Calling and Baiting Foxes

[huey]

Need some advice I have some land with a fox problem and since nailing a fox with a shotgun at close range a year ago old foxy has wised up to my methods. I normally sit up and use a button squeeker to attract them but I think this method has run its course as its no longer having the desired effect. I tried baiting an area late last year using rabbits etc but also to no avail.

 

What calls do you find effective and do you use a bait as an additional thing to draw them in? Do you recommend different calls and bait at different times of year? I have permission to use .22 LR or SG at close range on the land I have which is a mixture of open fields surrounded by woodland.

 

All advise welcome as I need to start knocking them down!

 

Many thanks

 

Huey

[GatGun]

Would a carefully placed snare not work ? Im sure an hour spent looking for runs would be worth it. Ive found them hard to call latley. One ran into 40 yards which made a pleasant change but the majority have other things on their mind

[huey]

Would a carefully placed snare not work ? Im sure an hour spent looking for runs would be worth it. Ive found them hard to call latley. One ran into 40 yards which made a pleasant change but the majority have other things on their mind

 

 

Snares havent been popular as they also catch badgers mate

[SSS]

Not if they are set right.

Do it right and you will have no problems. Get someone to show you how to do it properly.

As for calling them, make sure you are downwind and quiet.

Try squeaking on the palm of your hand to imitate a struggling rabbit. You can change the pitch and volume if the fox wont come.

Good luck.

All the best,

SSS

[Heladoxa]

You can't guarantee a clean death with a snare, whatever you say.

I had great success with a catch-em-alive trap. Easy to make, safe to use, and a sure kill if you have caught the right animal. If you set it some way into a field you can have a pop-up flag to show if there is anything in the trap. That saves an un-necessary walk.

It's very cost effective because you do not have to be out searching or waiting

 

PM me if you want details.

 

Bill

[rad334]

You can't guarantee a clean death with a snare, whatever you say.

I had great success with a catch-em-alive trap. Easy to make, safe to use, and a sure kill if you have caught the right animal. If you set it some way into a field you can have a pop-up flag to show if there is anything in the trap. That saves an un-necessary walk.

It's very cost effective because you do not have to be out searching or waiting

 

PM me if you want details.

 

Bill

Thats what I would do. We've made loads of different sized traps with various different way of getting triggered. The best we've made is one with a trigger plate in the middle and a door each end so its like a tunnel. Works brilliant.

[GatGun]

True, snares arent the most efficient humane ways of killing foxes but im not going to tell a farmer that im not going to snare the fox thats taking his lambs because shooting it or live trapping is more humane. A dead fox is a dead fox.

 

Checking your snares regulary and as I said before, carefully placing them will avoid any non- taget species getting caught. If set right, and providing the fox is despatched humanely using the correct tool they are excellent additions to the fox hunters tool box.

[huey]

True, snares arent the most efficient humane ways of killing foxes but im not going to tell a farmer that im not going to snare the fox thats taking his lambs because shooting it or live trapping is more humane. A dead fox is a dead fox.

 

Checking your snares regulary and as I said before, carefully placing them will avoid any non- taget species getting caught. If set right, and providing the fox is despatched humanely using the correct tool they are excellent additions to the fox hunters tool box.

 

 

I need to stick with biat and or calls. Does anyone have a recommended call or type of bait?

[GatGun]

Ok then. If your usual calls arent working then try leaving your calls at home one night.

 

Go down a few nights previous and stamp some rabbit guts/ dogfood into the ground. Stamp it in well. you want fox to work for its food and stay in area a while. Bury some just under the ground surface.

 

When you go back to re-bait you will see if a fox has been digging around for the bait.

 

When you go down with gun, dont call, just sit and wait.

 

One way of doing it.

[abiteachuck]

Ok then. If your usual calls arent working then try leaving your calls at home one night.

 

Go down a few nights previous and stamp some rabbit guts/ dogfood into the ground. Stamp it in well. you want fox to work for its food and stay in area a while. Bury some just under the ground surface.

 

When you go back to re-bait you will see if a fox has been digging around for the bait.

 

When you go down with gun, dont call, just sit and wait.

 

One way of doing it.

Good way gatgun, Baiting them is the best way if you are useing rabbits, dead chickens etc, you will find that if you leave them then the fox will find them when they start to stink.Once they have taken a couple you will find that they will come at the same time every night. The way to find the time they come is easy, get a small battery clock and tie the bait to the clocks batt . When the baits gone the clock stops and hey presto, just use a length of fishing line. I use a atom pro lamp turned right down leave the lamp on if you can while useing the clock so it gets familiar I can shoot as many as I want with this method. The only problem is your gun I use my .223 so I bait them at 120yrds plus but you can find cover in the farm yard. HOPE i HAV`NT SENT U 2 SLEEP GOOD LUCK.

[Frenchieboy]

Good way gatgun, Baiting them is the best way if you are useing rabbits, dead chickens etc, you will find that if you leave them then the fox will find them when they start to stink.Once they have taken a couple you will find that they will come at the same time every night. The way to find the time they come is easy, get a small battery clock and tie the bait to the clocks batt . When the baits gone the clock stops and hey presto, just use a length of fishing line. I use a atom pro lamp turned right down leave the lamp on if you can while useing the clock so it gets familiar I can shoot as many as I want with this method. The only problem is your gun I use my .223 so I bait them at 120yrds plus but you can find cover in the farm yard. HOPE i HAV`NT SENT U 2 SLEEP GOOD LUCK.

 

This method seems to work well in most vases. For pre-baiting you can also start with treading a bit of cat food in where you are putting a bit of rabbit or chicken for Charlie. The "aroma" of the cat food will often catch Charlie's attantion from a slightly greater distance initially than the chicken or rabbit will.

Fow calling them I try not to use the same caller too often as Charlie will soon wise up to it so carry two or three different ones. (I carry three). I have not tried them but the electronic callers seem to bring good results, especially the ones that will "mimic" a vixen or a dog fox calling, particularly when the foxes are pairing up.

 

Good luck mate!

[sako751sg]

 

I bait 90% of the foxes i shoot,and the shooting is all done during the period when i can use the moon and no lamp.With snow on the ground,from a half moon and bigger it can be unbelievably light at night and getting your fox is relatively easy.I bait the areas all year round,by sticking a spade in the ground,forcing the ground open and putting in a bit of carcasse.I have about 8 bits at each area,and by digging it in it makes the fox stay for a minute digging it up.It might take a few days for the fox to start on the bait,but if you keep providing he will become regular as clockwork.Then its a case of waiting for the moon,and sitting in either a hide,motor or house that gives you a good view of the area.For the bait,i have been using breasted pheasant carcasses but anything does really from rabbits,pigeons to grallochs.Its an outstanding way of controlling freddy,and usually you are sure of at least one fox.In the second pic you can see the pheasant tail sticking up out the snow.He had already dug one bit up and went away to eat it,and then came back for more.

[Heladoxa]

Thats what I would do. We've made loads of different sized traps with various different way of getting triggered. The best we've made is one with a trigger plate in the middle and a door each end so its like a tunnel. Works brilliant.

 

 

I agree with you all the way. Farmer friend was having fox trouble with foxes and his geese. We made a catch-em-alive trap and caught his sheep dog three times and then a badger before he got the fox. For the fox it was not too stressful and he had a quick 12 bore end

[Heladoxa]

True, snares arent the most efficient humane ways of killing foxes but im not going to tell a farmer that im not going to snare the fox thats taking his lambs because shooting it or live trapping is more humane. A dead fox is a dead fox.

 

Checking your snares regulary and as I said before, carefully placing them will avoid any non- taget species getting caught. If set right, and providing the fox is despatched humanely using the correct tool they are excellent additions to the fox hunters tool box.

 

 

....And if the fox doesn't do his bit properly, and gets caught round the leg or hind quarters? And how long would it have to wait fir you to do your regular visit?

I'm not a namby pamby animal rights do-gooder, but there are better ways than snares.

 

You COULD tell the farmer that you want to live trap rather than snare. I, too, have lost lambs to foxes, but there is no way I would wish one of them to get caught by a wire snare. Having seen the mess it can make of them I felt dirty.

[dusk2dawn]

I need to stick with biat and or calls. Does anyone have a recommended call or type of bait?

 

 

Try a "Kebab" a road pin or any 3ft length of metal rod with a point, drive it through any carcasses you have to hand, rabbit, road kill, anything, then hammer the pin into the ground.

 

Stick it out at a comfortable distance with a good back stop and leave it there, not long before Charlie starts to visit the diner on a regular basis.

 

Good luck, Rob.

[Vince Green]

Any sort of bait works as long as its regular. I tell my customers to leave a bit of food in the same place every night for a week and I'll be along with my trap after that. Foxes are creatures of habit, they don't roam randomly. In towns they tour the dustbins and the fast food shops in a set order every night. Thats their downfall. The other thing is that they soon wise up to a trap. Its not unknown to catch an old fox in a trap but if the area has been trapped before you will only ever catch young foxes. If you want to catch an old fox you have to leave a trap out with the door jammed open for weeks and let the young foxes take the bait away each night before the old fox finally accepts it and ventures in.

 

You have just missed out on the best way to find out your foxes route each night - snow.

[huey]

This method seems to work well in most vases. For pre-baiting you can also start with treading a bit of cat food in where you are putting a bit of rabbit or chicken for Charlie. The "aroma" of the cat food will often catch Charlie's attantion from a slightly greater distance initially than the chicken or rabbit will.

Fow calling them I try not to use the same caller too often as Charlie will soon wise up to it so carry two or three different ones. (I carry three). I have not tried them but the electronic callers seem to bring good results, especially the ones that will "mimic" a vixen or a dog fox calling, particularly when the foxes are pairing up.

 

Good luck mate!

 

 

Which calls do you use Frenchieboy? How far do you dig in dog food under the surface and how much do you cover it?

Edited February 22, 2010 by huey

[GatGun]

Heladoxa, If you arent happy snaring them then that is fine. Everyone is entitled to their own views and opinions.

 

If everyone had the same views the world would be a boring place.

 

If youve caught or seen foxes that have not being snared properly it is probably due to the fact that the snare wasnt set right, same as bunnies or rats, squirrels etc.

 

If you set em right.... youl catch them right.

[Heladoxa]

Heladoxa, If you arent happy snaring them then that is fine. Everyone is entitled to their own views and opinions.

 

If everyone had the same views the world would be a boring place.

 

If youve caught or seen foxes that have not being snared properly it is probably due to the fact that the snare wasnt set right, same as bunnies or rats, squirrels etc.

 

If you set em right.... youl catch them right.

 

 

Good for you, Gat Gun. You set 'em up right and catch 'em right every time. Just for interest, how long does it take to strangle a fox?

[vulpicide]

In Scotland you have to have a stop on the snare to prevent it killing the fox have you considered contacting someone local that uses terriers for fox although under English law you cannot use dogs to prevent lamb predation only to prevent predation on game birds or ground nesting birds.

[Frenchieboy]

Dog or Cat Food (Or even a tin of Sardines in Oil) can be used to attract foxes. All I do is use it as an attractant by tipping it on to the ground and then just "scuffing" it in with the sole of my boot to spread it around and make sure Charlie has to stick around for a while to pick it up. I will often use this method combined with some small pieces of chopped up rabbit if I am setting up a new "Bait Station"!

 

I use several different calls, I use a Wam and a Wigeon Caller, a caller that I make myself, a mirror and polystyrene and the back of my hand. I have never used any of the electronic callers but I have heard very good reports about some of them!

 

I have just re-read your original post and if I am reading it correctly you say you have shotgun and .22lr - Do you have Fox on your FAC for the .22LR, if not I would watch who you tell about using that R/F rifle for Charlie mate! (I'm not finding fault, it's entirely up to you, I'm just advising you!)

 

Hope this helps you out mate!

Edited February 23, 2010 by Frenchieboy

[steve_b_wales]

A good bait to use is CHUBB dog food (especially the beef & tripe flavour)

Available at LIDL's for around 40p, it's not expensive to leave a few out as bait.

 

Another good way of bringing a fox into wher you want to shoot it, is to use the boiled horse hoof bait, that was mentioned on PW back last year. I have a batch that's been standing in a bottle for almost a year now, and by god, does it stink!

[abiteachuck]

Dog or Cat Food (Or even a tin of Sardines in Oil) can be used to attract foxes. All I do is use it as an attractant by tipping it on to the ground and then just "scuffing" it in with the sole of my boot to spread it around and make sure Charlie has to stick around for a while to pick it up. I will often use this method combined with some small pieces of chopped up rabbit if I am setting up a new "Bait Station"!

 

I use several different calls, I use a Wam and a Wigeon Caller, a caller that I make myself, a mirror and polystyrene and the back of my hand. I have never used any of the electronic callers but I have heard very good reports about some of them!

 

I have just re-read your original post and if I am reading it correctly you say you have shotgun and .22lr - Do you have Fox on your FAC for the .22LR, if not I would watch who you tell about using that R/F rifle for Charlie mate! (I'm not finding fault, it's entirely up to you, I'm just advising you!)

 

Hope this helps you out mate!

Just a line but I dont think they will put fox on a .22lr or even a.17hmr, only centre fires .222,.223.22-250 may be a hornet I could be wrong but I think its that way. My FAC says .22,.17 Quarry vermin/ground game. .223 quarry fox

Edited February 23, 2010 by abiteachuck

[sako751sg]

Just a line but I dont think they will put fox on a .22lr or even a.17hmr, only centre fires .222,.223.22-250 may be a hornet I could be wrong but I think its that way. My FAC says .22,.17 Quarry vermin/ground game. .223 quarry fox

 

Have the .17hmr for foxes here no problems.And many folks still get .22rf for them too.Very lucky that our FOE has more common sense then many.

[Frenchieboy]

Have the .17hmr for foxes here no problems.And many folks still get .22rf for them too.Very lucky that our FOE has more common sense then many.

 

You certainly are a very lucky man having an FEO that has some common sence. It's a shame that there are not more like him as I believe that the 17HMR is a very underated rifle for Charlie!