How do I kill a fox in a have-a-heart trap?

[cmom]

A .22 to the head isn't going to cause much, if any blood, at all.

I don't feel shame for killing a fox that has killed my birds. My birds are contained and if a fox breaches it I'll trap it and kill it. I had a fox kill my favorite bird several months ago during the day. I caught the fox and permanently relocated it. It's not against the law here to kill predators if they are killing our livestock.
In years past I used leg traps but since people have been dividing their property into smaller parcels and selling some of the parcels, we have had quite a building boom in our area. Now I've been using live traps. To catch the fox that killed my Gladys, I set them out and let the fox take the bait for a few days then set the trap and bingo, I caught the fox. It was mangy and stank.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Thanks everyone for the input! Now I'm wondering if I should put the bullet in the heart, or head?
What do ya'll think?
Thanks!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Head if your a good shot

 

[cluckmecoop7]

I'll make a poll.

 

[blackandtan]

Head. Body shots are very tricky on a fox, for sure it will suffer. All trappers I know use head shots as required.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/heart-or-head-fox.1343104/
VOTE!

 

[Folly's place]

When the critter in in the live trap, it will most likely face you, and it's easy to put the gun barrel between the wires and get a good head shot. Imagine an 'x' between the left eye and right ear, and the right eye and the left ear, and aim for that spot, aiming for the spinal cord. you will go right into the brain, one shot, humane.
Only shoot for the heart if it needs to be rabies tested, because then you don't want the brain damaged.
Mary

 

[blackandtan]

When the critter in in the live trap, it will most likely face you, and it's easy to put the gun barrel between the wires and get a good head shot. Imagine an 'x' between the left eye and right ear, and the right eye and the left ear, and aim for that spot, aiming for the spinal cord. you will go right into the brain, one shot, humane.
Only shoot for the heart if it needs to be rabies tested, because then you don't want the brain damaged.
Mary

Oh yes that’s true about the rabies, I hadn’t thought of that.
A lot of people drown live trapped critters too, then there’s no damage to the pelt at all, but that’s not a nice way to go and in many places it is no longer legal.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Oh yes that’s true about the rabies, I hadn’t thought of that.
A lot of people drown live trapped critters too, then there’s no damage to the pelt at all, but that’s not a nice way to go and in many places it is no longer legal.

I won't drown because I think that's not humane.

 

[Folly's place]

I'm not going to drown anyone here!!!
Mary