Bones were scattered all over the ground. This was sure to be where the two foxes were dining at least— but I felt pretty sure this was also their home. I was reminded of the scene from the film The Ghost and the Darkness, where the characters find the cave of the two men-eating lions.
These foxes had been regularly killing lambs a little further down the valley. The farmer had seen the pair on several occasions; each time they would quickly make their way up the steep hillside for the safety of this crater.
The local hillsides are dotted with such craters, created in World War II when enemy bombers — damaged by allied fire and returning from raids over London — would drop their remaining bombs before flying out over the channel to avoid landing while carrying such explosive cargo. These bomb craters quickly fill with gorse bush, making for a comfortable patch of cover out of the wind for foxes to lie up in during the day.
With several thousand ewes and lambs across these hills, the foxes were leading a charmed life with cover and a ready supply of food close at hand. The lambing season coincides with the fox’s breeding season and, with foxes under increasing pressure to feed their offspring, it’s no surprise that lambs can suddenly find themselves on the menu with their foxy neighbours.
Early light
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 29, 2023-Ausgabe von Shooting Times & Country.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 29, 2023-Ausgabe von Shooting Times & Country.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
United we stand
Following United Utilities' decision to end grouse shooting on its land, Lindsay Waddell asks what will happen if we ignore our vital moors
Serious matters
An old gamebook prompts a contemplation on punt-gunning
They're not always as easy as they seem
While coneys of the furry variety don't pose a problem for Blue Zulu, he's left frustrated once again by bolting bunnies of the clay sort
Debutant gundogs
There's lots to think about when it comes to making the decision about when to introduce your dog to shooting
When the going gets rough
Al Gabriel returns to the West London Shooting School to brush up on his rough shooting technique
The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition
In this excerpt from the 60th anniversary edition of the BDS's Field Guide To British Deer, Charles Smith-Jones considers the noise they make
A step too far?
Simon Garnham wonders whether a new dog, a new gun and two different fields in need of protection might have been asking too much for one afternoon's work
Two bucks before breakfast
A journey from old South London to rural Hertfordshire to stalk muntjac suggests that the two aren't as far detached as they might seem
Stalking Diary
Stalkers can be a sentimental bunch, and they often carry a huge attachment to their hill
Gamekeeper
Alan Edwards believes unique, private experiences can help keepers become more competent and passionate custodians of the countryside