fox calling

stevoman

well lads. sat under a tree last saturday with me shotgun and a pair of bb's trying to call a fox in. I had my Logovel caller with the fox csall on it and i had it on for ages. I gave up after about and hour and fired at a passing magpie as i got up to leave. Low and behold then about 150 yards away i see mr fox running down by a ditch and into cover. thats was the last id seen of him.

I was wondering has anyone got some good tips to help me get this fella. I dont want to use my rifle its a .22 (it wouldnt suufice for the job anyways).

im using my shotgun as i find it a good challenge to try and get this fella and im not using any lamps either as im trying this lad in the mornings and evenings.

Can anyone give me some help and tips about the best ways to get this lad?

im fine with lamping, but this sems to be an awful lot trickier.

Trojan911

High powered lamp, glass & foam, bb's with the shotgun and listen for their calls. Follow where the calls are coming from and then rub the foam off the glass to simulate a rabbit in distress.

Try to have the lamp mounted or strapped onto the shotgun, it helps when you point & shoot.

They are calling like mad up the back of my place at the moment...

stevoman

well i have an excellent caller that does the rabbbit distress but i wasnt really planning on using a lamp i kind of wanted to get him during daylight hours

J.R.

That fox will not come in to the Lockvogel rabbit distress call again - once he heard the shot & saw you he will always remember.

You can try another call but he will be extremely wary from now on as he is alerted to the calling / shooting 'trap'.

Saying that there are probably plenty more foxes in the area / other areas that can be called.

Not always possible, but I will always choose a high point in a field beside a hedge where I can survey most of the field. Remember he may also come down the opposite side of the hedge so try to have a clear shot there as well. Ensure that the wind is blowing into your face otherwise he'll detect your scent. No smoking as he will see & smell it from a long distance.

When calling do not have the call on continously. When a rabbit is in a snare he will scream for about a minute, then, tired, he will stop, commencing again about 3 / 4 minutes later - copy this pattern.

If you notice that magpies / greycrows are interested in the call then you are doing it right. If they turn away as soon as you turn on the call then something is wrong. Check everything - are you fully camouflaged? especially face & hands. Are you sitting / standing silently without shuffling? Are you blending into the hedge ( forget colour of clothes - they're colourblind) Too much head movement, searching the skies / hedges is a dead giveaway - move your head very slowly - if you spot the fox raise the gun very slowly.

Magpies / greycrows are great to alert you to the presence of a fox as they will mob it. Blackbirds are also great watchdogs. If you hear a blackbird chirping madly in a hedge it is often a sign the fox is in there - especially if the blackbird moves steadily along the hedge creating a racket as it goes. Watch where the blackbird is chirping - you'll often see other birds leave the hedge as the fox creeps along.

This is a very exacting form of calling and may only produce 3 / 4 foxes a year but there is a tremendous sense of satisfaction when accomplished. Once a fox appeared in front of me just 5/6 metres away. I knew he was about from the blackbirds racket but he didn't leave the hedge cover until the last minute.

I find the best time of the year for this type of calling is August / September when there are a large number of young, inexperienced foxes about - but the old, wily, clever ones can also be caught out, with perseverence.

If you are using the Lockvogel call (I have one) I would be trying the mating call - there are two (a dog fox calling & a vixen answering) and they're very effective at this time of the year.

Be extra careful with the mating call as you may be watching one approaching and there could also be another nearby approaching from a different direction - keep your eyes peeled, persevere and good luck!

tikkamark

Great bit of advice j.r.
With the rifle i find the best way of getting them during daylight hours is to find a good vantage point and wait for the hour leading up to dusk it takes lots of patience but once you find out the foxes routine it can be be shot relatively easily.

Trojan911

tikkamark wrote: »

Great bit of advice j.r.

Have to agree as well. Learnt some tips myself as I only lamp at night or sunday shoots with dogs. Cheers J.R.

BryanL

try bait under mesh

foxshooter243

BryanL wrote: »

try bait under mesh

yeah good tip ! or a well gutted and sliced rabbit buried tightly in the centre of a bale of straw-used this once to hold a foxs attention in an area i lamped, same field every night a fox turned tail at first sight of the light-after several attempts to nail him we " rested " him for a week then set the bale out complete with rabbit and got him that evening.

stevoman

tikkamark wrote: »

Great bit of advice j.r.
QUOTE]


I'l third that, thanks a million thats great advice. Im actually going to copy those tips onto a page so i can go back to them.
I'l try those tips out at the weekend. It could be weeks before i get a fox, but the work i'l have put in will be very rewarding.

cavan shooter

Good advice above for calling, if you want to use the 22 use velocitors and call him into about 50 yards. Be confident of your shot and place it well. before I went magnum I used to shoot foxes by calling them in close this way. It is great crack an will teach you patience