hunt Five.
A Worthy Adversary
Ghost Fox finally fell in a momentous battle of wits, this fox had out foxed me, 2 keepers and several other shooting and country folk, taking guinea fowl, grey Partridges, pheasants, chicken and a couple of lambs literally right from under these folks noses.
This fox truly was switched on by the time I got called in, first he out foxed me, took a pee on my car wheel showed me a clean brush like an up yours Jack, then we had a close spiritual encounter where we literally bumped into each other, so close I could of scruffed him, I don't know who was more shocked Basil or myself on that one. Several times I had him in the cross hairs of the Night Pearl Seer system over the previous hunts, but always no safe shot and he knew it I am sure.
Finally it was age old school time learnt field craft that brought him to justice, as a wise old owl I sat and watched his movements for several nights, no gun just observe and learn my enemies movements, even the most erratic of approaches has a system a regularity, you just have to sit and observe and learn.
I love watching wildlife and only deal with foxes that attack live stock etc.
The down fall for this fox was a telegraph pole, 3 nights I saw him here scent marking his territory, the first time was the night he out foxed me, all the horses had been moved to another field, I positioned myself on the other side of the valley this night, the wind taking my scent away on this freezing cold night.
Right on schedule Basil came on to the field of play, I watched him quartering the field, then he disappeared through a hedge, oh bigger I have it wrong again, I held position as he came back to mark his territory on the telegraph pole.
In the pitch black of night, in complete silence, watching him on the Night Pear Buru Max II Thermal Spotter, I then switched to the rifle on the Primos Trigger Sticks, my 243 fox stopper with a Norma 58gr V Max round, this is my favourite foxing ammo and calibre, its now or never as he looked straight at me, I don't normally do head shots but it's all he gave me, pin point accuracy right between the eyes, he dropped stone dead immediately and ethically.
I breathed a sigh of relief, a slight smile then a thought of sadness as my worthy foe had fallen, that was some fox I telle, worthy of mention not only in my Out Foxing Charlie Series but also in a new book I am writing, the respect of an opponent in battle has deep meaning, I respect this fox, I buried him with honours him next to his telegraph pole right where he fell.
The Game Keepers wanted to see him too and take their hats off to him and pay their respects to the ghost fox that had out foxed them all, they helped me Bury him too, A Worthy Fox HE.
A Worthy Adversary
Ghost Fox finally fell in a momentous battle of wits, this fox had out foxed me, 2 keepers and several other shooting and country folk, taking guinea fowl, grey Partridges, pheasants, chicken and a couple of lambs literally right from under these folks noses.
This fox truly was switched on by the time I got called in, first he out foxed me, took a pee on my car wheel showed me a clean brush like an up yours Jack, then we had a close spiritual encounter where we literally bumped into each other, so close I could of scruffed him, I don't know who was more shocked Basil or myself on that one. Several times I had him in the cross hairs of the Night Pearl Seer system over the previous hunts, but always no safe shot and he knew it I am sure.
Finally it was age old school time learnt field craft that brought him to justice, as a wise old owl I sat and watched his movements for several nights, no gun just observe and learn my enemies movements, even the most erratic of approaches has a system a regularity, you just have to sit and observe and learn.
I love watching wildlife and only deal with foxes that attack live stock etc.
The down fall for this fox was a telegraph pole, 3 nights I saw him here scent marking his territory, the first time was the night he out foxed me, all the horses had been moved to another field, I positioned myself on the other side of the valley this night, the wind taking my scent away on this freezing cold night.
Right on schedule Basil came on to the field of play, I watched him quartering the field, then he disappeared through a hedge, oh bigger I have it wrong again, I held position as he came back to mark his territory on the telegraph pole.
In the pitch black of night, in complete silence, watching him on the Night Pear Buru Max II Thermal Spotter, I then switched to the rifle on the Primos Trigger Sticks, my 243 fox stopper with a Norma 58gr V Max round, this is my favourite foxing ammo and calibre, its now or never as he looked straight at me, I don't normally do head shots but it's all he gave me, pin point accuracy right between the eyes, he dropped stone dead immediately and ethically.
I breathed a sigh of relief, a slight smile then a thought of sadness as my worthy foe had fallen, that was some fox I telle, worthy of mention not only in my Out Foxing Charlie Series but also in a new book I am writing, the respect of an opponent in battle has deep meaning, I respect this fox, I buried him with honours him next to his telegraph pole right where he fell.
The Game Keepers wanted to see him too and take their hats off to him and pay their respects to the ghost fox that had out foxed them all, they helped me Bury him too, A Worthy Fox HE.
Only true Countrymen will understand this respect for the fox, this fox, a truly magnificent animal who will live in my thoughts forever, I don't hate the fox or an animal, its my job to protect livestock with conservation at my core and to find the balance in nature.
So every time I go to this estate, I will tip my cap to Basil and his headstone of the telegraph pole, I hope you have enjoyed my humble scribbles as much as I have enjoyed writing them.
Out Foxing Charlie 21
Out Foxed By Charlie
By The Ole Hedge Creeper
*Photos and Videos are for Illustration purposes only*
So every time I go to this estate, I will tip my cap to Basil and his headstone of the telegraph pole, I hope you have enjoyed my humble scribbles as much as I have enjoyed writing them.
Out Foxing Charlie 21
Out Foxed By Charlie
By The Ole Hedge Creeper
*Photos and Videos are for Illustration purposes only*
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