Gear
Playing them at their game
We all know foxes are wily creatures so we need the best gear to catch them, says Ollie Harvey
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I recently raised the importance of fox control at this time of the year (Catching Charlie, 11 June). The damage a fox can inflict could be the difference between success and failure for a small shoot. Gamekeepers and pest controllers may find themselves on an evening vigil during the long summer nights as a necessity, rather than waiting for easier targets over stubbles.
At this time of year it is also worth considering that foxes may have dependent cubs and every effort must be made to ensure that dens are located and cubs are not left behind to starve.
For foxers who need to establish the whereabouts of dens and identify foxes in high cover, thermal-imaging monoculars and riflescopes are essential kit. However, these should also be used in conjunction with an effective rifle, reliable ammunition and accessories designed to make pest control as efficient as possible.
Challenge
Our team of experts has curated a range of kit to consider before heading out this summer, ensuring you are well prepared for the unique challenges of foxing in the height of summer.
Hornady 5 3 – GR V-MAX .223 REM
Mark Ripley: I am rather a fan of the .223 for nighttime foxing and find the light recoiling little round devastating on foxes with good shot placement. My usual setup is zeroed for an inch high at 100 yards (effectively zeroed at 200 yards) so it simply needs pointing and shooting for foxes out to 250 yards. Ammunition is also a little cheaper than larger centrefire calibres – never a bad thing – and being so fast and light, it tends to have minimal ricochets.
On a recent foray, I dropped a good-sized vixen in a tractor rut and, when I collected the carcass, the little 53-gr bullet had zipped through the animal’s shoulder before burrowing into the field behind.
RRPs available online
Pixfra Pegasus Pro P650
Jules Whicker: The Pixfra Pegasus P650 is not a “budget” scope in the patronising sense; it’s a well-engineered device that makes thermals more accessible. It features a high-resolution sensor, long battery life, robust construction and AI-driven image processing that makes digital zoom genuinely useful while reducing the need for manual adjustment. The controls are largely intuitive and the combination of a simple zeroing process with a dedicated zero-point selection button adds speed and versatility in the field. For foxers seeking high-end thermal imaging without emptying their bank account, the P650P deserves a very close look. It’s not only “good for the money”; it’s good, full stop.
RRP £2,069.95
HikMicro Condor Pro CQ50L
Rich Saunders: The Condor Pro CQ50L is a top-of-the-range thermal monocular. Thanks to its magnesium alloy shell, it weighs only 450g and carries an IP67 weatherproof rating. A scoop on the underside helps it to fit into your hand naturally, settling four fingers on the control buttons, which operate all the features and functions you’d expect and are easy and intuitive to operate, even in the dark.
HikMicro claims a detection range for a man-size target of 2,600m. I haven’t tested that, but spotting rabbits across several fields has never been a problem. What’s even more impressive is the lack of pixelation towards the top end of the 2.8×22 magnification range.
Smooth-focus collars at the dioptre and objective lens ends help, but a couple of algorithms really make the difference. Image Pro maximises the digital image and Zoom Pro sustains image integrity when magnified. I shoot from my truck and attach the Condor to a remote-controlled camera mount on the roof.
The WiFi function connects to the HikMicro Sight app on a dashboard-mounted iPad, allowing me not only to see what’s around me, but also to control the device remotely. That even includes the ability to operate the laser rangefinder and record video footage, which is downloadable via a USB port.
RRP £2,399.99
Foxpro Prowler
Mark Ripley: Although I will often stretch the ranges on foxes during daylight hours, at night, with the cloak of darkness, you can usually close the distance by either stalking your quarry or, better still, enticing them to come to you.
Electronic callers can be a game-changer in the foxer’s kit bag, with its ability to replicate a multitude of fox noises and less easily imitated prey distress calls. The other advantage is that your quarry is drawn to the caller, focusing its attention away from you and your rifle. FoxPro has an online database of calls available for download, meaning you can cherry pick those best suited to your needs. These compact callers are best as they can be crammed in a jacket pocket or backpack without any problems, much like a traditional plastic or wooden alternative.
RRP £239.99
Savage B17 Precision Lite
Bruce Potts : Savage’s B Series of rifles are specifically designed to accommodate rimfire rounds. The Precision Lite .17 HMR features a stable chassis and a short, varmint-type barrel which offers good handling and an accurate platform.
Although this rifle is designed for the competition market, in .17 HMR it makes a very stable shooting platform for corvids and foxes. The bolt action is considerably better than previous models and it experiences no feeding issues. It’s certainly worth a look at its price – £860 for the steel and £1,200 for the carbon-fibre barrel model regardless of the calibre.
RRP from £860
Wildcat Elite Moderators
Bruce Potts: Wildcat sound moderators are made in the UK and there is a diverse array for any application from rimfire to centrefire, and magnum calibres too. The company’s flagship Elite sound moderator offers everything a pest controller could wish for in three muzzle-mounted models, the Elite Compact, Elite and Elite TI. As the name suggests, the Compact is a smaller version of the standard Elite, while the TI version is made from titanium.
The Elite utilises a combination of 17-4 stainless steel and grade 5 titanium for its unique single-billet manufacturing process, which incorporates a front-mounted dual core design. This achieves excellent durability and is highly effective at recoil reduction.
RRP from £495
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