Fox down ..... WARNING : Graphic content

[Brooks_]

"Livestock" is defined differently in some localities. Some require the animal to be a source of income to be considered Livestock. So unless one sells the eggs, chicks, birds, or meat as a declared income, typical backyard flocks would not be considered Livestock under those laws.

I consider them to be source of food. Therefore, the state can shove a red hot poker up its a$$ while chewing on tin foil.

 

[svh]

I assure @Mtnboomer, and everyone that I was well within my rights to take this predator that was actively harassing my flock/pets.

I confirmed this with my friend, the local MDC officer.

This fox had become so bold that my presence had little effect on it's behavior, and was terrorizing the birds daily/nightly inside their secure pen.

Where I live, NOT discharging a firearm occasionally will get you in trouble !!!

3 or 4 times a year, I invite, and welcome law enforcement and first responders to come to our fish fries, and BBQs. Although these first responder fund raisers aren't held ON my property, we quite often transition to my ground, and have friendly shooting competitions at my home range.

 

[Texasclucker]

Good job!

 

[cmom]

Good idea... I did. I realize that to most people their birds are their pets. I do raise mine for show and eggs. Good luck...

 

[mowin]

Good job. It's amazing how bold they are.
Have to agree with a post above though. I think your scale is reading a little heavy.

 

[neo71665]

Thats a young fox. Might not have been a breeding pair but siblings out of the same litter that haven't totally split up yet. Saying that as it might not just have been only 2 you seen and maybe 3 or 4 of the same-ish size.

 

[Mtnboomer]

I had an issue a few years ago and spoke to a wildlife officer and he told me I could shoot if they were harming my livestock and my birds are livestock. He also mentioned they were not endangered. I have see others since.

"Livestock" is defined differently in some localities. Some require the animal to be a source of income to be considered Livestock. So unless one sells the eggs, chicks, birds, or meat as a declared income, typical backyard flocks would not be considered Livestock under those laws.

However some localities allow for the defense of "pets" from dangerous wildlife. So if your flock isn't "Livestock" one should be able to argue that they are pets. Laws and interpretations can be crazy. All im saying is before you shoot anything, make sure its legal to shoot the animal or even discharge the weapon in your area.

 

[svh]

Good job. It's amazing how bold they are.
Have to agree with a post above though. I think your scale is reading a little heavy.

Yeah ..... I guessed at the weight, and probably embellished a bit ! I compared the size to my little dog Gomer, who weighs about 25 pounds .....

 

[Mtnboomer]

I hope you were legally allowed to shoot him. I get defending your flock but i issue death sentences only as a last resort.
I too live in rural America with a diverse population of predators. I free range my flock (no fences at all only a safe coop at night) yet rarely lose a bird. Not saying what you did was wrong or that i would even do anything different just that I try to exhaust all other deterrents available prior to death if possible.

Foxes are probably the most notorious chicken thieves and sometimes the elimation of one is the only solution. But I hope you are confident you were within your right to do so before announcing it to the world. Killing a game animal or fur bearer out of season can be illegal despite it being in defense of your birds. If so, congrats on defending your flock and doing it cleanly.

 

[Anime2lover]

I live in a very rural, heavily wooded 11 acre lot at the end of a 3/4 mile gravel road. The closest neighbor is about 1/2 mile away.

A couple of months ago I lost 2 birds to this fox and his mate. I also lost one at the end of last year, I suspect to the same pair.

I relegated the chooks to their 1/2 acre, fenced pen, with very limited, semi supervised free range time at the end of each day. The canines continued to terrorize the flock, and were frequently run off by the dogs. One shotgun was staged by the back door, another in my farm vehicle in the driveway.

Yesterday, while doing garden chores, I heard the unmistakable sounds of attack, and rushed toward the coop area, where the cries of distress were coming from. One fox continued to pursue the scattering birds, while the other disappeared into the thick brush.

The male pressed on, after the scattering chooks, paying little attention to me or my screams and waving arms. He literally gave me the middle finger as he trotted casually across the gravel driveway, barely glancing at me, with his attention focused on
the chicken dinner just in front of him.

I advanced toward the 12 gauge in the back of my farm truck, as he disappeared around the barn in hot pursuit. as I lost sight of him, the female reappeared in the driveway, just as I racked a round of 00 buck shot into the scattergun. As I took aim at the female, she once again vanished into the woods, affording no clear shot. She was gone !!!

Dammit !!!!!

Meanwhile, the dogs picked up either on the scent of the male, or the cries of the birds, and started to chase him back around the barn, causing him to abandon the chickens, and circle back to the driveway where fortunately, I was standing with the shotty, shouldered, and cocked and locked.

He passed through the yard at about 90 feet, just on the outer limits of the 00 buck, then onto the driveway and stopped and looked at me, then looked around one last time for a stray chicken.

Big mistake !!!

The shotgun thundered, and 3 of the 9, .32 caliber balls found their mark, and Mr. fox crumpled in the driveway like a bag of hammers !

Yay !!! One down, one to go .....

Unfortunately, my camera is on it's last leg, and didn't get any quality pictures, but got a couple of "good enough" pics of the offending beast. He weighed in at just under 30 pounds. Due to the time of day, the scraggly mange of his summer coat, and the near 90 degree temps, no skinning was done.

No chickens were injured in this attack.

One last chance to not look .....

>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Tarasita inspecting the carcass .....

View attachment 2713781

Man, he was a beautiful animal. It's to bad he went after your chickens and needed to be gunned down. Hopefully the female learns from his mistake and never returns.