Thermal foxshooting masterclass with Robert Bucknell

Essex foxshooter Robert Bucknell has got his hands on the latest thermal kit from Pulsar – the Telos XP50 monocular, and the binocular Merger, both with a built-in laser rangefinder. Robert and his gamekeeper, John, have been giving the units a thorough test in the field. John, who shoots 100 foxes a year with his .204 Ruger and Pulsar Thermion scope, is so impressed with the Telos that he doesn’t want to give it back.

To find out more about the latest Pulsar thermals, go to ThomasJacks.co.uk/pulsar/

Why shoot foxes?
The British red fox is widespread across the whole of mainland Britain and Ireland. The best estimate of the current British fox population is 240,000 adults in spring, to which a production of 425,000 cubs is added annually. The fox has no natural predator and for the population to remain stable, 425,000 foxes must therefore die each year.
Fox numbers need to be managed and controlled to prevent the predation of lambs, piglets reared outdoors, free range and domestic poultry. Foxes can also have a significant impact on vulnerable species of ground nesting birds such as black grouse, partridge, lapwing and curlew (Bealey, Green, Robson, Taylor & Winspear, 1999).
In order to protect such species while they are breeding, conservators and gamekeepers aim to control fox numbers, particularly from late winter to early summer. Foxes are also controlled around pheasant and partridge rearing and release pens in late summer and autumn. Overall, the direct cost to UK agriculture from fox predation has been estimated at £12 million annually (UK Government figures)

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