Author Topic: I've got a fox problem (Read 1861 times)

petemi · « **on:** June 05, 2010, 05:55:43 PM »

The problem is I've got an active den within 100 yards of my hen house, and the Chickens are free ranging. There is a solution, however. 158 gr. SJHP .38 Special +P out of my Handi Maxi Shortie. It just seems made for the job. Got two this evening and then the pouring rain came and I had to quit. If they haven't smartened up and left, we'll get more in the morning.

I really enjoy watching them, especially the kits playing. But, Kits grow up to be foxes and foxes kill chickens. It's just a fact to live with.

Pete

petemi · « **Reply #1 on:** June 05, 2010, 06:26:17 PM »

I forgot to add: No, the .38 +P 158 gr. SJHP isn't overkill. It's what the rifle shoots best and is sighted in for.

Pete

Land_Owner · « **Reply #2 on:** June 06, 2010, 12:34:54 AM »

What distance are you shooting? I would think that foxes, if close, could be killed with a 22, but then we don't see many foxes, so your 38 SPC is plenty of firepower. Prett cool that you are able to shoot them off of your porch (assuming that is where you set up)!

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 06, 2010, 02:14:45 AM »

A 22 rimfire will kill a fox, if you hit him just right and have a little patience. On the other hand a 357 bullet should drop them in their tracks. I shoot pests (raccoons, opossums and skunks) in the backyard with 38 Special wad cutters for several reasons. Low noise, no ricochet, they do not travel far, quick kills, are among them.

The proverbial fox in the hen house really applies here Pete. If you don't eliminate the foxes then they will eliminate your chickens.

Dee · « **Reply #4 on:** June 06, 2010, 02:50:25 AM »

Eliminate them in more ways than one.

petemi · « **Reply #5 on:** June 06, 2010, 03:24:48 AM »

I set up on a corner of my front lawn in a natural cove in the spruce. The shots are 30 to 300 yards and the .223 goes along too. It's still pouring rain this morning. I went out earlier and saw no activity. I'm hopeing they got smart and moved out last night.

Pete

Chas. · « **Reply #6 on:** June 06, 2010, 04:37:10 AM »

I think I'd rather watch foxes and their kits play than watch chickens peck sh#%.

bikerbeans · « **Reply #7 on:** June 06, 2010, 06:31:12 AM »

Chas,

You can't make an omelette out of a fox.

BB

necchi · « **Reply #8 on:** June 06, 2010, 07:20:47 AM »

No, but I'll bet that 38 +P scrambles'm

jeepmann1948 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 06, 2010, 08:04:32 AM »

Does Fox taste like chicken?

NFG · « **Reply #10 on:** June 06, 2010, 08:13:40 AM »

Poor foxes...they just set up house keeping close to a good food source. What would you think if someone capped your azzz because you moved in next to the supermarket....

Hahahahahahahahahaha

Had a bobcat problem once...mother and cubs lived at the bottom of a 100 ft stream cliff...had free ranging white leghorns all over that came with the place.

Lived there three years and never had a problem with the mother or the cubs, grown or not, the mother taught them well...unless the stupid birds decided to go for a swim....the only problems came with the males who came through during breeding time.

Chickens would sqawk, I would step out with a 12 ga...no more problem(I don't believe in giving chances

) and only "lost" one chicken to "wild" cats that I know of for certain...lost many to hawks, domestic dogs and cats, neighbors, field hands, snakes, the cook pot, etc, but there were always more coming up.

Dee · « **Reply #11 on:** June 06, 2010, 09:31:42 AM »

Quote from: bikerbeans on June 06, 2010, 06:31:12 AM

Chas,

You can't make an omelette out of a fox.

BB

beans, actually you can. But uh, your gonna need so eggs too. $:-\$

petemi · « **Reply #12 on:** June 06, 2010, 10:21:09 AM »

Quote from: Chas. on June 06, 2010, 04:37:10 AM

I think I'd rather watch foxes and their kits play than watch chickens peck sh#%.

I think this comment is naive and anthropomorphic....totally out of context with reality and practicality. You probably love wolves too. Perhaps you'd like to watch them eat a calf alive?

As others have mentioned, I haven't seen fox or wolf on any menu recently.

Pete

gunther66 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 06, 2010, 11:08:02 AM »

Pete
You commented on among other things shooting 'possums(I'm in the south)
I don't know your experirnces but here it's a good thing they don't weigh 200 or so pounds.They are the most difficult critters to put down.Takes a lot more lead for them than anything I've shot

bikerbeans · « **Reply #14 on:** June 06, 2010, 12:13:21 PM »

'Possums are tough critters. It once took me six arrows (field points, 55# bow), one 22LR between the eyes and a shovel to subdue one of those varmits. I used the shovel after I went to scoop up the "dead" varmit and he bit the blade and tried to take it out of my hands. After I buried him in the compost pile I keep watchin' to make sure he didn't come back to life again.

BB

quickdtoo · « **Reply #15 on:** June 06, 2010, 12:39:56 PM »

I've killed three possums in the backyard with my scoped Crosman 377, all it takes is an accurate head shot and they just roll over.

Tim

petemi · « **Reply #16 on:** June 06, 2010, 02:02:00 PM »

I haven't even seen a possum in the 20 years, since I left Florida. I don't believe we have them here on "Da U.P." I know they have them in Lower Michigan.

Pete

NFG · « **Reply #17 on:** June 06, 2010, 03:10:32 PM »

What ISN'T anthropomorfic when it comes to humans...I didn't read anything relating something human to an animal in that response and I would rather watch wild animals doing their thing rather than chickens peck schat also...unless "playing" is your idea of an anthropomorphic term. ALL animal young "play"...it's how they develope the skills to live.

I live out in the woods of Oregon and get visited by black bear, mountain lion, deer, elk, antelope, coyote, bobcat etc all the time. I watch preditors mouse in the fields every day and MOST of the ranchers leave the preditor critters alone unless one starts causing a ruckus.

I have much less use for humans and their destructive activities and what a few wild animals do just trying to make a living. But then humans don't have the sense Mother Nature gives to animals...at least the animals don't make war or schat in their own mess gear, like we do ALL the time.

If a bear is trying to get my dog or me I will blow it away just like I would blow away some two legged preditor...without a thought or remorse...twice just to make sure...or if a fox was in MY henhouse I would do the same...but I would rather just leave them alone and watch them UNTIL they took the wrong step...just like I do with ALL species.

Besides, Pete...YOU brought up the subject so ALL opinions and responses are valid...so WHO's naive and anthropomorphic and WHAT is reality or practical...what YOU think or......what?

Luck

john-78 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 06, 2010, 06:05:43 PM »

animals don't make war? i take it you've not watched any of marty stouffer's work. i think one of the most brutial act's that i seen was two rams fighting to the death. and what's this junk about crapping in mess gear? i think you better explain yourself, or someone who has fought for your freedom might take offense.

Hofs01 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 06, 2010, 06:23:41 PM »

I once killed a possum with a wiffle ball bat.....but it took a LOT of hitting!

Dee · « **Reply #20 on:** June 07, 2010, 02:02:58 AM »

I Once saw Tom,try to kill Jerry over a piece of cheese. They fought brutally for almost 10 minutes.

Ron 1 · « **Reply #21 on:** June 07, 2010, 03:51:31 AM »

dee i think i seen that 1 too..

rw

bikerbeans · « **Reply #22 on:** June 07, 2010, 03:58:21 AM »

My parents named me Tom and my younger brother Jerry. Then they wondered why we fought so much growing up.

BB

Dee · « **Reply #23 on:** June 07, 2010, 05:32:41 AM »

Quote from: bikerbeans on June 07, 2010, 03:58:21 AM

My parents named me Tom and my younger brother Jerry. Then they wondered why we fought so much growing up.

BB

It had to be the cheese.

PigBoy Crabshaw · « **Reply #24 on:** June 07, 2010, 05:35:32 AM »

Pete, Did you make any fox jerkey?

-g

wreckhog · « **Reply #25 on:** June 07, 2010, 05:42:53 AM »

I hate chipmunks and kill all I see. .22LR does a good job. Kid likes/feeds them though, so I have to be stealthy. Wife heard 4 shots last night (I was in the permanent ground blind aka 2 car garage taking out munks on the playset) and yelled at me for shooting deer from the house.....lol The fox in the backyard gets a pass.

necchi · « **Reply #26 on:** June 07, 2010, 06:20:03 AM »

Curiousity killed the cat,
But I was a prime suspect for 2 weeks.

petemi · « **Reply #27 on:** June 07, 2010, 06:40:10 AM »

Quote from: PigBoy Crabshaw on June 07, 2010, 05:35:32 AM

Pete, Did you make any fox jerkey?
-g

No, but the vultures, ravens and crows had a bit

Pete

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #28 on:** June 07, 2010, 07:23:06 AM »

Say Pete, you have to look out for more than just the chickens

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/06/07/london.fox.attack/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

petemi · « **Reply #29 on:** June 07, 2010, 08:03:32 AM »

LaOtto, very interesting read. I don't have much regard for any of the canids around here. I don't give them the opportunity to get brazen. Most have learned to stay at least 500 yards away. These were a very blatant exception. There's no sign of them around today......I think they may have gotten the message and moved.

Pete