Hunting Ethics question.

nexgen said:
If your friend is leaving a newborn outside by itself, then you might have an issue ( along with some larger issues) but I can't picture a fox attacking a child that is old enough to be outside on their own.
Click to expand...
The child in England, was attacked inside the house: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/lond...tacks-boy-as-father-demands-cull-8492552.html

Here's another incident involving a fox biting two six year olds: http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/22396979/fox-attacks-two-kindergarteners-on-playground.

I just want to be clear, I'm not claiming that foxes are unstoppable killing machines that will likely replace us at the top of the food chain. I'm just saying that I believe they can present some danger to small children. Your are of course free to believe otherwise.
 
Either way I don't plan on taking a chance.. Talked to her some more yesterday and she said it looked very thin and was missing some patches of fur so it's post likely mange and possibly more wrong with it. Desperate and sick predator + kids = nothing good. Kids are all out of school at the end of the day tomorrow and I hope they will be able to play outside without worry by then.
 
Gargoyle said:
Either way I don't plan on taking a chance.. Talked to her some more yesterday and she said it looked very thin and was missing some patches of fur so it's post likely mange and possibly more wrong with it. Desperate and sick predator + kids = nothing good. Kids are all out of school at the end of the day tomorrow and I hope they will be able to play outside without worry by then.
Click to expand...

Wild foxes and wolves all tend to look like they need a good meal during the warmer months.
 
saskgunowner101 said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like a skinned rabbit?? in the video as well. Now throw a soiled diaper with baby powder and human scent on a doll, and see if it approaches like that.
Click to expand...

haha it really is! its a skinned rabbit under those baby clothes! God forbid a fox is attracted to rabbit. KILL THE DAMN THING!.....people are too much
 
I had a fox with pups living under a grain bin in my yard last summer. They are fearless, drove my dog nuts. They would take turns, one lured him away while the other ate out of his dish. When winter came I had a coyote bait staked out and I shot them all.
 
skhunter said:
I had a fox with pups living under a grain bin in my yard last summer. They are fearless, drove my dog nuts. They would take turns, one lured him away while the other ate out of his dish. When winter came I had a coyote bait staked out and I shot them all.
Click to expand...

skhunter there is a difference between you and the Op, your on a farm and deal with animals all the time.
Sounds like the guy and the fox are just inside civilization and has not dealt with these fury curious critters.
I am not mocking the OP, just an observation, but if it where in my hood there would be a trap or two set and maybe the SSS.
I'm all for looking out for the kids in the hood, but make sure nobody else hears about what is about to happen, they might not be so understanding.
Rob
 
Silveragent said:
Is your friend keeping her garbage secure? Dog food?

She/you can feel better about the 'ethics' question by laying the onus on Animal control.

Fox are beautiful animals. A nuisance I can deal with. But if it is an actual threat, deal with it.
Click to expand...

Yep. A lot of people are lazy, and see dealing death as an alternative to common sense prevention. Gee, maybe if you kept the feed in metal bins, you wouldn't have so many pests...

...as for the OP's fox: what exactly was this fox doing that meant it had to die again? I must have missed the important part of the story...
 
Last edited:
Gargoyle said:
Ok so I'm the kindof hunter that refuses to kill something unless it is either table fare or used for it's pelt. Always stuck to that and never had a reason to do anything else. But today I get a call from a close friend (single mother with small children living in the country) who has been having a "problem" with a Red Fox coming increasingly close to her house and kids. She called me a few weeks ago and it was only coming, about 150 yards away. Well today she opens her porch door and it's 15 yards away, right around the kids play equipment. All other times it has come around at dusk, so I really didn't think anything of it.. Staying a good distance, coming out at normal times, what was there to think about. Well today she calls me at 12:00 noon and the Fox is 15 yards away from her back door with a 100lb dog in a kennel 20 yards away from it loosing it barking non stop and it didn't even flinch. Oh and it's over 30 degrees here, 36 with the humidex. Any clue what could be wrong with it? Regardless I think this is going to be the time I go away from my normal "food only" hunting and drop a fox regardless. What are your thoughts?
Click to expand...

Flatten it. No questions asked. It could be rabid.
 
A rabid animal it very easy to detect with even a slight bit of observation, usually extremely erratic behavior, balance can be affected, changes from extreme paranoia, to unprovoked aggression........remember rabies attacks the brain and causes very noticeable behavioral anomalies, it is not hard to detect..........This fox strikes me (from what has been said so far) as a completely normal inquisitive little fellow...........like I said before, observe him for a while and check his fear responses, to shouting and aggressive behavior on your part. If in fact he does show wrong behavior responses then by all means SSS, but if he darts off as I suspect he will, he's no threat to anyone and will leave if shooed away. Walking and playing children do not look or act like mice, rabbits or grouse and being bigger than the fox he will keep his distance. He may observe at length but this is just his natural curiosity to the things that move about in his environment. Coyote is a whole nother critter, but foxes DO NOT attempt to prey on animals as big or bigger than themselves.
 
Go buy this lady some Roman Candles, or a flare gun. She won't need a license. Fox shows up too close again..... Bic lighter and point! If the fox comes back again after that, something is wrong with it. and she can give you a call.
 
No Fear = No Question. I love seeing foxes and such around the farm but when they start eyeing up Mom's cat or being too bold around the kids they get the ground-swat treatment.
 
Its very interesting to see all the valid points from both sides, although the ones that have ideas, like roman candles and fireworks are basically saying that it's ok to break the law as discharging fireworks (other than on a holiday weekend, which there is no quarantee it is seen during one). this area is a very, very rural farming area with a huge population of both fox and coyote. Many get shot out of tractors around here every day for absolutely no reason. This one is posing a very potential safety risk if it is sick or not. Local animal control being privately funded won't deal with native wildlife and The C.O.'s here have said that if the home owner / parent feels that it is a threat than it is a justified reason to take it as a varmint. There only stipulation was that if the pelt was in good condition (which from description it isn't and is missing a lot of fur now) than an attempt to save the fur should be made. So lets see,, face charges from the police shooting fireworks or do what is within legal limits and acceptable by the locals. Not much of a decision anymore.. So I guess this argument is done and if a moderator is on here, please close this thread as it was not intended to start an argument.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom