DC-Choppah
Member
We live outside the urban area in Montgomery county MD on a small farm.
Recently foxes have invaded our main barn and have taken over from the ground hog. They are raising young (3-4 pups).
The foxes dig so much it is damaging the barn foundation. They bring kill back to eat and it rots. Our dogs get into the fox poo and bring it inside.
When my son was young (who is now teenage), he was attacked by a rabid fox on our property and had to have Rabies treatment due to the wound on his foot. The captured fox tested positive.
I don't currently have anything living in the barn yet since it is being restored to board goats when ready. The barn has three stalls and a mechanical room and a vet room. The foxes go everywhere and dig tunnels connecting the rooms (except the mechanical room that has cement flooring).
I do not have a great love to have to have weapons at home, but enough is enough. We are planning to fight back.
So:
We have an elevated back deck from which we can see the barn as well as the pastures around, and a small wooded area is in view too. Foxes roam and den in these areas freely now, even roaming during the day. It appears to me that a shot would be safe from this vantage since all shots would be towards the ground at a target on the ground and provide some cover for us to hide from the foxes. From this vantage, the farthest shot would be about 125'.
A shot would hit the ground at about 125' max from the deck.
I spoke with the local 'fox hunt clubs' but turns out they chase the fox, they don't kill it.
Yes, I tried traps. Sorry foxes are too smart for that. All I get are possums.
I am looking for extermination here.
We have neighbors that would have no issue with this, and I will get that in writing.
I have some experience shooting shotgun and antique rifles as a kid in a play. My son has shot some bb gun with Scouts and some basic archery. We want to practice together.
Sorry for the long intro:
My first question is: Do the "hunting laws" apply? I do not intend to wait until Nov 1.
Second question: We are considering shotgun or crossbow and are looking to acquire some appropriate weapons and practice with them first. What would be a good choice for our situation?
Recently foxes have invaded our main barn and have taken over from the ground hog. They are raising young (3-4 pups).
The foxes dig so much it is damaging the barn foundation. They bring kill back to eat and it rots. Our dogs get into the fox poo and bring it inside.
When my son was young (who is now teenage), he was attacked by a rabid fox on our property and had to have Rabies treatment due to the wound on his foot. The captured fox tested positive.
I don't currently have anything living in the barn yet since it is being restored to board goats when ready. The barn has three stalls and a mechanical room and a vet room. The foxes go everywhere and dig tunnels connecting the rooms (except the mechanical room that has cement flooring).
I do not have a great love to have to have weapons at home, but enough is enough. We are planning to fight back.
So:
We have an elevated back deck from which we can see the barn as well as the pastures around, and a small wooded area is in view too. Foxes roam and den in these areas freely now, even roaming during the day. It appears to me that a shot would be safe from this vantage since all shots would be towards the ground at a target on the ground and provide some cover for us to hide from the foxes. From this vantage, the farthest shot would be about 125'.
A shot would hit the ground at about 125' max from the deck.
I spoke with the local 'fox hunt clubs' but turns out they chase the fox, they don't kill it.
Yes, I tried traps. Sorry foxes are too smart for that. All I get are possums.
I am looking for extermination here.
We have neighbors that would have no issue with this, and I will get that in writing.
I have some experience shooting shotgun and antique rifles as a kid in a play. My son has shot some bb gun with Scouts and some basic archery. We want to practice together.
Sorry for the long intro:
My first question is: Do the "hunting laws" apply? I do not intend to wait until Nov 1.
Second question: We are considering shotgun or crossbow and are looking to acquire some appropriate weapons and practice with them first. What would be a good choice for our situation?