Frenchieboy Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 Following my post on the Videos section (Cubs on my permission) http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/170641-cubs-on-one-of-my-permissions/ I now find myself in a bit of a dillema (sp)! The cubs only look about 6 to 8 weeks old (maximum - My guess is that they are closer to 6 weeks rather than 8 weeks) and in my opinion if I shoot any of them at the moment the vixen is just going to move them to a "safer place" and I might lose the possibility of taking them all out safely. My opinion was that they should be left for another few weeks till they are all starting to play out together and try to take the vixen out first, lay her out and hope that the cubs come out to her. I have explained this to the land owner but because he has lost so many hens and ducks he would like whatever I can taken out straight away even though originally he said it would be up to me to chose the right time. (I think his wife is quite peed off about losing the ducks and she might have put her foot down) I am a little reluctant to do this as I am not sure that the cubs have been weaned yet and it will leave them to die inhumanely - I should add that the earth is in an old very unsafe mine shaft so I would be reluctant to ask any one to put terriers in to clear it! I would appreciate some sensible advice or thoughts on this as it goes against everything I believe in on the job should be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignoel Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 could you not take the vixen and cage trap the cubs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted June 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 could you not take the vixen and cage trap the cubs That is a possibility but I think the cubs are a bit on the small side for a cage trap. Maybe worth a thought though. Thanks Noel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignoel Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 i use a multi catch trap for squirrels just the right size they will fall in 1 by 1 easy once the vixen is out of the way useing smelly dog food . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camokid Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 i have shot a few cubs and touch wood she never moves them if they want them gone the job has to be done its a risk but try for vixen first if not take the cubs ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 if you know where they live just sit out till you see the vixen nail her and wait for the cubs to come out. Its fine being sentimental but that doesn't help the farmer, best option is start shooting them or let him get someone who will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted June 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 i use a multi catch trap for squirrels just the right size they will fall in 1 by 1 easy once the vixen is out of the way useing smelly dog food . Noel, I've not used that method before, please could you give me a bit of insight mate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted June 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 if you know where they live just sit out till you see the vixen nail her and wait for the cubs to come out. Its fine being sentimental but that doesn't help the farmer, best option is start shooting them or let him get someone who will I know what you are saying Al4x and I totally agree with you. I have no problems shooting foxes or cubs. All I was thinking of was the best way to go about getting most if not all of them without giving the vixen a chance to move them to another location. As it turns out I was at the location this morning with "Archie1234" to help get his rifle xeroed up after fitting a new mod. There were two cubs out and when we looked carefully they seemed to be a bit more developed than I had originally thought. One sat in the mouth of the shaft so I took the shot and it dropped on the spot. A nice young dog fox. I am hoping that Archie1234 will be putting a photo up tonight as the batteries in my camera were flat. I will be sitting out at the earth this evening to try to nail the vixen and hope that the other cubs come out to her so that they can be "dealt with"! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 21, 2011 Report Share Posted June 21, 2011 take a lamp as well, just in case if you get the vixen just before dark the cubs will still come out. They are well able to survive on their own now, funnily enough driving home late last night I saw three separate cubs all on their own so they are getting out and hunting properly now. Best thing even if she moves them is the farmers wifes ducks etc may stop being training fodder for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmax55 Posted June 22, 2011 Report Share Posted June 22, 2011 better to shoot the vixen ( if possible ) now then lay her out a few yards into the open as they will be more reliant on her. just sit out from 8pm ish about 60yds or so off the earth and wait her out. she will be bringing food in for them at some point and the cubs will give her position away as she slys in. sometimes its just a case of shoot what you can as 4 dead cubs are better than six live ones. had to do this 2 weeks ago as i had put a good 16hours into getteing a very wary vixen with no luck at all as she kept sussing me out. in the end i shot all four cubs within 15mins of arrival. after giving it another half hour waiting just incase there was a straggling cub the vixen came back to feed her cubs with her mouth full of food to my relief i finally shot her. in my oppion never give up and good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted June 22, 2011 Report Share Posted June 22, 2011 well thier was a time when a good rainy day would have put her to ground and you could have gassed them but not now :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmax55 Posted June 22, 2011 Report Share Posted June 22, 2011 well thier was a time when a good rainy day would have put her to ground and you could have gassed them but not now :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted June 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 well thier was a time when a good rainy day would have put her to ground and you could have gassed them but not now :yp: Regardles of the legalities of gassing them it would not be practical in this case. The earth is in an old disused mine shaft. When you get to the opening which has all but collapsed and look in the shaft is huge inside (A man could almost stand up inside it) and I have no idea of how far underground it runs. As it turns out no-one has seen more than two cubs out at any one time so I believe that there was only two to take care of (Plus the vixen). One cub is no more (Archie1234 has it's brush) and I have been going up for the last 3 evenings and sitting in cover from about 7:30 till dusk and not seen hide nor hair of the remaining cub or the vixen - This suggests that the vixen might have moved the remaining cub on. I intend to find out tonight by dropping a chicken carcass about 10 yards from the earth and checking tomorrow morning to see if it has been touched. I know this isn't the best method but as there is only one way in or out or the quarry without using a parachute (It is in a deep "bowl" with sheer walls varying from 30 to 50 feet high with just one tractor ramp into and out of it) at least I will have an idea of any fox activity so I can use the alarm clock method and then get the little bu**ers on the lamp! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 It maybe worth waiting a little longer before taking them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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