Size matters

Patrick Hook gets the measure of the different calibres used for foxing, which depend on the terrain and how close you are to your quarry

Gather any group of night hunters together and ask them what the perfect calibre is for foxing and you'll get a variety of answers. This will be especially true if they come from parts of the country with different terrain.

In my part of the world, mid-Devon, the majority of shots are taken at less than 200 yards. This is simply because most of the ground is shaped so that you can't see very far. Coupled with this we often have stands of trees separating blocks of land, making it difficult to reach out any further. Consequently, we have little need for anything bigger than a .22 centrefire.

Those who operate on wide-open landscapes may have to shoot across areas where they can't walk, such as bogs and marshes. They will need a lot of punch from their ammo to reach their more distant quarry. In these circumstances, they'll be happier with something like a .243 or bigger. This stance is even more valid if they use their rifle for other purposes, such as stalking.