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Took the Greener for a walk on the weekend. On the last fox drive of the season. I did not make it to the first four drives (?) before Easter as my grape vintage got in the way as usual. After Easter three more were scheduled which I hoped to make, but alas the last two were cancelled. So like last year made it to the last fox drive of the season. The first I attended was a couple years prior when a drive was done in our own immediate area and one of my own properties shot on. That year six foxes were shot on our own little block in the hills, about nineteen foxes in total that day.

Drove the hour or so to the North to a farming area of cereal cropping, sheep grazing and some low hilly scrub country. Met up with the other shooters, twenty-two persons in total at 7:15 am for the pre-drive briefing, the rules were re-read, drivers and vehicles determined. The drivers would have to drive to the end of each drive and act as blockers, the rest of us walk. Unless we swapped or changed as the drives progressed.

Weather forecast was to be relatively cool, about twenty three degrees celsius or so. Some light winds and the original forecast was for some light rain, but no rain and the skies cleared up as the morning went.

Local farmers whose properties we shoot on join in or out of their own shooting interest. It is too early for decent cold weather fox fur so it is a strictly culling affair. So unfortunately no fox tally photos to show, the foxes are left where killed. Pity as those photos are always impressive. As the distances walked are considerable, and walked relatively fast, carrying the foxes would be a bit of a pain.

The fox drives are conducted by a line of shotgun shooters walking in a line. Drivers keep the next guys in sight to left and right so to keep the line mostly straight. The last persons on each wing range forward about a hundred metres to shoot any foxes trying to get ahead and out of the line. Shooters can generally shoot forward or rearward to a 22 1/2 degree angle to the left or right. Except for the second to last person on the wings who need to keep the winger in mind. Blockers stand or sit in a line, usually on a road or track, about fifty metres apart, also with shotguns, to shoot any foxes attempting to flee away from the driving line. Blockers are often older shooters who can no longer do the driving or guys taking a turn off the drive. Everyone wears a visibility vest, usually blaze orange, some use the lime green. I also wear the blaze orange wrap around band on my akubra with the name of a Swedish forest on it, given to me by a hunter in Sweden when hunting there with Sville. I like these. Would love to have some made up with the NitroExpress.com name on them.

Walked the first two drives. I was positioned on the right wing, either the third or fourth person in. On the edge of the hill ridges. The countryside there was not bad for a chance at a fox. Some rocky country and lots of scrub with logs on the ground. I think one fox was shot by a guy two persons over. Had the perfect fox come straight into me unaware of us. I had patience and let him come in and decided to take him as he passed a tree about twenty metres in front of me. An easy shot. if he ran still not a hard shot. Heard the guy next to me yell out "hurry up" and a bang, just before I fired, the fox was still wriggling so he got the second barrel as well ... His shot resulted in a wounding shot as the fox kept running. Mine was a killing shot. I think he was a bit embarrassed and awarded this fox to me as mine was the killing shot. Patience is not always an attribute some possess.

Decided to take a turn or two blocking the next drive. No action on that drive. Lots and lots of roos though. Decided the next drive to take another blocking turn. Glad I did as the ridge there looked very mean. The young guy that walked the driving line there took the whole ridge and did very well by the end of the day on with ten foxes. I think six on the final drive. I was blocking on the same ridge at the other end. Had a fox coming running in, a bit further out than I liked at a forty-five degree to me, so not coming closer, but took a shot at him as he cleared a gap in the trees. Not hit he took off in the same direction. I could not shoot that direction. I could not see the guy to my left through the trees but the fox either did or could smell him so did a right turn and came back at the rocky ridge behind me. Only shot I could get at him was just before he reached the cover of boulders and I fired just as he reached them. Unsure whether he was hit or not. Later after the drive arrived I checked and couldn't find him. He may have been dead and in the boulders or not. If not the next drive might get him.

Walked the next drive. The vehicle driver, one of the local farmers warned me it was a long one ... and it turned out to me. Lots and lots of broken stone country and about seven ridges to climb and descend. Had a fox run off a bit too far away but a guy to my left fired twice at it, so I gave it both barrels as well. The pattern well around the fox showed it was too far away. Later the shooter next to me shot an unseen fox twice, I then could see it spinning on the spot, and lost sight of it. It had gained its senses and came barrelling down the slope at a right angle to me. A nice swing and right barrel caused the reynard to do a somersault and ended him. As the other shooter was the same guy who 'awarded' me the previous fox I returned the favour and said this one was his. I'm not in the tally shooting contest mindset. Just out for a fun shoot. The last hill/ridge wasn't bad but one hill too far with no breaks, but a killer on the muscles after the previous ones. So decided to finish the last drive as a blocker. The farmer then told me it was as long as the previous drive, so a good idea for me!

Lunch in the gully. For me it was just a loing drink, a cold coke out of my bag and a bananna. I couldn't eat much.

I drove with the farmer to the final blocking spot. Scrubby forest. On a gentle slope three hundred metres from the vehicles. Lots and lots of roos bounding every direction. I was right next to a fence and enjoyed the roos of almost every size jumping the fence. Five roos hopped about two metres right past me at a casual pace unconcerned. Saw a small fox moving through the scrub ahead of me. He was obviously fleeing the driving line, well ahead of it, probably kilometres. He stopped and I am sure he smelled us from the reaction as he turned and ran back the way he came. He certainly never saw us. Later another fox came tearing along the line at full speed out of shotgun range. A bang or two well to my right was heard from the other end of the blocking line and I hope he was down. The blocking line there angled further in so he may have run into it. The blocker to my right reported to have seen six foxes from his spot. But none came to him for a shot.

The drives planned were finished. But the day was ending earlier than usual so an impromptu drive was organised along a creek in the open cereal paddocks. The group was split in two. Half would drive and block a series of paddocks and rows close to the small town. The others would do the same creek further out. Drivers, about six would walk the creek. A couple on the side the creek, trying to disturb the reeds where they grew. Two outriders. And a couple walking fifty metres behind in case a hidden fox made a run out behind. Blockers blocked on the next road, and then moved to the next road when the drivers arrived.

First drive the farmer asked me to block as we did not have enough blockers. The next one of the drivers asked to block so I took his place. On this drive, several shots, don't know at what, I think just into the reeds. but one fox was shot. So one more fox added to the total tally by the two groups.

Fifty five foxes were shot on this day, so a good result. And a good result for the local lambs, chickens, and ground native wildlife. There were some brand new lambs skipping around on the last two impromptu drives so taking out that fox and any of the foxes is a good result for local farmers.

Again from memory just under two hundred foxes shot this season.

Out of the three drives I have attended this was the first I actually fired a shot. Seven shells expended this drive. Two at my first fox, one at the second fox downed, two at the fox too far away another shooter had fired at, and two at the fox that probably got away when I was blocking. One fox to my tally and two downed. The tally is not important, but it is good to fire at least a shot "in anger", and even better to down one.

Total distance covered was about twenty two kilometres plus the last section along the creek.

I used my Greener Empire side by side. A shotgun with no blue left on it. Well used. Bought second hand for a .577 Nitro Express double rifle conversion project which never happened. I like it as a shotgun too. The plan was always to have a double rifle barrel set made and keep a set of shotgun barrels. But the gunsmith who made the double rifles no longer does the jobs. So enjoying the gun as a shotgun instead. I am sure all the shotguns used were 12 gauge. A mixture of under and overs, side by sides, a semi-auto and pump action or two, owned as C class firearms for farm use. What we were doing. BB shot is probably standard.

Enjoyed this walk with the Greener. Muscles were pretty stiff at the end of the day, one knee was killing me. By today, all recovered. Pity the last two shoots of the season were cancelled. Always like to attend these days.

Sorry no photos from this shoot. Carried the heavy SLR for half the day, never took it out. Then left it in the vehicle. The guys walk way too fast to allow much stopping for casual photos. Have to buy a smaller pocket digital camera!

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John aka NitroX

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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

Edited by NitroX (04/04/16 10:34 PM)

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