Foxing

well
having a bit of trouble shooting foxes around my area. there seems to be an increase in them at the moment but every time i put a lamp on them there gone, is there any technique or caller anyone uses to get them back?
seen 3 tonight but wasnt fast enough
thanks

macadam

Are you interested in a trap/cage?

stick shooter

Have you tried a coloured filter on lamp.

never really considered traps. no havnt tried any filters would they keep the red fela from running?im not using any callers just squeekn away to no good efect any good ones ye could recomend? am i better off to lamp and move on or position myself for a period of time and see what i can call in?

Birdnuts

Some good suggestions on callers in this old thread:)

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=71400684

johngalway

I presume you're shooting, what with?

Coloured filters for the lamp may work, but equally may not. A lot of people use Red filters, but I found they cut out way too much light. I prefer Amber (orange) myself. They may give you an extra second or two while the fox is working out WTF is that?

A dimmer sometimes fools the fox into thinking you're farther away than you really are.

But, a lamp shy fox is a pain in the posterior what ever way ya look at him.

If you know his regular runs and times that helps.

I have seen lads rig up PIR sensors to watch over pegged down bait. The area would usually be baited for a few days until the fox was regularly taking it, don't be overly generous in the amount of bait. The shooter then watches in the direction of the sensor until the PIR senses the fox comeing to the bait. These sensors must have a small LED indicator light on them that activates when the PIR senses something. Have the rifle/shotgun trained in the direction of the bait, lamp on Ka-boom.

Then you have the same theory except substitute the PIR with a night vision spotter like the Yukon Digital Ranger or Yukon Exelon. A much more expensive option.

Either way, you need to be really fast and accurate.

Snaring is another option but shouldn't be done without the knowledge of how to do it properly.

homerhop

Are you lighting them up straight away when you see them? if so this tends to spook them.
Keep the lamp down low enough so you can catch the glare of their eyes. Dont rush them when walking towards them and when you are within range and ready to shoot then light them up. Also keep a watch on what way the wind is blowing.

yea i could try baiting the area. i have seen foxes in the same field for the last 2 nights, too far away last night and only about 60yards away but by the time i got setled he was gone over a hill.is there much chance of them coming back to a caller after running away?

moby30

If it was me I would find a spot near to where you spotted them that you can get a safe shot at- ideally beside a ditch or fence.get yourself one of those small cheap alarm clocks. Drive a stick into the ground or use a fence post etc and tie a bit of string around a rabbit and loop the other end around the batteries of the clock.(make sure the clock is secured to the post).The idea is that the fox will run off with the rabbit and when he does it pulls the batteries out and you can tell what time he did it at. do this for a couple of nights to see if it is around the same time every night. Foxes are creatures of habit and a lot of the time you will find that it is. After three or four nights tie a rabbit securely to the post so he cannot run off with it and you should be able to get a shot at him. A couple of things to remember though. Always check the wind direction. Don't go anywhere near the place for the first few nights that the clock is being used and if for example you know that he is around at roughly 11 then be in position a good half hour to 45 mins before hand. If you use snares be sure there's nobody walking dogs and check them very regulary. Filters will definitely help as they will quickly get used to your lamp so by using something different it should hold them a little longer. The same goes for whatever caller you use so don't use it again and try something else. Best of luck with them- trying to outwit them is great craic.

thanks ill give the alarm clock a go over the next week an see if i have any luck

7.62 rule

Have you tried a mouse call on a windy night.

I've found a mouse call on a windy night great, Foxes eat a lot of mice, but dont hear many hunters using them, also another tip, I've found more often than not its best not to use any call if at all possible, it can scare foxes off that are being heavily hunted.

It's a real shame when folks miss foxes and educate them.

All the best.

Cheers:):):)