First fox with 204

[uplander]

I set up a shooting range on Saturday at my brother-in-laws. I set targets out a 1,2 and 375. I built a nice bench and it is going to be an awesome place to shoot. The bench faces south and there was about a 12 mph wind out of the east (just a little background on the day). My brother-in-law had been seeing this animal running around their farm. He couldn't tell if it was a coyote or fox, but it had been seen walking by their house and back yard and they wanted it disposed of b/c they have ducks, chickens, etc. He said it was small. Well, after getting the range set up, I did some shooting. I wanted to get some rounds developed for my 7MM and in between shooting that, I would shoot my 204 to let the 7 cool down. I took a crack at the long target and after figuring out my hold points, I put three 32 gr bergers in a 50 cent piece group. I was pretty excited about that in the wind! As I was finishing my rounds with my 7, I took a crack at the far target. When I went out to check to see where I had hit (had a 4-wheeler), I looked behind the target and at about 25 yards, there the critter set. It was gray in color and blended in pretty good with the bean field (they are ready to be harvested). So I hauled butt back to the bench and put a round in the 204. I held 4 dots over him and he was at a slow trot to the west. He was so small, I could barely see him in the beans. Well, I knew the wind was going to push my bullet (had a three dot hold on the long target), so I squeezed one off. The berger hit its mark....head shot right under the ear. When I went out to check, it was a sad sight. The fox was this year's kit and was full of mange. He had little hear left and only about an two inchs of red on his tail...the rest was gone. There was a little bit of red on its back and he was bare the rest of his body.
I ranged the spot with my range finder....400 yds on the dot. Very happy with the 204!!!!!

[Sidewinderwa]

Nice shooting. Too bad the pelt was so bad. It is always satisfying to make a longer shot on the first try!