When I embarked on my fox-shooting career, things were markedly different from today. Initially, very few of us specialised in fox shooting, and those who did were largely motivated by the financial rewards the skins brought. The same was true for rabbits. Rabbiting rights were purchased and, given the vast numbers of rabbits existing in those pre-myxomatosis days, the sale of rabbits and their skins could be very lucrative. Nevertheless, it paled in comparison to the extremely profitable trade in fox skins.
Fast forward to today and the market for fox pelts has vanished, rabbit populations in many areas have plummeted to an all-time low, and one would be hard-pressed to make a living from rabbit and fox skins as I did all those years ago. It's safe to say that apart from gamekeepers and those protecting livestock from fox predation, the majority of foxes are shot for sport. In fact, foxing has evolved into a distinct branch of shooting sports, with a whole new industry, especially regarding specialised night vision equipment, burgeoning around it.
Old ways, new gear
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