njc110381 Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 I've had a little idea and wanted to run it past you all. Up on one of my Fox shoots there is one Fox that is a complete nightmare to approach. It's often in the same place but that place doesn't offer a safe shot. On top of that it looks at you for a couple of seconds and legs it when the lamp comes on. So... I've made up a cage that's about a foot long and six inches square. What I plan to do is shoot a Rabbit when I first arrive, cut it's guts open and pop it in the cage which I will leave fixed to a post in a suitable place so my scent doesn't stay on it. What I'm thinking is that if I hang a leg or two out of the cage so the Fox can chew on it then it will hold it there for long enough for me to get into position. Knowing fairly accurately where I need to be aiming I can be pretty much on the money before the lamp goes on and if the Fox is there I can makle a quick adjustment and take the shot. I've used bait before and tethered it but they always seem to get it loose and run off with it in the end. This way the bunny will be well and truly stuck, but how long will the Fox stay interested if it can't get all the food out? I'm thinking that when I leave I will open the cage door so that with some work the bait can be taken - perhaps that will make the Fox more determined because it will think that it got it last time so should get it again (hopefully he will get it, but that's another matter!)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Who knows, what's the harm in trying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camokid Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 peg the rabbit down with wire rabbit on the floor mesh over the top peg the mesh bury food so it has to dig it back up zip tie the rabbit to post tin of dog food with a small hole in it as hes messing with it bits fall out and keep him there. any of the above will work and will keep it there that bit longer. failing that shoot a vixen first and zip tie her to the post :w00t: tiz the season of love :wub: :wub: if hes like me he will be on her for at least 3 minutes PLENTY!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eccles Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Well Andy you are a tight gxxt i thought you used CAVIAR. :lol: Don't forget it might be his last supper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camokid Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 only when the lobsters gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendersons Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Sounds like a good idea to me. If it still manages to run off with it though have a think about making a rabbit smoothie. Lots of rabbit innards all blended up into a nice liquid so it has nothing that it can pick up. The scent should travel a fair old way and the fox would have to stay and eat rather than do a runner. Don't blame me though if your mrs catches you using the blender at home. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyCM Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 (edited) I sorted a couple of foxes recently that were a little educated to the lamp (I was shining the lamp when that happened, I digress). My method was up a high seat, over a grass field, baited with dog food (well trod into the ground so no running off with chunks) on the full moon a couple of weeks back. The conditions were very good, light cloud cover and a slight breeze + the field was like shooting a golf fairway - any humps & bumps appearing were customers (there were no tussocks or weeds which helped a lot). The highseat was comfy too, just as well as I was in it from 4pm to 8:30pm. One fox showed at 8:10, shot that used the scope mounted lamp for fine tuning only - lamp was on for less than a second. Next one showed up 10 minutes later, that got the same treatment. Another appeared but did not hang around. Very important bit - I used quality binoculars to spot the foxes coming into the field. Caught up with the last one last week, lamped at distance, all were dog foxes. Good luck. Cheers AndyCM Edited January 24, 2012 by AndyCM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted January 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 I was thinking that the cage would work very much like the tin of dog food with a hole in it. Perhaps I could cut the rabbit up into pieces that will fit through the mesh? I've gone for the cage idea because it will be easy to fill and is always in the same place. The land owner has offered to put any Rabbits he shoots in too so we can get it into the habit of finding food there. I've done it before with a bait under a light but this will be done in the dark - I need to hold him there a little longer than normal. Either that or get another battery PIR light, I broke the last one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camokid Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 was that a battery operated pir? if so where did you get it from its a good idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted January 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 It was from ebay I think, I'll go through my sales record later and post the details if I find it. It was never that bright but you could put it on a branch of a tree or a fence post by a bait station and it would give off enough light to see what was at your bait. On top of that the Fox gets used to the light coming on so isn't bothered by it and if you lie up and wait there's no need to keep flashing the lamp as it just comes on when he arrives! Brilliant kit and only cheap (the quality wasn't great and it didn't last that long but for what it cost I was still happy). Thinking about it I really need to get another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anth6568 Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 I use to have the same problem, sensitive area so I had to be wise how I played my game. Combination of tree hides with a 12 gauge hushpower and bait. In other areas I placed cage traps, bait was combination of shot pigeons, rabbits or leg bones from the butcher. Use to have foxes taking it as you did, decided to wire the bait onto the back of the cage near the top. Made the fox lean in more so it stood on the pressure pad which brought to door down. Worked for me, found that it took some time for foxes to be confident with going in the cage. The more weathering the better to hide any human a scents. Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy Holt Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 Hiya, A battery PIR (B&Q), suitable Fence post, tin of cheap cat food and a bit of wire with a mini Starlight stick on top. Attach PIR to fence post then put a small circle of cat food about 5' in front of the PIR in the centre of the circle stick the wire with the starlight and set it off. Retire to a vantage point about 100 yards away and set the gun up with the lamp then wait for the red light to flash on the PIR, as son as it does line up on the Starlight with the scope then flick the light on, ID it and bang.. another lamp shy fox sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted March 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 Sounds like a good tactic Davy - Think I'll try that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy Holt Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 Hiya, Sounds like a good tactic Davy - Think I'll try that. It works well having the starlight as an aiming point helps cut the time down to line up the shot so gives you a few more seconds to take the shot before the Fox scarpers when the lamp goes on it. On a good clear night with good glass on the gun you can see the shape of the fox so can wait till it's in the perfect position before flicking the lamp on I've been using it for a while as nearly every Fox I get now is lamp shy and spooked thanks to the guy's on the two adjacent farms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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