Fox Control

Browning2010 · 11-05-2020 11:39pm #1

Anyone doing much fox control at the moment?

Any good story's? Tips, advice, rifle setup pics etc...?

I got 2 vixens and 2 cubs today. Early morning and evening forays. Nice weather for it.

Vizzy · 12-05-2020 12:50am

Had a call from a sheep farmer about 10 days ago.

Wasn't keen to be going out given the current situation but I discussed with him and agreed to wear gloves to open gates etc.

He has about 600 sheep who are all lambed at this stage and he was losing a few.
Land (and adjoining farmers land) all runs under mountain commonage. Tough walking but the views at night are spectacular. Was watching the supermoon last Friday morning at 2.45 am, really special.

Anyway, got 4 so far and saw another 5 or 6 but couldn't get a shot at them. They are all healthy and in their prime, but needs must.

Will give it a few more runs and then call it a day.

Farmer also has at least 2 other lads shooting it as well.

steyrman · 12-05-2020 9:30pm

Hi things have slowed up with me 302 foxes since December 1 doing a bit of rabbit shooting on corn atm but if I get a call out I will sort it out

Browning2010 · 14-05-2020 8:14pm

steyrman wrote: »

Hi things have slowed up with me 302 foxes since December 1 doing a bit of rabbit shooting on corn atm but if I get a call out I will sort it out

Holy sh1t! That's about 15 foxes a week!! You must cover some ground? ðŸ˜‚

steyrman · 14-05-2020 9:47pm

Browning2010 wrote: »

Holy sh1t! That's about 15 foxes a week!! You must cover some ground? ��

Hi here is a break down of the season for me

The final tally 302 foxes The breakdown 19 weeks lamping foxes 4 trips per week distance walked was 7.45 km per night average resulted in 560 km walked lamping at night . Distance traveled driving was 100 km average a night 7,600 km in 19 weeks the average fox taken per night was 4.19 per night all these foxes were taken in 4500 hectares in different areas of my ground from 01/12/2019 till 03/04/2020 calibers used was sako 85 in .243 there was 195 foxes shot with this rifle one missed sabatti 65creedmoor 67 foxes shot with this rifle and 1 missed i also used my cz17 hmr 40 foxes shot and 3 missed i had 5 missed foxes all season as I keep a diary every day and have for years so the break down is easier to manage. Fox calls I just used Claustengame calls tried and tested with me and all these foxes were shot by me single handed wicked-lights 2 of them red pills one mounted on rifle at all times second for spotting my vanguardquestt62 sticks I shot 99% of my foxes off them up off the ground the can hold the weight of my rifle when on a stand leaving my hands free to call and spot Highlight of the year was when kristoffer clausten came over in January for 5 days / nights foxing he managed 27 foxes I did not add them to the above total as kristoffer shot them not me another season over roll on the next I’m still active on call outs I have 36 farms on a WhatsApp group if I’m needed

Vizzy · 14-05-2020 10:03pm

That's some going - well done

minktrapper · 15-05-2020 9:57am

Any idea as to average distance Fox's were shot.

steyrman · 15-05-2020 10:31am

minktrapper wrote: »

Any idea as to average distance Fox's were shot.

Hi minktrapper early December 100 yards to 150 but as the lambing started a lot of foxes were under 100 yards in January because the we’re paired up I tried to shoot the vixens first with a good chance of the dog fox stopping some were 50 yards and a few over 180 . When I’m out I bring the rifle to suit the ground I’m on so it’s the .243 most of the time but 8n built up areas the 17 hmr earned its keep

dodderangler · 15-05-2020 10:42am

Seen a few git a few but I'm out atm with a chipped fracture on the foot unfortunately
Dying to get out

cookimonster · 15-05-2020 11:09am

steyrman wrote: »

Hi minktrapper early December 100 yards to 150 but as the lambing started a lot of foxes were under 100 yards in January because the we’re paired up I tried to shoot the vixens first with a good chance of the dog fox stopping some were 50 yards and a few over 180 . When I’m out I bring the rifle to suit the ground I’m on so it’s the .243 most of the time but 8n built up areas the 17 hmr earned its keep

Well done great to hear a honest account, there's so much bull crap of lads continually knocking foxs out a extended range. Every one gets a few excemptional shoots every so often thsts a fact. If your set up like 260RIPS (UTube) for day light foxing as he is absolutely, but notice himself, Roy Lupton and the old brigades of Robert Bucknell and Mike Powell all knock thier nocturnal foxs at distances similar to steyrman.

Vizzy · 15-05-2020 11:10am

minktrapper wrote: »

Any idea as to average distance Fox's were shot.

I was going to ask the same question,but you have answered that.
I know that you are using the clausten callers. Ate they more effective than,say, the vixen caller or the "original" caller in lambing areas. Most of my shooting at the moment borders mountain land and I am difficulty getting them within 150-200 metres.

minktrapper · 15-05-2020 11:11am

steyrman wrote: »

Hi minktrapper early December 100 yards to 150 but as the lambing started a lot of foxes were under 100 yards in January because the we’re paired up I tried to shoot the vixens first with a good chance of the dog fox stopping some were 50 yards and a few over 180 . When I’m out I bring the rifle to suit the ground I’m on so it’s the .243 most of the time but 8n built up areas the 17 hmr earned its keep

Thanks for the reply. How are you finding the Vanguard Quest shooting sticks. Are they bipod/tripod.Will the rifle hold on its own.

steyrman · 15-05-2020 11:20am

Vizzy wrote: »

I was going to ask the same question,but you have answered that.
I know that you are using the clausten callers. Ate they more effective than,say, the vixen caller or the "original" caller in lambing areas. Most of my shooting at the moment borders mountain land and I am difficulty getting them within 150-200 metres.

Hi vizzy as I walk all my ground and I have a decent amount off hill ground to control i shoot a decent amount of deer I try to put the gralloch in the same area if I can this provides a feeding station for hill foxes and gives them a area with a good chance of food on a regular supply. I have started to backpack the meat out leaving the carcass there and it works 49 foxes off one hill farm this season I cut the walking down by half I have made a number of bait pipes and put them out some foxes love them others don’t go near them no matter what bait is in them the calls worked very good this season but I don’t overly call a little can go a long way if I see a fox moving away I will walk after it and try and cut it off but the bait station works much better for hill foxes imo

Vizzy · 15-05-2020 2:06pm

steyrman wrote: »

Hi vizzy as I walk all my ground and I have a decent amount off hill ground to control i shoot a decent amount of deer I try to put the gralloch in the same area if I can this provides a feeding station for hill foxes and gives them a area with a good chance of food on a regular supply. I have started to backpack the meat out leaving the carcass there and it works 49 foxes off one hill farm this season I cut the walking down by half I have made a number of bait pipes and put them out some foxes love them others don’t go near them no matter what bait is in them the calls worked very good this season but I don’t overly call a little can go a long way if I see a fox moving away I will walk after it and try and cut it off but the bait station works much better for hill foxes imo

Exactly the guidance I needed, thanks.

Don't shoot deer ( although there are plenty of them around on the hills), so leaving gralloch and carcasses is not an option for me.
But "my current farmer" has lost a few lambs and more recently a ram, which he dragged up onto the border of his land and the hill on Weds for me.

Shot two off it last night in the space of about an hour.

Thanks again.

kunekunesika · 15-05-2020 3:43pm

Hadn't shoot foxes in over 20 years. Got a call a few weeks back,from one of the farmers where I shoot deer. Only delighted to get out. Had a simple nordik squeler and a basic 30e hand held lamp. Couldn't bring my assistant, as his mammy wouldn't let him out , lockdown. So I checked my zero, 1" high at 100 and off I went. Farmer held the lamp for me, between us, we broke every rule of good foxing, banged gates, shout at the top of his voice, shone lights where and when we shouldn't etc etc. Shot 3 foxes, each night for 3 nights??? Caller was rarely used , foxes all hung out at the limit of the light, 100 to 150 ish. The main factor wasn't my gear or my skill foxing, but most likely this farmer was lambing outdoors ( which is a rarity ). But check your zero, they really are small animals at those distances. Brilliant shooting, and elevated to near sainthood in the farmers eyes.

steyrman · 15-05-2020 4:38pm

minktrapper wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. How are you finding the Vanguard Quest shooting sticks. Are they bipod/tripod.Will the rifle hold on its own.

Hi minktrapper I can leave any of my rifles setup on the vanguard quest and my 65 creedmoor was 17 lbs there a tripod but fold down to 16 inches to be used sitting down or kneeling down if I forgot them I would go home for them

minktrapper · 15-05-2020 5:33pm

steyrman wrote: »

Hi minktrapper I can leave any of my rifles setup on the vanguard quest and my 65 creedmoor was 17 lbs there a tripod but fold down to 16 inches to be used sitting down or kneeling down if I forgot them I would go home for them

Just looking at a photo of one. Folds down to just over 24" though. It has a u shaped rest on it. Quest T62U. How do you rest a rifle on that.

steyrman · 16-05-2020 3:31am

minktrapper wrote: »

Just looking at a photo of one. Folds down to just over 24" though. It has a u shaped rest on it. Quest T62U. How do you rest a rifle on that.

I will post a pic in daylight

Browning2010 · 17-05-2020 12:28pm

Anyone know cheapest place to buy .243 ammo? Any brand, grain considered?

The pigeon man · 17-05-2020 2:33pm

Browning2010 wrote: »

Anyone know cheapest place to buy .243 ammo? Any brand, grain considered?

Irish shooting sports seem to be cheap on the latest hornady shipment into the country.

Free delivery over €75.

I don't shoot a 243 myself but is saw they have 58gr vmax in 243. Shoots as flat as a laser.

Hunter456 · 20-05-2020 10:21am

good to see lads out foxing truly needed place is walking in foxes, Hamming a sheep farm near me shooting a few but not as many as recent years must be doing some good.

Renno123 · 20-05-2020 1:30pm

What a horrific thread and sub forum to come across

Vizzy · 20-05-2020 1:36pm

The fairies and lollipops thread is this way >>>>>>>>>>>

cookimonster · 20-05-2020 1:42pm

Renno123 wrote: »

What a horrific thread and sub forum to come across

....... well there's the door, off you go, obviously you made a wrong turn!

Hunter456 · 20-05-2020 8:50pm

Renno123 wrote: »

What a horrific thread and sub forum to come across

What fascinates me is y came in if you knew it was horrific.

minktrapper · 25-05-2020 4:09pm

steyrman wrote: »

I will post a pic in daylight

Any sign of a picture of your shooting sticks Steyrman.

steyrman · 25-05-2020 9:38pm

Sorry for the delay I will take a few in proper daylight tomorrow being a busy time

minktrapper · 25-05-2020 11:25pm

steyrman wrote: »

Hi minktrapper I can leave any of my rifles setup on the vanguard quest and my 65 creedmoor was 17 lbs there a tripod but fold down to 16 inches to be used sitting down or kneeling down if I forgot them I would go home for them

Good man. Is the bipod holding it in position?

pm. · 26-05-2020 1:05am

steyrman wrote: »

Sorry for the delay I will take a few in proper daylight tomorrow being a busy time

Man those fields look great, Ideal rifle ground

steyrman · 26-05-2020 2:22pm

minktrapper wrote: »

Good man. Is the bipod holding it in position?

Yea the bipod holds it but if I just use the strap it will hold the same I like the idea the hands free glassing and calling that rifle is 18 lbs and never had any issue with it on the sticks

minktrapper · 26-05-2020 2:39pm

Do the sticks make much noise. Do they flex as they look light. The weight of holding a rifle for long periods can be a bit much on the arms.

How do you find the single resting point for the rifle.

steyrman · 27-05-2020 3:58pm

minktrapper wrote: »

Do the sticks make much noise. Do they flex as they look light. The weight of holding a rifle for long periods can be a bit much on the arms.

How do you find the single resting point for the rifle.

Hi the sticks make little or no noise no flex in the sticks with rifle on top these sticks are 18 months old and work flawless the last set are still here with 2 bent legs after I fell head over heels out foxing last year I have them for spare parts

The single resting point is what I like you shoulder mount your rifle and you have 360 movement with the sticks more natural for my shooting position as foxes or rabbits move you can keep up with them easily out last night 11 rabbits in beet fields and 2 foxes all off the sticks with the 17 hmr

minktrapper · 28-05-2020 8:33pm

You must be very good at calling foxs.

steyrman · 28-05-2020 10:22pm

minktrapper wrote: »

You must be very good at calling foxs.

Hi minktrapper don’t know if I’m that good but I know every inch of my ground and I put in the leg work but the system I use works

minktrapper · 03-06-2020 7:48pm

steyrman wrote: »

Hi minktrapper don’t know if I’m that good but I know every inch of my ground and I put in the leg work but the system I use works

As you say you "put in the leg work ". How many nights a week would you go after foxs. Does it take long to deploy the Vanguard shooting sticks.

steyrman · 04-06-2020 1:50pm

minktrapper wrote: »

As you say you "put in the leg work ". How many nights a week would you go after foxs. Does it take long to deploy the Vanguard shooting sticks.

Hi over the winter I would put 3 to 4 nights in foxing different areas it takes about the same time as putting the legs of a bipod down if a quick shot is needed once I’m on a stand it’s ready for action with rifle setup on them

pm. · 07-06-2020 6:54pm

Just back from a walk with the 223, for the first time in my life I shot 2 with 1 shot... I was watching for a while at about 100 yards and then the opportunity arose

minktrapper · 11-07-2020 12:42am

I have started to backpack the meat out leaving the carcass there and it works 49 foxes off one hill farm this season I cut the walking down by half I have made a number of bait pipes and put them out some foxes love them others don’t go near them no matter what bait is in them the calls worked very good this season but I don’t overly call a little can go a long way if I see a fox moving away I will walk after it and try and cut it off but the bait station works much better for hill foxes imo[/QUOTE]

How do I set up a bait pipe?

steyrman · 11-07-2020 8:23pm

Hi my bait pipes are setup in known fox paths I use trail cameras on them I leave them for a week or so with out any bait then start feeding it with dog nuts and cat food later in winter rabbits and deer gralloch along fence lines there free standing and we’re the trees are I cable tie them or suspend them from branch’s with baling twine

minktrapper · 11-07-2020 11:40pm

What size pipe and made from what. Do you cut holes in them. When you say free standing how are they kept upright.

Browning2010 · 07-02-2021 8:48pm

Anyone out lately? Seen many around? Any good pics or stories. Havent been out in a few months myself, hoping to get back into it now though that lambing has started

furandfeather · 07-02-2021 9:04pm

We got 3 today out of cover . We're out every Sunday from November to the week before Patrick's day.
We've 44 got this season so far with the best being 11 two weeks ago

Birdnuts · 07-02-2021 9:22pm

Big numbers in some place - 2 mild winters previous to this one aided cub survival. The cold weather though since Xmas, i find is making them easier to call in and managed 3 in one night recently:)

homerhop · 09-02-2021 10:54pm

We are out 3-4 nights a week since Christmas. Cover about 7km a night varying our route. Getting thin on the ground now. No rabbit population around us for the last few years so the callers don’t bring them in.

The pigeon man · 10-02-2021 11:25am

It's full of foxes where I am. I've shot 9 on a four acre field since Christmas. No sign of numbers dropping either

dodderangler · 11-02-2021 6:05pm

Gotten a good few in past month.
Last night we spotted 4 but not one woukd come to the call. Spotted a big black cat too. Looked abnormally large for a common house cat.
Anyway despite heavy snow we walked on up the hills and spotted a ewe with two newborn lambs and to the right about 40 yards a dog fox. Wind changed and he caught scent of us and bolted up the hill very fast.
Called the farmer to keep and eye on the lambs because the weather just got too bad. First night in a long time we blanked. But tomoro is another night. Spotted 7 in one field in 15 mins last week and we shot 3 of them. All dogs. Must be a vixen around in Heat as we seen 4 in that field last night.

richiedel123 · 11-02-2021 10:35pm

I never seen as many foxes about as this year. Friend of mine lamps 4 or 5 nights a week for am hour and a half a night. Does a 5k radius of his houses cannot keep foxes out. Has nearly 200 shot in the last few months. Got 39 last week. All got in the same 5 k radius

minktrapper · 24-07-2021 11:45pm

Any tips for controlling foxs this time of year. As in calling etc..

Hunter456 · 10-08-2021 9:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/116200569#Comment_116200569

ridiculous amount still around no matter how many i shoot they are still coming, same started using bait pipes very effective on places with high numbers of foxes passing threw.

minktrapper · 11-08-2021 10:03am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117735080#Comment_117735080

How do you set up your pipe bait ?

mallards · 11-08-2021 8:43pm

Hours tramping the fields on the lookout for a fox, none to be seen. Rock up at work, one sits looking at you for ten minutes while you're having a conversation with the lads. Bold as brass!

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Fox Control

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