Digging out foxes

IrishHomer

HI folks,

I saw a group of hunters today and i presume they were digging out foxes (hope it wasn't Badgers).

I am just curious to know more about digging out Foxes and what it entails precisely and what the attractions is?

Trojan911

IrishHomer wrote: »

HI folks,

I saw a group of hunters today and i presume they were digging out foxes (hope it wasn't Badgers).

I am just curious to know more about digging out Foxes and what it entails precisely and what the attractions is?

It is normally when the fox has gone to ground after a chase, some hunters continue to persue it underground until they finally get it & then kill it.

Not my idea of a hunt, in my opinion & I don't practise this. My attitude is, if it is clever enough to evade the dogs etc, then leave it for another day.

bunny shooter

If it was badgers it is illegal, digging foxes isn't.

Personally I don't agree with it as I don't see the sport in it. I do however shoot foxes.

As for the attraction, I don't see any tbh.

The vast majority of people who dig foxes are doing it as a form of vermin control.

There is a sub culture behind a very, very small minority of the people who do this though where they use the fox/es for fighting with dogs etc. and also use it as a cover for digging badgers.

I have heard that some of the same very, very small minority sell fox cubs and live rabbits to greyhound owners for "training" them as when the greyhound catches the cub fox it will fight back and this encourages the greyhound to chase hares etc with more vigour.

Maybe what you saw was someone ferreting whose ferret "went to ground" and they had to dig 'em out.

IrishHomer

So are the dogs used to flush out the Fox same as Pheasant shooting?

bunny shooter

IrishHomer wrote: »

So are the dogs used to flush out the Fox same as Pheasant shooting?

Can be yes, normally terriers or beagles etc

Trojan911

bunny shooter wrote: »

I have heard that some of the same very, very small minority sell fox cubs and live rabbits to greyhound owners for "training" them as when the greyhound catches the cub fox it will fight back and this encourages the greyhound to chase hares etc with more vigour.

Interesting you should mention this, I was asked recently if I could get a live fox for exactly what you have just described above (My job sometimes brings me into the greyhound racing circle). I was offered €150 for a live one. I declined the offer, of course.

bunny shooter

This sh**e goes on and those involved are not sportsmen they are at it strictly for financial gain IMO :mad:

In our area we have had a lot of landowners "closing" their land to everyone as a result of this type of sh**e :mad:

I supply my surplus dead rabbits to a few of the local greyhound trainers for feeding to their dogs. However I only supply to those I know who don't engage in this kind of cruelty.

BryanL

Bunny shooter, those are some outrageous allegation!

digging a fox, means letting a dog like a jack russel into a burrow , they run up and bark at the fox, usually they are uncovered after about a foot of digging and the fox shot.

often a terrier is slipped in and eveyone stands back and the fox is shot as it bolts.

no dog fighting, selling live rabbits etc. etc
picture was taken in Holland where shooters pay up to 8 euro per acre for permission and take fox control seriously.

The enjoyment is in breeding and rearing a dog that will go underground in total darkness and find a fox using it's nose and bolt it using it brains. A bit like having a spaniel you can stand over and say with confidence that it can find phesants in any cover.

Sparks

BryanL wrote: »

Bunny shooter, those are some outrageous allegation!

BS didn't make an allegation because he mentioned no names. He was also at pains to point out that it was a tiny minority he was talking about.

bunny shooter

BryanL wrote: »

Bunny shooter, those are some outrageous allegation!

digging a fox, means letting a dog like a jack russel into a burrow , they run up and bark at the fox, usually they are uncovered after about a foot of digging and the fox shot.

often a terrier is slipped in and eveyone stands back and the fox is shot as it bolts.

no dog fighting, selling live rabbits etc. etc
picture was taken in Holland where shooters pay up to 8 euro per acre for permission and take fox control seriously.

The enjoyment is in breeding and rearing a dog that will go underground in total darkness and find a fox using it's nose and bolt it using it brains. A bit like having a spaniel you can stand over and say with confidence that it can find phesants in any cover.

BryanL I know how it's supposed to be done.

I do not engage in this type of shooting as I personally do not consider it sporting to send a dog into a foxes den to drive it out to be shot or clubbed to death with a bar or shovel as I know some do. IMO the fox deserves the sanctuary of it's den. I know those in my area who are selling live animals for nefarious reasons as do the wildlife rangers. Unfortunately it is very hard to catch them at it which is necessary to secure a conviction.

I am not judging those who drive foxes from their den/cover and shoot them but it is not my idea of sport. I call foxes. They have a better than sporting chance to get away if they decide to ignore my call. If they come within range they will die a pain free death at the hands of my rifle/shotgun

I stress once again there are only a very small minority of terriermen/ferreters at this. In all aspects of all the hunting sports there are those who do not abide by the unwritten codes of practice and good behaviour or even the law.

I hunt for sport and the table not to satisfy any kind of bloodlust. I have respect for my quarry, whatever it is. I am a hunter and a sportsman. I derive no joy from seeing any animal suffering.

BryanL

What time of year do you call them?

as for a pain free death at the hands of a rifle/shotgun:rolleyes: that is the ideal world and a result we all aspire to, but in reality? Things are never ideal.

homerhop

When I was involved in releasing birds we hit the foxes in our area as hard as we could. As a small club and the amount of money we were investing it was vital that we controlled the fox population as best as possible. It is not always possible to lamp foxes. Our club invested in a good sounder terrier and he proved to be quiet successful in drawing out foxes. As in all things there are those who no matter what will have total disregard for how they hunt. Personally i would much rather draw the fox out and shoot it that other methods such as snaring or using poison.
I dont agree with using fighting dogs and have on occasion prevented those who i know are involved in that kind of thing from digging out on lands that the club has been given permission to shoot.

bunny shooter

BryanL wrote: »

What time of year do you call them?

as for a pain free death at the hands of a rifle/shotgun:rolleyes: that is the ideal world and a result we all aspire to, but in reality? Things are never ideal.

I call from August to February, rest of the year they are breeding and deserve to be left alone.

I never shoot unless I am sure of a clean kill, period. I know my abilities and don't ever take chancey shots

BryanL

I do a lot of target shooting, indoor and outdoors to 600 and 1,000 yards, I never pull the trigger unless i'm on the V Bull. But still i miss?
When someone says the only make clean kill, i find it hard to believe, but strive always for that ideal.
Bryan

bunny shooter

For the record I haven't not killed on first shot yet