Frenchieboy Posted April 7, 2013 Report Share Posted April 7, 2013 I have a farmer with a bit of a problem which as much as I would like to I just can't help out with right at the moment that I would like your thoughts and opinions on. This fox is a very large and dark coloured fox (Almost black - So much so that a neighbouring farmer saw it and thought that on of his German Shepherds had got out) It is coming round quite frequently in the daytime, which suggests to me that it is a dog fox hunting for feed for a vixen with cubs. The bu**er is so bold that it has taken a great deal of chicken and ducks in broad daylight. Even when the farmer has spotted it and shouted it has just run off and returned a short while later. I was told yesterday that another smaller lighter coloured fox had started showing up too! I went up a couple of times early in the morning (Which is when I was told initially that it was seen most) and spotted it twice - The first time there was simply not a safe shot on as I would have been shooting directly towards a main road and houses. The second time I only had my .243 with me and it sprang up from where it had been lying up unseen in some long reeds and was away at top speed so a shot from the rifle might not have resulted in a clean kill. At the meoment I can not spare the time to get up there and the farmer is starting to get very worried about the diminishing number of her chickens and ducks. I had thought about the possibility of setting fox snares but have decided against it as I am not experienced enough to set fox snares and don't have the time to go and check them at least twice a day. Another option is to set one of my cage traps up so that the farmer can check it and I would only have to go up if she phoned me to tell me that Charlie was in the trap and needed dispatching. This fox could easily be dealt with by a shooter with a shotgun and the time to sit out and wait for it but right at the moment I simply don't have the time as my priority has to be at home with Marlene. Has anyone got any thoughts of suggestions that might help to "eliminate" this problem which the farmer is very concerned about please? Maybe it is worth mentioning that this land is near the Deerplay on Burnley Road near Bacup (Almost right along side the main Burnley Road so in the interest of safety there are only one or two safe shooting positions available to use a rifle. If there was anyone fairly local I would happily introduce them to the farmer and get the permission sighed over to them (It is only a relatively small permission so might not be worth their time and bother if it meant a lot of travelling time for them) Your thoughts would be gratefully appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted April 7, 2013 Report Share Posted April 7, 2013 cage trap, if it so bold it wouldn't surprise me if its been released. if your stuck and want to keep hold of the permission give us call will pm you and I will do it as a one off or if you would be happy to see the permission gone I will get one of the guys I can trust from the top end of Burnley if you don't know of anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted April 7, 2013 Report Share Posted April 7, 2013 (edited) I doubt very much if you would catch him in a trap. An old dog with other sources of food, its not likely. You might catch the young one. The foxes round here are as bold as brass, there was one sitting at the end of our garden watching my son kick a football about. No fear at all. (no taste in football either!) Edited April 7, 2013 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted April 7, 2013 Report Share Posted April 7, 2013 Live trap may be worth considering, it works 24/7 but not generally so easy to get a big experienced Dog Fox in one. Also may catch other assorted wildlife which will need release, set the trap light and plenty of false release, so ongoing attention. I use the trap where I have to, but survey and baiting can often bring quick results for the rifle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoolhandMal Posted April 9, 2013 Report Share Posted April 9, 2013 I have a farmer with a bit of a problem which as much as I would like to I just can't help out with right at the moment that I would like your thoughts and opinions on. This fox is a very large and dark coloured fox (Almost black - So much so that a neighbouring farmer saw it and thought that on of his German Shepherds had got out) It is coming round quite frequently in the daytime, which suggests to me that it is a dog fox hunting for feed for a vixen with cubs. The bu**er is so bold that it has taken a great deal of chicken and ducks in broad daylight. Even when the farmer has spotted it and shouted it has just run off and returned a short while later. I was told yesterday that another smaller lighter coloured fox had started showing up too! I went up a couple of times early in the morning (Which is when I was told initially that it was seen most) and spotted it twice - The first time there was simply not a safe shot on as I would have been shooting directly towards a main road and houses. The second time I only had my .243 with me and it sprang up from where it had been lying up unseen in some long reeds and was away at top speed so a shot from the rifle might not have resulted in a clean kill. At the meoment I can not spare the time to get up there and the farmer is starting to get very worried about the diminishing number of her chickens and ducks. I had thought about the possibility of setting fox snares but have decided against it as I am not experienced enough to set fox snares and don't have the time to go and check them at least twice a day. Another option is to set one of my cage traps up so that the farmer can check it and I would only have to go up if she phoned me to tell me that Charlie was in the trap and needed dispatching. This fox could easily be dealt with by a shooter with a shotgun and the time to sit out and wait for it but right at the moment I simply don't have the time as my priority has to be at home with Marlene. Has anyone got any thoughts of suggestions that might help to "eliminate" this problem which the farmer is very concerned about please? Maybe it is worth mentioning that this land is near the Deerplay on Burnley Road near Bacup (Almost right along side the main Burnley Road so in the interest of safety there are only one or two safe shooting positions available to use a rifle. If there was anyone fairly local I would happily introduce them to the farmer and get the permission sighed over to them (It is only a relatively small permission so might not be worth their time and bother if it meant a lot of travelling time for them) Your thoughts would be gratefully appreciated! Hope your Darling gets well soon however,IMO its snaring that would do the trick especially as these guys are very regular visitors to the permission,can you ask about,maybe someone more local has the knowledge to set the snares correctly and check them at the legal intervals,i would definitely snare the runs in and around the immediate area,just a shame you weren't another 200miles down South Matey,ATBMal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted April 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 CoolHandMal, I know what you are saying about snares and I do have access to an unlimited supply of proper fox snares but there is a bit of a complication in that department even if I wanted to use that option. There are a few cats and dogs about and I would not want to put them at risk. As I have said, I have no experience of setting fox snares, is there any way of setting them so that there is no risk to pets or small livestock please as the runs are as plain as day and dead easy to find? Just as a footnote. Marlene suggested that we went up together the other afternoon, which we did with my .222 and a set of ear plugs for Marlene. Nothing appeared even though a fox had been raised and chased by a dog and it's walker earlier that morning. Even so it was a pleasure for the two of us sitting there together in total silence listening to the song birds around us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 Pete, if you put the trap out the farmer would know that you are trying to help and in your current circumstances with Marlene it must be accepted that you have other priorities. Good luck T.C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 CoolHandMal, I know what you are saying about snares and I do have access to an unlimited supply of proper fox snares but there is a bit of a complication in that department even if I wanted to use that option. There are a few cats and dogs about and I would not want to put them at risk. As I have said, I have no experience of setting fox snares, is there any way of setting them so that there is no risk to pets or small livestock please as the runs are as plain as day and dead easy to find? Just as a footnote. Marlene suggested that we went up together the other afternoon, which we did with my .222 and a set of ear plugs for Marlene. Nothing appeared even though a fox had been raised and chased by a dog and it's walker earlier that morning. Even so it was a pleasure for the two of us sitting there together in total silence listening to the song birds around us. And NO is the answer to that. Runs are generally quite easy to find and plenty of other wildlife/pets will use those runs as well. Snaring can offer solutions but care must always be taken with circumstances and siting. Obviously steps can be taken to minimise non target species but there is NEVER a GUARANTEE! I very rarely use snares, they are certainly not an option in domestic environments for me (at least I have never found a site yet they would be appropriate). Few of my agricultural/commercial sites shout for snares. Always an option but (very) rarely used for my jobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 Best used on shoots in the middle of nowhere, this fox wants baiting in front of a trail cam till its regular then its an hour job to nip out and shoot it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 find its earth and give me a pm..terriers day out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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