Serious question about shooting foxes

[CEREALTHRILLER]

Hi guys,

We keep a few chickens and unfortunately I have just seen a fox take one of them.I'm home early from work 'cos of the snow and I heard the hens make an unusual noise,anyway I looked out the window and I could see a fox only what seemed like inches from them, I opened the window and shouted and then then ran to the back door with the dog only to find we're a hen short, not a trace. So where do I stand with regards to shooting the little ******** as we live in a city?? THIS IS WAR!!!!!!

Hope that all makes sense as the adrenaline is still pumping.

Cheers

[garyb]

Do you have a 22 rimfire and an Open FAC?

 

I've shot them in back gardens from 1st floor windows before.

[CEREALTHRILLER]

Only SGC just now although waiting for first FAC to come through the post but doubt it'll be open

[artschool]

i was told by my fao that you cant shoot fox with a 22rf.

 

could you buy a trap? and then dispose elsewhere with your shottie?

Edited November 30, 2010 by artschool

[CEREALTHRILLER]

Yes I could buy a trap, at the moment i'd do anything - within the law of course.

 

Are traps effective?

[al4x]

if you know someone with a .22lr and an open ticket then its fine if they have a fox condition and a lot of people have it. Otherwise a live catch trap and take it to your permission and give it the 12b treatment

[garyb]

Best bet is to see if anyone local to you with an open FAC with conditions for Fox control with a 22lr fancies a cup of tea and a sit up

 

A trap might catch the urban ones, but are pretty much useless in the countryside.

[garyb]

Here's a write up I did back in the summer

 

http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/124406-back-garden-foxing/page__view__findpost__p__1072516__hl__garden__fromsearch__1

[CEREALTHRILLER]

So shotgun is a no no???

[Billy.]

So shotgun is a no no???

 

If you want to get done for causing panic and alarm.

 

The only time I'd say it's fine to use a shotgun is if you don't have a neighbour for 300 yards of where you're shooting and that you shoot out of a window into the ground.

 

Don't tell your FEO you want to shoot it out the window, or you risk not being trusted with a rifle, let alone getting an open FAC

[Billy.]

Breach of the Peace

 

Source: Common law

 

Offence: When one or more persons conduct themselves in a riotous, or disorderly manner, anywhere, which alarms, annoys or disturbs the lieges (other people).

 

Arrest: Common law powers of arrest.

 

Notes:

This offence can take place anywhere i.e. a house, a public street or a private office.

 

Riotous: There is normally an element of noise, or 'rowdiness' or 'brawling' which is clearly causing concern to other members of the public e.g. swearing, challenging people to fight.

 

Disorderly: There is a more subtle element. The behaviour doesn't have to be noisy but still of a nature that would cause concern to other people. Examples include: 'Peeping Tom' type behaviour, persistently following someone, delivering 'threatening' letters and 'streaking' or 'mooning'.

 

To prove a Breach of the Peace the most important things to prove is that someone was Alarmed, Annoyed or Disturbed by the incident.

 

I think firing a shotgun out of a window is enough to disturb and alarm someone.

 

If they can't do you off the back of that law, they'll just do you off the back of another public order one

Edited November 30, 2010 by Billy.

[artschool]

firing a shotgun out the window = armed response and standoff.

[HDAV]

Hushpower? Moderated shotgun? with the rest of the SGC conditions met?

[Swamp Beast]

If you want to get done for causing panic and alarm.

 

The only time I'd say it's fine to use a shotgun is if you don't have a neighbour for 300 yards of where you're shooting and that you shoot out of a window into the ground.

 

Don't tell your FEO you want to shoot it out the window, or you risk not being trusted with a rifle, let alone getting an open FAC

 

I live in the country with no neighbours for 1/2 a mile but on some occassions, if theres no wind and Im out shooting the echo and noise is unbelievable. Im sure if the neighbours were out in their garden they wouldnt get a heart stopping fright but its bloody loud. On other occassions, if theres a bit of wind I bet nobody hears a thing. Would definately not shoot a shotty in a built up area; you might get away with it but the risk of upsetting some folk and the subsequent backlash and hassle from the polis isnt worth it. I have seen (on TV) pest controllers sort out urban foxes in the city with a rifle. Id recommend googling a local pest controller for advice. Good luck

[Billy.]

I live in the country with no neighbours for 1/2 a mile but on some occassions, if theres no wind and Im out shooting the echo and noise is unbelievable. Im sure if the neighbours were out in their garden they wouldnt get a heart stopping fright but its bloody loud. On other occassions, if theres a bit of wind I bet nobody hears a thing. Would definately not shoot a shotty in a built up area; you might get away with it but the risk of upsetting some folk and the subsequent backlash and hassle from the polis isnt worth it. I have seen (on TV) pest controllers sort out urban foxes in the city with a rifle. Id recommend googling a local pest controller for advice. Good luck

 

You'd be surprised how quiet a loud gun is from only a few hundred yards, so I wouldn't worry too much.

 

Although, in the OP's case, you can't shoot a shotgun out a window in a built up area, unless you want the local ARV scrambled.

[Dekers]

Yes I could buy a trap, at the moment i'd do anything - within the law of course.

 

Are traps effective?

 

 

You are going to have to do something very special to get him in a trap if you have a grden full of chickens!

[Dekers]

i was told by my fao that you cant shoot fox with a 22rf.

 

could you buy a trap? and then dispose elsewhere with your shottie?

 

 

I get really wound up by this rubbish, .22lr is commonly the tool of choice for close range (Garden, etc) pest control of fox, some regions just don't like it and some FEO don't know there **** from their ear!

 

You will note the .22lr, the bowl of dog food bait and 3 dead fox...... and houses close! A whole family of Mum, Dad and 3 cubs was removed from this site in one evening!

[Dekers]

In other areas, the use of a shotgun in your back garden could be argued as legal in the right circumstances, but you are potentially asking for a whole heap of pain.

 

The foxes above were shot with a moderated sub sonic .22lr round, with next door neighbours in the garden and they didn't have a clue!

[artschool]

I get really wound up by this rubbish, .22lr is commonly the tool of choice for close range (Garden, etc) pest control of fox, some regions just don't like it and some FEO don't know there **** from their ear!

 

You will note the .22lr, the bowl of dog food bait and 3 dead fox...... and houses close! A whole family of Mum, Dad and 3 cubs was removed from this site in one evening!

 

yeah i know its ridiculous. he wouldnt even let me use a hmr for fox. but i did get a 223 in the end.

[stubby]

You are going to have to do something very special to get him in a trap if you have a grden full of chickens!

 

simply put a cage trap in the chicken run, leave the door open so chickens can wander in and out of a daytime, then set it to catch of a night

I dispatch in the garden, using a fully hushpowered 410, neighbours don't bat an eyelid

 

 

 

 

note;

chicken is behind cage, not used as bait

[Dekers]

simply put a cage trap in the chicken run, leave the door open so chickens can wander in and out of a daytime, then set it to catch of a night

I dispatch in the garden, using a fully hushpowered 410, neighbours don't bat an eyelid

 

 

 

 

note;

chicken is behind cage, not used as bait

 

 

Everything is worth a try, but I suspect it's just an "Essex" thing, Charlie has more brains round this way!

 

ATB!!

[njc110381]

I'd suggest you do what I recommend to my customers. Get a cage trap and if you can face doing it cut a trap sized hole in your run and put the trap inside with the entrance flush to the fencing. Wire it all on so the Fox can't move the trap. Doing it this way the Fox is tricked into thinking there's a hole in the wire and will try to enter via the trap. If you just put it against the outside it looks like an add on and they'll often avoid it if they're smart.

 

If you can find a trap that the other end can be removed then all the better. Let the Chickens use it as an entrance for the day to hide your scent a bit and make it look better to the Fox.

 

Of course before you do this you need to find someone local to you that will either 72 hour loan you a Hushpower or would be happy to come out and deal with it with an open FAC .22lr or a Hushpower that they'd prefer not to lend out.

 

I've been preaching this method to people for a couple of years now and I can get more than one call a day sometimes to dispatch them. It really does work well.

[BADFEET]

Cage traps are a bit limited, good for green youngsters or when the weather has a really bad spell then you will get them in there.

The other option is a snare, either way you have options as you can take away and release/cull or whatever.

If you dont mind handling then you can bag them out of the snare.

 

I myself wouldnt feel that confortable using a shotgun in the back garden but rimmys are very quiet.

 

I have an open ticket and have been asked to shoot a lot of foxes in back gardens, 99% I rufuse as I just dont need any hassle.....I always tell folk to buy a cage and I will deal with it then or pay a proffesional.

 

Edited to add: Just seen the above post and that seems like brilliant advice from some one who does this type of thing regular.

Edited December 3, 2010 by BADFEET

[Sprackles]

Its just a shame that hunting with arrows is now illegal.....a decent crossbow would sort the little burger out quietly.

[CEREALTHRILLER]

Had a very quick look for cage traps and the only one I saw was £120, is that how much they are?

 

Does anyone know a cheaper supplier?