Too soon for Charlie?

pajero2005

Hi all,

Just wondering if its too soon to go out lamping fox? Went out with a mate of mine last week and called in a good few. (Didn't bring the gun, just wanted to see what the numbers were like) Plenty of them about. Would the cubs be hardy enough by now or should I wait a while longer?

foxhunter

pajero2005 wrote: »

Hi all,

Just wondering if its too soon to go out lamping fox? Went out with a mate of mine last week and called in a good few. (Didn't bring the gun, just wanted to see what the numbers were like) Plenty of them about. Would the cubs be hardy enough by now or should I wait a while longer?

I've been out for the past few weeks on the cut silage fields no lamp and getting an average of 1 per night .
The first few were large dog fox's and a few vixens .
I reckon if you want pheasants later in the year you need to start on charlie now.
Other shooters wont agree but if you wait till sept or oct the damage is already done IMO.

cavan shooter

Ditto

Ive got three in the last couple of weeks especially on cut silage

pajero2005

Thanks for the replies. The mate that I went out with has some phesants he hatched himself and is planning on releasing them on local land (with permission from land owners of course) Watch this space for pictures of my first fox........ hopefully:D

Jonty

pajero2005 wrote: »

Hi all,

Just wondering if its too soon to go out lamping fox? Went out with a mate of mine last week and called in a good few. (Didn't bring the gun, just wanted to see what the numbers were like) Plenty of them about. Would the cubs be hardy enough by now or should I wait a while longer?

did you use a lamp? no better way to educate charlie, than to put a beam on him, call him and not shoot him.:mad:


I used to shoot foxes for a fella in meath. He'd ring me and say come up quick I've seen 6 foxes last night. I'd turn up and they'd be lampshy.

pajero2005

Jonty wrote: »

did you use a lamp? no better way to educate charlie, than to put a beam on him, call him and not shoot him.:mad:


I used to shoot foxes for a fella in meath. He'd ring me and say come up quick I've seen 6 foxes last night. I'd turn up and they'd be lampshy.

Didn't use a lamp Jonty. Went out with just a hint of daylight left and used the mates electronic caller. We only used the caller until we caught sight of one in the distance and left it at that. Didn't want to give Charlie too much insight:D

dwighet

no better time than this...full moon this week..the grass is cut..head out around 8pm and hunt till dusk...no need for a lamp this time of year me thinks.

clivej

Yes it's that time to start getting down the fox numbers again.
My son and I were out the last 2 Saturday nights and got one each night and saw many more.

thelurcher

Too early yet - just look at the road kill for an idea of the amount of very young cubs - they're still very much dependent on the vixen.

Another month and you should be fine.

Do the job right during the season and you won't have to be out this time of year.
You'll always get cowboys out shooting early - bad form IMO - and putting it on a public forum like this will end up with some green politician nutcase imposing seasons on us for fox - I prefer the self regulation route any day.

pajero2005

thelurcher wrote: »

Too early yet - just look at the road kill for an idea of the amount of very young cubs - they're still very much dependent on the vixen.

Another month and you should be fine.

Do the job right during the season and you won't have to be out this time of year.
You'll always get cowboys out shooting early - bad form IMO - and putting it on a public forum like this will end up with some green politician nutcase imposing seasons on us for fox - I prefer the self regulation route any day.

Do you think its too early even for a person who is planning on releasing pheasent later this year? According to my mate, fox numbers are way up this year on his shoots. A few other local lads released birds last year and lost huge numbers of them to charlie:mad:

Terrier

Normally don't start back lamping until early August, about a month before we start releasing.
Although my trailcam has already picked up a young cub sniffing around our pen so might need to sort them out a bit earlier this year.

foxhunter

thelurcher wrote: »

Too early yet - just look at the road kill for an idea of the amount of very young cubs - they're still very much dependent on the vixen.

Another month and you should be fine.

Do the job right during the season and you won't have to be out this time of year.
You'll always get cowboys out shooting early - bad form IMO - and putting it on a public forum like this will end up with some green politician nutcase imposing seasons on us for fox - I prefer the self regulation route any day.

Our club spends all it's spare cash on birds every year and the amount of fox's in our area this year has forced me out to be honest.
You may have different reasons for not hunting them at this time of year maybe you want to give dogs a run or something like that but I shoot them simply for pest control and no other reason .
By the way I dont ride a horse and dont own a stetson either so maybe the cowboys are only in your locality.

k_d

thelurcher wrote: »

You'll always get cowboys out shooting early - bad form IMO -

thats your opinion

In my opinion the way things are now with greens as so on as you say...,"Bad form" is getting onto anoter shooter for doing something perfectly legal.

mac80

I recently got permission to shoot vermin on some land in my area, I dont pheasent shoot and noticed a pen of poults in one of the fields, I walked past them and then saw a Fox in the ditch in front of me, before I got my rifle out and aimed he was gone.
I waited and tried the electronic caller but no joy ( it was middle of day ) so went over and has a look and there is a den there from what i saw the area is full of sh1t and remains of some animals.
This is in the same field at the pen for rearing the Pheasents, so as soon as I get back on my feet ( sprained ankle badly on way back from this trip ) I'll try and nail the fox.
I'd say he's just lickin his lips lookin at the Pheasents and i'd be doin the local club a favour too.

Mac

cavan shooter

thelurcher wrote: »

Too early yet - just look at the road kill for an idea of the amount of very young cubs - they're still very much dependent on the vixen.

Another month and you should be fine.

Do the job right during the season and you won't have to be out this time of year.
You'll always get cowboys out shooting early - bad form IMO - and putting it on a public forum like this will end up with some green politician nutcase imposing seasons on us for fox - I prefer the self regulation route any day.

your the one mentioning seasons, I shoot foxes only to control them. Quite simply put there are too many foxes already in the area possibly because to many older ones were shot last year.

If I didnt have 60 poults out and wasnt into rearing and releasing pheasants I wouldnt shoot foxes, no need at present.

"Now I'm goin back outa this saloon kinda slow like... no quick moves from any of ye"

meathshooter

There are certainly plenty of them about especaily during daylight hours seen a vixen with four cubs out sunning themselves in all counted about 20 in the last week shot 2 dog foxes (separete times)that where getting to close for comfort near the pens about 6 and 7am in freshly cut silage

Hezz700

August is plenty soon to go after them IMO. Between 9pm and 11pm is when i'd do most of my business.

BryanL

4Th of July weekend is a bit early for me. No need just yet. I'd say it's too early to be releasing birds as well. No wonder not many last till the start of the season?
Bryan

pajero2005

BryanL wrote: »

4Th of July weekend is a bit early for me. No need just yet. I'd say it's too early to be releasing birds as well. No wonder not many last till the start of the season?
Bryan

Didn't say hes letting them off anytime soon, just thinking of doin the ground work now seen as numbers of fox are quiet high in the area. Last season the birds were released by his local club (I presume they would know the right time) and lost alot of them because not many lads took the time to cull the fox's.

All things considered i'll probably wait a little while longer. Thanks for all the replies lads.

homerhop

When i was into releasing birds fox season went all year round. Now as soon as the corn is cut I will be giving it a good blast of the lamp.
Plenty of foxes about, was standing in my yard the other day at 1pm and there was a dog fox calling in the field at the back of the house for a good half hour.

Dusty87

Seen a young one tonight, ran across road and into field. Got out a torch from car and watched him disappear. Didn see mammy. Would they be independant now?

thelurcher

Dusty - shoot away at the young ones by day - my problem is lamping this time of year - hard to sex/age a fox on the lamp.
Bad PR to be shooting vixens with dependent cubs whatever the reason - simple as that - especially when you can do the job earlier in the year.
The farmers hate lamping this time of year anywhere I have permission - too much stock in the fields.

If ye have a troublesome vixen - get on to the local hunt and they'll organize for a terrierman to do the job - no messing then - the whole burrow will be cleaned out.

Cowboys - yes ye are

pajero2005

"Cowboys - yes ye are "

Steady now....... Just asking. Nothing wrong with trying to educate yourself!!:p

homerhop

thelurcher wrote: »

If ye have a troublesome vixen - get on to the local hunt and they'll organize for a terrierman to do the job - no messing then - the whole burrow will be cleaned out.

Not exactly PR friendly either. Terrier men up this way are not looked upon kindly by the local farmers due to the fact that large holes were dug in fields to dig out terriers or foxes and badly filled in, plus the blooding of new dogs by some was not exactly humane in dealing with mr fox.

BryanL

homerhop wrote: »

Not exactly PR friendly either. Terrier men up this way are not looked upon kindly by the local farmers due to the fact that large holes were dug in fields to dig out terriers or foxes and badly filled in, plus the blooding of new dogs by some was not exactly humane in dealing with mr fox.

Well those guys would be called, Cowboys too, you get them in every facet of life.
Bryan

coughlan08

have been out the last three weekends and have shot 6 on average every night ,between 4 farms,
the place is littered with them.:)

Dusty87

thelurcher wrote: »

Dusty - shoot away at the young ones by day - my problem is lamping this time of year - hard to sex/age a fox on the lamp.
Bad PR to be shooting vixens with dependent cubs whatever the reason - simple as that - especially when you can do the job earlier in the year.
The farmers hate lamping this time of year anywhere I have permission - too much stock in the fields.

If ye have a troublesome vixen - get on to the local hunt and they'll organize for a terrierman to do the job - no messing then - the whole burrow will be cleaned out.

Cowboys - yes ye are

I wasn out lampin. I was actually lookin for a mink! Just seen this the way home. Im dont lamp yet unless a problem fox but i think callin people cowboys is a bit much. I have no problem shootin a problem fox weather it be a vixen or dog. I dont go out lampin this time time of year but then again i havn released birds etc that have cost plenty of time and money. Ps i only asked are they independant yet?:)

thelurcher

feck me ye're a touchy bunch of aul women :rolleyes:

k_d

Dusty87 wrote: »

. Ps i only asked are they independant yet?:)

From the ones iv shot in the last 3 weeks, i would say there independant now.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

I haven't shot a fox in years. When I did, it didn't matter what time of year, or what sex, or what age that fox was. The only good fox is a dead fox, or however the saying goes.

Now I am sure people are going to flame me, saying this or that is wrong etc etc. But I never really cared, not did anyone in my area.

We stalk a den near by, one evening we seen a mother with her cubs, all went to ground bar one cub. We followed it up the field. A few minutes later we hear a shotgun going off... there was a farmer in the field with the dead cub. "got the little bastard" he says... We laughed.

There should never be a season for vermin, unless they are becomming endangered. Which I cannot see happening.

Valmont

Brock Hollow Colander wrote: »

IThere should never be a season for vermin, unless they are becomming endangered. Which I cannot see happening.

I suppose it would have happened already but with the rate you lads kill em, is it possible that they will ever be wiped out of certain parts of the country? Don't jump on me now, I don't really know anything about lamping apart from what I read here.

homerhop

Valmont wrote: »

I suppose it would have happened already but with the rate you lads kill em, is it possible that they will ever be wiped out of certain parts of the country? Don't jump on me now, I don't really know anything about lamping apart from what I read here.

Will never happen. Foxes will travel, so as soon as you shoot a fox in an area another will move in to take over its territory.There are plenty of estates and lands that farmers/owners will not be let shot. Then you also have the urban fox that us shooters cannot get at. So for now mr red is safe and sound and well away from the endangered list in this country.

macadam

Let them have it now mast fox cubs will be on there own and getting plenty of bad habits.

Next you know some of ye will want a season for rat baiting, vermin is vermin and should be delt with.

Valmont

macadam wrote: »

vermin is vermin and should be delt with.

At least try to remember they're not vermin to everyone.

Dusty87

Valmont wrote: »

At least try to remember they're not vermin to everyone.

As iv said before, its easy to treat them like that when you havn lost lambs or poultry to them. All the same they should be respected as should all quarry. I dont think there is many people who would like to see them extinct altogether but the numbers have to be kept down.

elius

I think they fall into the same catagory as deer no real natrual predeter.. So numbers have to be controlled...Your going to get people who disagree in it. I to be honest arent keen on lamping.. But i understand farmers, gun clubs ect have to protect there assets...And if a local farmer rings me having a problem ill c if i can sort it for him...

Dusty87

Was talkin to a farmer last night who told me there was a litter of cubs down the back of his land if i wanted to get them before they picked up any bad habits. He said they are tiny. He said id feel horrid cruel there so small but has to be done. This i presume would be a late litter would it??

pajero2005

Went out yesterday evening after a phone call from the farmer on one of my permissions. Had a visit from charlie, lookin for a few chickens:eek:. I know some of ye will start sayin its too soon, but to be fair this was a problem fox. The farmer was good enough to give me permission to go after rabbits all along and needed this chap gotton rid of.

Called him in in no time, bold as brass he was. Got him into about 60 yards or so, had a good rest for the rifle and was sure of a good shot. Gentle squeeze of the trigger as he stood broad side to me and he dropped on the spot. Didn't move an inch. So now I know for sure a .22wrm is effective out to 60ish with 40grain HP on a fox (with good shot placement). I'll stay at that kind of distance for a while to, hopefully, improve with time and experience.

Just thought I'd share it with ye. For me it was a moment to savour:cool:

foxshooter243

pajero2005 wrote: »

Went out yesterday evening after a phone call from the farmer on one of my permissions. Had a visit from charlie, lookin for a few chickens:eek:. I know some of ye will start sayin its too soon, but to be fair this was a problem fox. The farmer was good enough to give me permission to go after rabbits all along and needed this chap gotton rid of.

Called him in in no time, bold as brass he was. Got him into about 60 yards or so, had a good rest for the rifle and was sure of a good shot. Gentle squeeze of the trigger as he stood broad side to me and he dropped on the spot. Didn't move an inch. So now I know for sure a .22wrm is effective out to 60ish with 40grain HP on a fox (with good shot placement). I'll stay at that kind of distance for a while to, hopefully, improve with time and experience.

Just thought I'd share it with ye. For me it was a moment to savour:cool:

Good post Pajero, I would agree with your philosophy on summer cub shooting, I wouldnt go looking for them as theres not much sport to be had shooting fish in a barrel, however problem foxes need to be dealt with
any time of the year. We called in a litter of cubs a few nights back and we had them tripping over themselves in front and around the landrover,
we had no intention of shooting them as it was only an exercise to show
a lad home on holidays some fox cubs.I reckon they are best left till sept/october time as the cattle will be off the fields and they will have a bit more craft..congrats on your first fox by the way..