duke hamish Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 My friend has a something killing his pheasants on his rearing field. Thier is no hole under the pen but its killing 20 at a time. It looks like a fox as the heads are off and they are piled up. Would a fox come through the top net? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pykie Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Stoat or mink? I would advise him to set a tunnel trap around the rearing site and alongside the pens. Set a Mk 6 Fenn if possible in case its a mink to abide by law Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duke hamish Posted March 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Iv checked the carcasses and they have big lasarations on them but a fox dosent usualy put them in a neet pile, do they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomshooter Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 might be a tawny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taffyshooter Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 (edited) My friend has a something killing his pheasants on his rearing field. Thier is no hole under the pen but its killing 20 at a time. It looks like a fox as the heads are off and they are piled up. Would a fox come through the top net? Multiple kills at a time and chewed heads suggest a mammalian predator - a large feral Tom Cat or fox(suprsingly good climbers in many cases, they easily get around urban gardens with walls!!) would be my guess, both are well able to get into a pen from the top in my experience if things arent water tight in terms of access, height etc.. A feral polecat/ferret might be another possiblity. Edited March 23, 2012 by Taffyshooter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ChrisP Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 That will be a mink, they will kill several birds in one sitting and tend to pile them up in a corner. Get some fenns out quick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pointer Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 That will be a mink, they will kill several birds in one sitting and tend to pile them up in a corner. Get some fenns out quick! + 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Fox gets my vote; they would regularly kill multiple birds at a time so that they can return another time. However, I have found that if they killed multiple birds they would maybe try and bury them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pest Expert Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 (edited) i would say a mink? good luck... keep us informed bud Edited March 23, 2012 by The Pest Expert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wy111 Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Don't think it's a fox. Snap and kill is their method and take one. The rest, just left where they lay or partially buried, until return. Fortunately, I've had no problems with mink, YET, only time though, but seems more like the culprit. Tawny's do rip the head off, but I've never known them to "stock pile". Got to think, a mink can climb and a female can get through a 2" hole!!!! A good, fish baited tunnel trap with Fenn 6 should sought out the problem. atb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duke hamish Posted March 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 Snares set, fens set and fox trap set yesterday never caught a thing but no more birds killed lastnight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamekeeper1960 Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 Snares set, fens set and fox trap set yesterday never caught a thing but no more birds killed lastnight. Hi Duke, sounds a bit strange this one all being neatly piled up ! were all the heads in the same place as well ? have you got access to a trail cam would be interesting to find out what is doing it, I surpose it could be two legged have you upset anyone lately? Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duke hamish Posted March 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 We have a trail cam yes but the movements of the pheasants would set it off and there is a five acre site to try to cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duke hamish Posted March 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 Just been round to check the snares and traps. A dog fox in one snare and the vixen in an other. Lets hope they wer the culprits. We never see foxes when we are out lamping either.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 Lets hope they are the culprits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy198712 Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 good bit of snaring! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubs Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 I am watching a earth at the min with cubs they are right on the boundry and are no trouble for the time being the dog as piled 4 rabbits at the side and kicked a cup full of soil over them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duke hamish Posted March 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 Shoot the vixen first, then the dog, that way you get the lot. Good luck :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remy 700 Posted April 4, 2012 Report Share Posted April 4, 2012 Good work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duke hamish Posted April 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 After catching both the dog and vixen we are still getting birds killed in a couple of pens. The culprit is still piling up the pheasants. I still have snares and fenns set but nothing. One way it got in to one of the pens lastnight was to climb up the pen section in the corner, chew the top net and drop in. It come out the same way. I presume with a pheasant in its mouth, going by the amount of feathers up the section! If I dont get it this weekend il have to sit out.. Has any one got night sights haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creakindoor Posted April 6, 2012 Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 After catching both the dog and vixen we are still getting birds killed in a couple of pens. The culprit is still piling up the pheasants. I still have snares and fenns set but nothing. One way it got in to one of the pens lastnight was to climb up the pen section in the corner, chew the top net and drop in. It come out the same way. I presume with a pheasant in its mouth, going by the amount of feathers up the section! If I dont get it this weekend il have to sit out.. Has any one got night sights haha How far from a water source are you? Long shot but don't rule out an otter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 If the OP has got snares around the pen, there is a fair chance that the Otter would be caught in a snare by now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duke hamish Posted April 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 About half a mile from a small river but only 150 yards from a small burn/dich. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taffyshooter Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 About half a mile from a small river but only 150 yards from a small burn/dich. Sounds like Mink - they can exploit any bit of damp cover availiable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 Owl, someone already said it. always take the head. run fishing lines over the top of the pens if there to big for pea netting. i have seen some keepers put dvd discs on strings but i cant see this working at night, they swear but it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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