gary29428 Posted December 19, 2005 Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 A local farmer called in to me yesterday morning at about 10am, he had lost a lamb the previous night to a fox and wanted me to shoot it. He said it was still on his farm so I headed down for a look. Fox was gone but the remains of the lamb were still there, not a pleasent sight. He said it was a huge fox, he had never seen bigger. I headed out last night on foot around his farm to see if I could get him, I spotted him 3 times but everytime the lamp went near him he was off. I put the red filter on after he ran the first time but this didn't work, I only need him to stay still for 5secs...any advise. He wants the thing dealt with quickly but it will be dark every evening by the time I get home from work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shooterash Posted December 19, 2005 Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 Hi Gary give Frank a shout, Hes the top fox man at the minute Its a wonder there are any left cheers Ash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary29428 Posted December 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 We have been going very well ourselves, we have had 15 from our last 3 trips out but when we are out in the jeep a lamp shy fox is given a few minutes calling and then it's onto the next lad. This is a fox I need to get, I know there are a few very good fox men on this forum so I am hoping they will have a trick or two I can use. Probably posted this in the wrong section, sorry about that.......but I will post a pic if I get him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie Posted December 19, 2005 Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 this is an hard one . is there any where you can put afew snares down or try and find where he is during the day is there any woods or pit holes near by is there any earths if so wait for him on dusk ihave shot foxes for over thirty years and ones like this are hard to get i have sat near adead ewe or lamb and waited until they show it is very affective when there is snow down but above all dont give up or the farmer will get someone else in good luck charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
william Posted December 19, 2005 Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 One thing we do is bait the area with a dead carcuss ie sheep or if using something smaller ie lamb or chicken steak it down, go and put it out at night and go back first light ready to shoot at sunrise this is an option if the fox is having none of it at night. It has worked in the past for me or use a trap of some description. Keep trying though as charlie said cos you win half the battle in the farmers eyes by trying. I am looking forward to seeing its pic on here. Regards Terry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary29428 Posted December 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 I don't think he will get anybody else in but he is talking about injecting weed killer into a dead rabbit and leaving it out. Will have another walk around the farm tonight, might just wait up in a field I say him in last night and use a less powerful lamp. Thanks for the advise......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROB REYNOLDS UK Posted December 19, 2005 Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 (edited) now iv shot some foxs in my time so i know what im on about close on 1,000 id say we bait up on the hard ones or when it gets thin on the ground .we use lights which is cow lungs harts liver and wind pipe i get a big tub of this and put it down in the afternoon ,now it is better if you can get it a few days before you need it so it goes off and stinks more.more stink the better beleve me they love it and a lot easyer to find as well ,as they will smell it a few fields away ,now when i put it in to the field i pace it out to about 120 yrds or there about from the gate ect ,but put it in the middle of the field as neally all foxs will run a bit when the light hits them so dont put it near the hedge go back when its first dark no need to wait till 11.00 ,we are out and about by 5.30 this time of years and so are the foxs ,iv seen 5 foxs in the day time in the last week now you have a lamb killer i found theses are very easy to shoot as they come back to were they have killed, i would leave out the dead lamb as bait why most people take it away is past me as the foxs knows it there and will come back to finish it off .when hit with the lamp it runs off, try not putting the lamp in the foxs eyes as you dont like it nor does the foxs.just clip the fox with the beam of the lamp so you can just make him out till he settles a bit then light him up for the shot ,dont go doing rushed shots or chaseing it round the farm ,give it time he will get used to the lamp again ,it took me 6 weeks to get one fox that had been lamped and shot at by every ***** in the land,just keepet on lamping it and it ran, in the end it just thought why am i running nothing is happening to me [bang] got it tell the farmer why the bait is down it will leave your lambs alone and it will giveing you chance to get your shot ..best of luck Edited December 19, 2005 by ROB REYNOLDS UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary29428 Posted December 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 Thanks lads, I have some bits and bobs from a deer we slaugtered at the weekend, I will leave this down as soon as I get home (4.30pm) and sit in and wait. Thanks for the advise, much appreciated. I'll let ye know how I get on........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary29428 Posted December 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 Sound like a good idea, only prob is I'll be on foot. I might break out the nike's, that would definetly be one for the camcorder........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary29428 Posted December 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 Not a big farm, my house overlooks most of it. He has about 200 sheep and a few cattle, he also has a few acres of very nice woodland which always produces a few pheasents and woodcock so I want to keep him sweet. I don't want him to use weed killer as it's a not a nice way for any animal to go. If I have no look tonight, I'll get up a dawn and see if I can spot him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbivvy Posted December 19, 2005 Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 now iv shot some foxs in my time so i know what im on about close on 1,000 id say we bait up on the hard ones or when it gets thin on the ground .we use lights which is cow lungs harts liver and wind pipe i get a big tub of this and put it down in the afternoon ,now it is better if you can get it a few days before you need it so it goes off and stinks more.more stink the better beleve me they love it and a lot easyer to find as well ,as they will smell it a few fields away ,now when i put it in to the field i pace it out to about 120 yrds or there about from the gate ect ,but put it in the middle of the field as neally all foxs will run a bit when the light hits them so dont put it near the hedge go back when its first dark no need to wait till 11.00 ,we are out and about by 5.30 this time of years and so are the foxs ,iv seen 5 foxs in the day time in the last week now you have a lamb killer i found theses are very easy to shoot as they come back to were they have killed, i would leave out the dead lamb as bait why most people take it away is past me as the foxs knows it there and will come back to finish it off .when hit with the lamp it runs off, try not putting the lamp in the foxs eyes as you dont like it nor does the foxs.just clip the fox with the beam of the lamp so you can just make him out till he settles a bit then light him up for the shot ,dont go doing rushed shots or chaseing it round the farm ,give it time he will get used to the lamp again ,it took me 6 weeks to get one fox that had been lamped and shot at by every ***** in the land,just keepet on lamping it and it ran, in the end it just thought why am i running nothing is happening to me [bang] got it tell the farmer why the bait is down it will leave your lambs alone and it will giveing you chance to get your shot ..best of luck that about covers it all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fert Posted December 19, 2005 Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 try a stink pit make a square in the corner of a field using the fence which is already there bait it with lites etc cut a couple of holes in the fence you used to make the square out of and snare the baby up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted December 19, 2005 Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 Gary, in situations like this, i find using fox snares very effective in the right places. Look for any runs you see where the fox enters the feild and exits, set the snares and bobs your uncle. It can take a while to get a lamp shy fox to stand for 5 seconds i can tell you. If you have never snared a fox before, then prehaps someone you know who knows how to snare them might help. Or have a search on the net about snaring them. One more thing that might work is to go out on a windy night, bait the area for 2 days before hand,( a tub of rotting fish is hard to beet ) and with a shotgun and lamp mounted on it very slowly walk up to the baited area, into the wind, then when you are certain you are around 40yds from it, switch on the lamp and with a reliable semi-auto, open accurate safe fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROB REYNOLDS UK Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 (edited) i forgot to say if you aint got time to mess about with the fox just keep baiting the fields up with plenty of bait ,then go back one night when you have time , once a fox has found easy food it will check the the same place over and over again ,so once the baits starts going you no you have him comeing every night ,but not all foxs come at night they can and will do a day time raid on chickens but you find them doing this when they have young about ,iv shot many foxs on the bait they some times just look at you becouse they think they are safe at that range 120 yrds and carry on eating as fast as they can ,i have a mate that goes to the the chip shop and gets 5 gal of old chip oil and pours it down in a spot in the field it works so he tells me as the smell stays there for some time and foxs love the smell of food .i once put down some dead piglets but they were all at different stages of decomposeing some had maggots some were fresh ,i put about five of them down in one field and the first ones to go had the maggots in them them foxs love rotton flesh .the freshs one went last over 3 days ,so remember what i said about your bait stinking ,iv had mine honking that neally made may mate sick just by the smell of it ,but once you get your fox it makes it all worth the trouble..if you have land with no foxs on you bait it up they will come from miles away Edited December 20, 2005 by ROB REYNOLDS UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary29428 Posted December 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 Spent a few hours at it last night. I got one fox but not the guy we are after, it was about 1km from the farm and a lot smaller still one less and all that. The farmer put out 2 rabbits with poison in them yesterday evening, both of which were gone this morning. So I guess time will tell, I'll keep checking the area. Just want to say thanks for all the info and help, nice to know there is always somebody to help you out on here. I'll keep ye posted.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadeye ive Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 We have been going very well ourselves, we have had 15 from our last 3 trips out but when we are out in the jeep a lamp shy fox is given a few minutes calling and then it's onto the next lad. This is a fox I need to get, You seem to know what your on with Gary ..............Loose the jeep and go about on foot ,which is something you've already mentioned . Basically change your predictable routine ............This Fox will be the same as all the rest ...........A creature of habit and routine ..............He'll have a particular route he likes to use and I imagine you've sussed this. Set your stall out and bed down near his run.............Leave the lamp off ............Use a different call ,Simulate a Rabbit in distress (Primos Screamer) are good and cheap.........And basically wait using the call for several Minutes at no time turn the lamp on ........That is until your ready to load your round and fire. I'm a great believer that a good call simulating a rabbit in distress will flush out the most Streetwise of Foxes . Ive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 At this time of year, when foxes have other things on the mind, do you find rabbit squeals are as effective? In addition other than an electronic caller, is there any good way of imitating a fox mating call? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadeye ive Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 At this time of year, when foxes have other things on the mind, do you find rabbit squeals are as effective? In addition other than an electronic caller, is there any good way of imitating a fox mating call? They'll always have an easy meal on their mind ..............Had one literally running towards me the other night such was the effect of my call .................Trouble was it was the baptism of the new sound moderator which caused a such a glare that I could'nt see clear and refrained from taking the shot I know what your getting at though ..................It'd be nice to imitate a call by mouth as opposed to some expensive piece of electronic kit . Ive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary29428 Posted December 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2005 correct me if im wrong but surely this is illegal as you may end up killing other things as well as a fox. George, you will notice if you read my post again I said the "farmer" put out two rabbit with weed killer in them, this is something I would never do both for the reason you mentioned and the pain in death it would cause any animal that ate it. Please read the post more carefully before replying. There was no sign of the fox last night, I can only assume he has been killed by the farmer. We did get 3 foxes last from other areas and as usual seen 4 times that. I agree the calls don't seem to work as well this time of year, most of the foxes we shot this time of year are shot were they are seen provided they are in range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadeye ive Posted December 22, 2005 Report Share Posted December 22, 2005 I agree the calls don't seem to work as well this time of year, most of the foxes we shot this time of year are shot were they are seen provided they are in range. Fair enough Gary But for a really streetwise Fox ..The sort i like really you have to do something differrent thats all . I find that a strange NEW call does the trick ...........Just make sure it's similar to a possible easy meal in distress. Ive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
game_boy Posted December 22, 2005 Report Share Posted December 22, 2005 Thats a shame he has resorted to those techniques but as its a shy fox he couldn't have expected you to nab it in your usual time. Persistance with the lamp and a snare trap with some rancid guts will do the job if the poor ****** hasn't already died from the laced rabbits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary29428 Posted December 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2005 Have not seem the fox around in a few nights, not happy with the outcome but I guess the farmer will sleep better at night........Thanks for all your advise lads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary29428 Posted December 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2005 Lads, I got the fox last night after putting in over 15hrs in the last 2 weeks. I saw him in the same field 2 nights running about 12.30am, he did the usual running at seeing the lamp. Last night I set up my lamp in flood light mode and mounted it on a tri-pod, I also put a red filter on it. I opened a rabbit and dragged it across the field and left it about 80yrds from were I was going to lie down and waited. The lamp was on all the time and the battery pack had about 45mins in it. After 30mins I spotted him in the far corner of the field, he came in a bit and got on the scent. He came down to within about 40yrds of the bait (120) from me, he was very jumpy and slow so I took my time and got him with a chest shot. Brought him over to the farmer this morning, he was delighted and gave me 4 cans of bud. I would expect to be well into double figures if I put in 15hrs lamping but this one was very satisfying.......I'll post a pic in the next few days. thanks again for all the advise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.