Lamp Shy Foxes

12gaugedave

Well lads,
Went out lamping about 10.30 last night,
To make a long story short, we saw 16 foxes and only got a shot at 1 of them. As soon as we caught the eyes in the lamp the lamp goes off as normal, turn it back on and could see the fox bolting up the field.:mad:
We tried 3 different calls that all have worked before, but no joy.

Anyone having the same problem lately???

Half-cocked

Sounds like some one else has been scaring them with a lamp. I had a problem a few years back, some local lads were lamping rabbits with shotguns but they put the willies up all the local foxes too! Didn't get a fox for a whole 6 months.

12gaugedave

Half-cocked wrote: »

Sounds like some one else has been scaring them with a lamp. I had a problem a few years back, some local lads were lamping rabbits with shotguns but they put the willies up all the local foxes too! Didn't get a fox for a whole 6 months.

Yeah id say thats whats happening alright, Wouldnt be long pissin ya off, when every fox ya see bolts.

landkeeper

you'll meet lots of lamp shy lads now they are the survivors the ones that have been missed or had a spin with a lurcher or nearly got smacked by a car at night all the numb feckers have been shot it's time to get out at edge of dusk if you want to get those lads

lee70

why don't you try using a filter on the lamp. I had the same problem, if you can sus out what direction there coming from then you can set your self up before hand. Give it a good 15 minutes of calling then switch on the lamp. With the filter on that should give you the extra little bit of time you need to nab them.

pugw

Seeing that a lot aswel these days 12 guage! This late in the year some of them just take off like hounds, however had some success with the ones that are moving away from ya at a steady pace and give a look back now and then. Kill the lamp put the ucaller vixen on for 2 or 3 min, be on the rifle ready to fire then scan with the lamp again, norkmally gives you a couple of seconds to take the shot. This worked for me two weeks ago with foxes that were out 400 yards and managed to get them back to 200! Hard to get the scope on them quickly though!

12gaugedave

lee70 wrote: »

why don't you try using a filter on the lamp. I had the same problem, if you can sus out what direction there coming from then you can set your self up before hand. Give it a good 15 minutes of calling then switch on the lamp. With the filter on that should give you the extra little bit of time you need to nab them.

What filter do you use? Orange or red would prob work??

lee70

12gaugedave wrote: »

What filter do you use? Orange or red would prob work??

i've only used the orange/amber one and it did help.I shot and missed a fox last night, but i followed him stuck on the amber filter used the vixen call after about 10min turned on scope mounted LF170 and there he was 80yds BANG lights out.

Spunk84

Where do you position yourself? i.e top/bottom/left/right of the field in bushes, in the middle of the field ? Also wind is a major factor to account for. I agree the foxes are getting really lamp shy, i think the red filter is the way forward.

sikastag

Dont know how true this is, but Ive heard a few people say that if you use a strong beam (eg) LF170, that it causes a shadow of the foxes body and when they move the shadow moves and can spook them. Maybe a filter would lessen the effect of the shadow? Anyone else ever hear of that? Personally use LF170 with filter.

12gaugedave

Spunk84 wrote: »

Where do you position yourself? i.e top/bottom/left/right of the field in bushes, in the middle of the field ? Also wind is a major factor to account for. I agree the foxes are getting really lamp shy, i think the red filter is the way forward.

Where i was last night, theres a ring fort in the right hand side of the field. I know theres a den at the bottom of the same field so i set up in the bushes in the ring fort. The wind was blowing straight at me so no chance of them getting my cent. its the perfect spot really.
When i went in first i flashed the lamp around, nothing, called for about 5 mins and lamped again, saw eyes at the bottom ditch so lamp off and stayed calling. When i turned the lamp on again he was about 130 yards away and justed bolted, never gave me a second.

zlezlius

Same trouble lads. They so light shy and callers usually don't work. The real challenge to put one down:(

garv123

zlezlius wrote: »

Same trouble lads. They so light shy and callers usually don't work. The real challenge to put one down:(

we're all finding it the same i think.
as said before its the time of year when there used to it and know to stay away from lights from cars passing and shots been taken and missed.
all the cute feckers are running around now and they know too well not to sit around. wait til next year when they relax abit from not been lamped and younger lads are born and they wil be more lamp friendly again

Spunk84

well went out last night, went to a usually spot at a hill over looking a bog. excellent spot as your about 4-5 feet above the bog. So got all my gear set-up but just when i was about to start calling i could here someone else calling foxes.

So i left all my gear were it was and hide behind a tree just incase they decided to take a shot near or at me:eek: so listened to him call for a good 20minutes then the red beam went on. As soon as the beam went off i took mine and shined it down him, well i tell ya, he bolted across a ditch and up the other field. So i take it he shouldn't of been there:rolleyes:

So i sat down and waited for a bit then called away, flipped on the lamp and hit eyes about 200 yards out, as soon as i hit the eyes the fox bolted off throw the bog. Walking out of the field on the way to the car lit up a field with another pair of eye coming across the middle, turned of the beam got positioned in the space of seconds flipped the lamp back on and he was long gone.

Just shows you, there lamp shy for a reason:mad: the fields are probably lamped non stop

12gauge dave

ya me and my friends have the same problem the last year for every 10 foxes we see only 3 wait around sometimes none:mad: we been shooting for 3years so must be just the survivors left:pac:

pejay

Would calling by day be any any good or even just before dusk/late evening
you might sitll bring the odd lampshy one out and nab him before dark