Dealing with a very lamp shy Fox.

[jam1e]

Hi folks.

A friend of mine/and me are having problems with a skittish, very lamp shy fox.

To cut a long story as short as possible.... He wants it shot after hearing a commotion in their garden around dusk, and saw a what he describes as a large fox killing their cat.

I said I'd help where I could, and gave him some rabbits, pigeons and crows to bait an area. The bait was always tethered to a specific tree in his very small orchard. We managed to get the fox on trail cam numerous times. Initially he would take the bait between 2am to 3.30am. But then got a little random with timings.

Going on the trail cams, he finds the bait, leaves it, does a circuit of the orchard, them comes back and eventually rips the bait from the tether. He then drops it, does another smaller circuit of the immediate area, then eats one part there and then (if the baits been ripped into 2 bits) and leaves with the larger part. Or if in one piece, leaves the orchard with it immediately.

I've tried to "red lamp" shoot it twice now. And both times when I've caught it in the beam he (I presume by size) bolts like lightening out of the area.

The situation is made difficult, by the fact that there are only 2 safe shooting positions. So if the breeze is not in my favour, he's already aware I'm there. To me, he looks to be a fair old size, when compared to a standard size seating bench he's stood next to. I'll get a picture put up..

The only thing I can think of is only go when the breeze is in my favour, going on the fact he almost always appears from one direction, which is across an open field, which I don't have permission for. And even if I did the grass is so long at the moment, I probably wouldn't see it anyhow. And use NV equipment, which I don't have. And do not want to buy for the sake of one fox.

A few constructive opinions would be appreciated.

Cheers.

 

I can't find the one with him next to the bench, but have this one. Although, it's hard to compare size, there's nothing to compare him to...

Edited June 26, 2016 by jam1e

[malkiserow]

fox trap for him

[Dougy]

You could get round the light/seeing him in the dark problem if you could light the area up using a flood light. Obviously if power was available. They soon get used to it.

Snaring is also an option, but you may need advice on that one.

 

And yes as above fox trap.

Edited June 26, 2016 by Dougy

[r1steele]

You could get round the light/seeing him in the dark problem if you could light the area up using a flood light. Obviously if power was available. They soon get used to it.

Snaring is also an option, but you may need advice on that one.

 

And yes as above fox trap.

 

Two or three solar lights that are used for lighting garden paths ect are useful for this. Place around two to three feet around the baited area They get used to them quite quickly and there's enough light to identify and shoot.

Edited June 26, 2016 by r1steele

[Davyo]

Simple get someone off here in your area with NV rig,job done.

[Benthejockey]

If it's that tricky then snare him where he comes into the garden and where he leaves but if your mates got cats snares are probably a touchy subject. Chances are he's too wise to go in a trap. If they can install a pir light and keep baiting him he'll get used to the light and you can shoot him then. Or find his earth and a friendly terrier man. With bad ones like him finding him sleeping in his hole is the easiest way!

[Alpha Mule]

No-one local that can loan you their NV kit on a break it - buy it agreement?

Otherwise, I'd be looking at snares. I've tried traps - without success.

 

Edit, Keep wire snips and thick gloves handy in case you get a cat.

Edited June 26, 2016 by Alpha Mule

[jam1e]

No-one local that can loan you their NV kit on a break it - buy it agreement?

Otherwise, I'd be looking at snares. I've tried traps - without success.

 

Edit, Keep wire snips and thick gloves handy in case you get a cat.

 

The family have other cats and several dogs that roam the place, so I doubt they'll go for snares. And right or wrong, I'd rather kill it outright with a gun. I have considered asking any local PW members on here if they would loan me something like a Photon. I already have an IR pill for my T25 light I could use if extra IR was needed. But in fairness, if I were in their shoes, I'd be reluctant to loan one out. Plus I would imagine most are on rifles, and already zero'd, so would be a pain in the rear for them to.

I also thought of a trap, but I doubt he'd be stupid enough to get caught in one.

I've also thought about asking if a PW member would bring their rifle and NV scope to shoot it for me. But I spoken with the owner and he's reluctant to have a "stranger" shoot at his place. It's not like I'm worried about having the land poached as bar the problem fox, he doesn't allow shooting there, and too little land anyhow.

[fortune]

It might be possible to do a daytime fox drive if you have got access to the ground where he is coming from. they lay up somewhere quiet like brambles and rushes during the day this time of year. if your in the right place it only needs one driver, a couple of dogs and one shooter. I've taken them in the day on my own by just squeaking them up and using a shotgun but it is difficult.

[Patrol]

I take it you have no access to NV

 

I sometimes use a light that has a PIR and a stand alone lamp on which I place a red film over the front of the glass

 

I place it close to the known route and ensure it works by putting a stealth camera nearby

 

Bait the hot spot with a metre wide cross of cat food

 

Let him get used to the cat food and lamp going on and off

 

Keep baiting it up so the bait is small in size but a metre long cross and he has to be in the area a while to clean it up

 

Get the best visit time off the stealth get there an hour earlier and place yourself in a favourable wind position where you have a backstop, get the flask out and wait kaboooomb job done

[robbiep]

I can lend you an Nitesite NS200. Cost would be whatever it is to post it down to you, and the return postage. Or if you decided you wanted to purchase and keep it, then I'm sure we could come to some agreement - I don't use it any more as I've got a Photon, and was seriously considering putting it up for sale.

[Zapp]

A number of posts have been removed. This is because they derailed the topic and because they reflected very poorly some posters and the forum in general.

[scotslad]

Probably like most have said, setting up a light/s that cover quite a bit of the garden, really want something a bit more diffuse? than a spotlight, u could even put red bulbs in them. so a fair bit of garden has just enough light to pick fox up in scope

 

If u can illumanite the garden enough i would take ur led torch of the scope, led's are brilliant how far they shine for their size and don't get muzzle glare in the scope the same

But i find them quite a concentrated light whereas with ur old fashioned lamps it was far easier to hold a fox in the very outside of beam so only just illuminated and not got the full glare on them

 

The other thing is a full moon, esp this time of year with a decent day scope u'd be surprised how well they see in the dark, most good bino's/scopes will see better in dark than human eye.

 

Could u ask permission for the field even as a 1 off, or even try the field behind that if grass too long? Or ask the lad who does the foxes there to help or focus on that general area and give him a bottle if he gets it.

 

How big is the garden? Can u shoot from the house ideally an upstairs window may open up more safe shooting positionsand also mask ur smell also possibly move the bait so wind is more favourable but sounds like a fly/clever old ****** with him doing laps so might not work, u could also try a high seat set up in garden

Possibly change bait to cat food and scatter it in garden so fox can't take the food away.

 

There is another snare/trap called a collarum, basically u attach food to a trigger and when fox pulls triger a spring sort of throws a snare over foxes head and u could fence it off in day time to protect cats etc and save u lifting it and getting scent on it. according to the blurb they only catch foxes/canids due to way they pull the bait/trigger, so they claim anyway. Never actually used 1, cost always put me off but some folk swear by them

[Dekers]

Decent NV.

 

But with long days/short nights recently and full moon, then I have managed ALL night with no artificial illumination of any sort!

 

[CharlieT]

Decent NV.

 

But with long days/short nights recently and full moon, then I have managed ALL night with no artificial illumination of any sort!

 

 

This together will a little fieldcraft should sort the job perfectly.

[Walker570]

Is your position elevated ? If not is there a handy tree/wall/pole where you could set a high seat. I shoot a lot of foxes from high seats and just note their regular routes and set the seat in good clear view and let them come to me. This idea and the solar lights, which are pretty cheap to buy; you don't need posh ones will give you around the same amount of light in a killing area as a good full moon. Assume your using a rifle subed 22RF ?? Shotgun ?? Being elevated also tends to let your scent flow above their heads. I have had foxes sit at the bottom of my seat and look up at me. Had one this week walked in downwind of me. Stopped and sat down about 80yrds away, then kept tipping it's head back and forth trying to lock onto me up the tree.

It managed about four tips :-)

[bunny_blaster]

Jamie I'm in Henley in Arden, if you want a hand let me know as I've got NV

[dob]

Have you tried an early morning session ,tuck into some cover and wait for sunrise so no lamp needed.

[Rim Fire]

Is your position elevated ? If not is there a handy tree/wall/pole where you could set a high seat. I shoot a lot of foxes from high seats and just note their regular routes and set the seat in good clear view and let them come to me. This idea and the solar lights, which are pretty cheap to buy; you don't need posh ones will give you around the same amount of light in a killing area as a good full moon. Assume your using a rifle subed 22RF ?? Shotgun ? ? Being elevated also tends to let your scent flow above their heads. I have had foxes sit at the bottom of my seat and look up at me. Had one this week walked in downwind of me. Stopped and sat down about 80yrds away, then kept tipping it's head back and forth trying to lock onto me up the tree.

It managed about four tips :-)

A high seat is the way to go allso gives you back stop at any angle as said its suprising how they take no notice of anything above ground level

Edited June 29, 2016 by Rim Fire

[Dekers]

A high seat is the way to go allso gives you back stop at any angle as said its suprising how they take no notice of anything above ground level

 

Sorry, but I have to take issue with that, without doubt properly sited High Seats can be very useful and the fox may well not notice or ignore, but they can take a lot of notice when I'm shooting them out of domestic upstairs windows!

 

[Rim Fire]

 

Sorry, but I have to take issue with that, without doubt properly sited High Seats can be very useful and the fox may well not notice or ignore, but they can take a lot of notice when I'm shooting them out of domestic upstairs windows!

 

More than likeley they are used to seeing people in upstairs windows so its the norm for them to look up in that direction

Edited June 29, 2016 by Rim Fire

[TONY R]

Everyone seems to be overthinking this, just put some time in and call it in in daylight. Buy or make a call if you dont have one, use what knowledge you have on the fox his movement habits and pick a possition downwind of where you expect him to come from. Dont call too long and leave one or two mins between calling periods, you wont get it right everytime but get a few under your belt and you will be suprised how easy it is once you get used to0 it.

[cooter]

I used a solar PIR lamp to let me know when Charlie was about on one shoot.

Spread some anchovy oil on the ground where the PIR could cover it.

 

Sat close by in a vehicle, and it walked in from behind me.

Got it second night out with no extra illumination.

[Rim Fire]

Everyone seems to be overthinking this, just put some time in and call it in in daylight. Buy or make a call if you dont have one, use what knowledge you have on the fox his movement habits and pick a possition downwind of where you expect him to come from. Dont call too long and leave one or two mins between calling periods, you wont get it right everytime but get a few under your belt and you will be suprised how easy it is once you get used to0 it.

He cant work the ground to wind direction as he has only 2 back stops if he is elevated he has many back stops in any direction

Edited June 29, 2016 by Rim Fire

[scotslad]

Must admit if a fox is wise enough to get old and lamp shy i'd guess theres agood chance will not be likely to be called into a garden in broad daylight.

But u never know