With poults out of their release pens before the start of the shooting season they are at their most vulnerable to fox predation. Also, with the harvest over, partridges are ‘jugging out’ on the stubbles and they need to be looked after as they are ground-roosting birds that are easy prey for a fox, which will also scatter the coveys.
A keeper’s life is a busy one and it can take many man hours getting to grips with the fox population. These are hours that could perhaps be used more wisely elsewhere. On the Honeycombe Shoot run and keepered by Mike Appleby there is a stalking club, and gathering the members for an evening of fox control every so often is a good way
