I'm used to shooting at a target range, so a safe backdrop is pretty easy to figure out.

I have a fox who is killing my chickens, so I'd like to whack him with a 12 gauge, 2 3/4 #6 shot.

I live on a hill, surrounded by woods. There are meadows behind me that people walk around in on occasion. Maybe 1 or 2 people a day. They are maybe 50 yards through the woods. A crazy neighbor owns the fields so I can't chase the fox down to the field, and choose a better backdrop.

Are trees a safe backdrop for shooting at the fox? Or do I need solid earth like a hill? If I'm 6 feet tall, and shoot down at the fox on the ground from 10 or 20 yards away, will the shot go into the earth?

Thanks. Never had to think about this before.

Rog