Fox problems

Capercaille

I own a farm in the west, only 24.5 acres. It is roughly 1 km long by 100 meters wide. There is road frontage along entire length. The place is full of foxes and there are sensitive wildlife present during summer. What would be the best way to thin numbers? Would lamping them be legal given the close proximity of the road? There is a house in the middle of the farm and the land slopes down on both sides to the sea. The farm is beside the sea and otters are around, would it be safe to snare the foxes given there are otters around. There also plenty of hares around, would they be safe with the snares around. I was thinking about getting one of local lads to do the job. What insurance would he need to have, I don't want him falling on the farm and then suing me?

Invincible

Capercaille wrote: »

I own a farm in the west, only 24.5 acres. It is roughly 1 km long by 100 meters wide. There is road frontage along entire length. The place is full of foxes and there are sensitive wildlife present during summer. What would be the best way to thin numbers? Would lamping them be legal given the close proximity of the road? There is a house in the middle of the farm and the land slopes down on both sides to the sea. The farm is beside the sea and otters are around, would it be safe to snare the foxes given there are otters around. There also plenty of hares around, would they be safe with the snares around. I was thinking about getting one of local lads to do the job. What insurance would he need to have, I don't want him falling on the farm and then suing me?

it sounds an ideal area for surrounding with guns and flushing with a pack of hounds. Any hunt I know of have insurance.

Capercaille

Invincible wrote: »

it sounds an ideal area for surrounding with guns and flushing with a pack of hounds. Any hunt I know of have insurance.

There sheep grazing on the farm. A pack of hounds is a non runner.

Invincible

Capercaille wrote: »

There sheep grazing on the farm. A pack of hounds is a non runner.

I've seen sheep rounded up and moved before a hunt started, if the farmer has interest in protecting his lambs in future, he shouldn't mind a once off gathering of sheep.

deano2882

give rough farm location and sum1 mite offers services..all responseable gun owners should have liability cover thru gun club..legal snares have a stop not as not to get unwanted stuff as they cant tighten in to small..but otters prob wud get caught as dey fairly big...

The Aussie

Capercaille wrote: »

24.5 acres. It is roughly 1 km long by 100 meters wide. There is road frontage along entire length.

Sounds like a hard one to be honest, because (a) you won't find anyone who will fire towards a road, and (b) you cannot fire 20m or 60 foot from a road, so shooting is almost ruled out entirely.

Next option is traps and Snares, could be the best bet to be honest.

I don't know about the Dogs but could be another option if your hard pushed for results.

Capercaille

Farm is outside Belmullet Mayo. I live in the east of the Country .No fox dens on farm, but loads in the area. I want them controlled from now till mid April. The meadows are off limits from end of April to September 15 when silage is cut. I'm trying to get a reliable local lad for the job, but if I can't will have to try elsewhere.

Invincible

The Aussie wrote: »

Sounds like a hard one to be honest, because (a) you won't find anyone who will fire towards a road, and (b) you can fire 20m or 60 foot from a road, so shooting is possible if legislation is adhered to.

Next option is traps and Snares, could be the best bet to be honest.

I don't know about the Dogs but could be another option if your hard pushed for results.

Fixed that for you

The Aussie

Yes, you would have to wonder how much some people like shooting as a Sport really.
But not to fear, they won't be at it for long under Summary Jurisdiction Act 1851.

Eddie B

Its hard to give you the right advise on this question without actually seeing the land! Maybe snareing would be the best option from what you've told us! You need to find someone who has a lot of experience with snareing and set them at the proper hight to avoid catching protected animals or livestock! The best method i've found is to find a corner of land thats not in use, a rough corner with high grass if possible. Bait the area to draw foxes to this location and place snares on the passes used or created by foxes!

garv123

Is there road frontage on both of the long sides?

If its only one side its possible to do if the lay of the land suits, you would have 80m to the next ditch and a wide angle that increases the length, you could call foxes in under the lamp and if its not being shot before they might come within shotgun range which would let you take some shots that might not be safe with the rifle.

Really you need someone to view the land.

Capercaille

The road runs along only one side of the farm. After silage is cut in September the only areas of long grass are nettle beds, Umbellifer bed and iris beds. They are grazed down with aftermath grazing. There are several drains however which have long grass which could be used to set up snares, but this is also where the otters frequent. I have contacted the npws to cull the foxes, hopefully they will assist.

stoeger2000

Capercaille wrote: »

The road runs along only one side of the farm. After silage is cut in September the only areas of long grass are nettle beds, Umbellifer bed and iris beds. They are grazed down with aftermath grazing. There are several drains however which have long grass which could be used to set up snares, but this is also where the otters frequent. I have contacted the npws to cull the foxes, hopefully they will assist.

How about using live catch traps? You could trap the fox live and remove to somewhere else to be dispatched. Any otters caught in error can be released unharmed.

Jerrystevens

what are you trying to achieve with your fox culling, 24.5 acres is a field not a farm if there are no fox dens on it then most foxes on it will just be passing through any you shoot trap snare or frighten off will just be replaced by another within a few days

jackboy

Foxes don't do much damage to sensitive wildlife which is adapted to live close to them. The fact that you see otters and hares on this land indicates that the local wildlife is doing well.

Capercaille

jackboy wrote: »

Foxes don't do much damage to sensitive wildlife which is adapted to live close to them. The fact that you see otters and hares on this land indicates that the local wildlife is doing well.

I had corncrake breeding on the farm this year. I have spent a lot of money on creating an ideal habitat for them. If even one chick is killed that is one too many.

One shot on kill

One thing you could do is

If the dens aren't on your land try get the ajoining farmer in on your idea so who ever ges out to shoot has a bigger chance. If you hit them hard enough you will thin them out but you will most likely age to keep on them every year.

And just for the record 24•5 acres is bigger than my farm. And look your going about it the right way so far.

running dogs

You could also get a lad with a Lurcher and lamp to put a good dint in them in a couple of good nights (if there not lamp shy) and you wouldn't have to worry about shots then

Capercaille

running dogs wrote: »

You could also get a lad with a Lurcher and lamp to put a good dint in them in a couple of good nights (if there not lamp shy) and you wouldn't have to worry about shots then

I feel guilty enough about getting foxes removed, I definitely won't be getting lurchers out after them.

Capercaille

One shot on kill wrote: »

One thing you could do is

If the dens aren't on your land try get the ajoining farmer in on your idea so who ever ges out to shoot has a bigger chance. If you hit them hard enough you will thin them out but you will most likely age to keep on them every year.

And just for the record 24•5 acres is bigger than my farm. And look your going about it the right way so far.

I never really thought about that. A bigger cull area would lead to more foxes being removed. A great idea!

niteowl84

How about if you can find a spot on the land which is away from the road and put up a portable high seat and call the foxes in and shoot them then that way your away from the road and if u miss the shot it will hit the ground and it would be a safe back stop?

Capercaillie

Had fox burrow on the farm. Multiple trails going into the burrow. Got them dug out. Vixen with four young cubs. Glad I didn't get the vixen lamped and the pups would have then starved in the den. All ditches/drain were checked within 1km. Graveyard nearby also held a den but was not active.

wildlifeboy

how did you dispatch the cubs?

Capercaillie

wildlifeboy wrote: »

how did you dispatch the cubs?

I wasn't there for the digging and would not want to see it being done anyways. I asked the lad digging them out that if there was any young cubs I wanted them killed quickly. He hit them with the shovel. The cubs were less than a week old.

allan450

i think i know the spot our own about.i travel down their for football matches.we went looking for or ball and were told not to go into the field as the corn crake was in their.so had to leave with no ball ha ha.