I had the pleasure of being invited out to a friends place in the wheatbelt to join a team that was taking part in the local taverns fox shoot on friday night.
I got into town and my mate tosh was at the pub waiting so he hopped in my subaru and we followed his old man and another mate sewelly back to the house to get ready. Suddenly the car in front stopped and tosh ran out and grabbed his Tikka 22-250. Within minutes he had our first fox for the night, and we actually werent even out spotlighting yet.
We got to the house and geared up, heading out first to pick up a couple of young lads who were keen to see what we did on these nights. We mentioned to them that their family cat was on the hay bales out the back and they replied that they didnt have a cat. So I got to take my first cat with my howa 22-250 with the first shot of the night. I did attempt the famous texas heart shot but it actually went in its leg and came out through its chest. Never mind pink mist was achieved and the cat dropped dead in its tracks. We headed out along a gravel track and two more foxes fell victim to the howa. Sewelly and Tosh quickly added to this with the shotgun and tikka.
Now who can tell me what calibre does this to a fox?
Its a 44-500. Or to be more truthful it was two shots from out 22-250's at the same time. Both 55gr ballistic tips. He actually was right next to a dam that we dove up the wall of and was shot around 15m away.
We kept pining foxes and cats all night and even bagged 5 pigs from a mob of 40 estimated animals. They took off pretty quick for the trees and we never found them to get another crack. 22-250 seems fine for these buggers I thought we might have been undergunned.
We had plenty of fun driving up to foxes and hitting them with the shotgun too, they were quick but the hilux was quicker most of the time.
Later in the night the foxes were getting a bit spooked by the 13 odd teams out shooting at them so they were harder and harder to get. The last one in particular came into the whistle just under 200m away and copped one of my 55gr vmax to the noggin.
Also got to snipe out a kitty that wouldnt show its body and had its head sticking out between the v of two tree trunks. I aimed accordingly and removed half his head for not playing fair.
We spotlighted from about 9pm til we rolled up for the organised brekky and fox tally at 7am at the pub. I was absolutely stuffed but just couldnt wipe the grin off my face.
We accounted for 11 foxes, 4 cats (left one out there), 1 bunny (left it out there) and 4 pigs (was actually 5). The winning team nailed 28 foxes. All up was the best part, with an estimated 50 odd guys making up 13 teams and taking 167 foxes.
We got back to the house and took the photos and cleaned up a bit. I was going to have a sleep but I was keen for a bit more carnage so Tosh and I took my hummer out for a blast at some crows. I think we managed one each before I nearly fell asleep in the ute.
Unreal trip out. Heres the some more of the pics.
This one was hit with the shotty earlier and we found him again. He got a texas heart shot for coming back for more.
More shots
Our pile of death
55gr vmax load with 35gr 2206H does this to cats and foxes
Pigs
The boys Sewelly, Tosh and me with our nights work.
