So why shoot foxes?

[jack]

The are one of the few predators in this country and by shooting one the population density is decreased slightly.
They predate rabbits, mice and other pests, not all though, so they do a lot of good for the farmer. And if you shoot all the foxes you then have to shoot the rabbits.
On the other hand they predate livestock and can be constant menace on the farm.

I shoot on two farms, both are mixed dairy and arable. One farmer said to me, "Don't shoot all my foxes," and the other said, "Shoot the lot." as he had foxes attacking half born calves at the rear of cows.
One argument is that poor husbandry is the reason for losses, but you can't do it all.

So do folk shoot all on sight or only some if there are too many?

I shoot one if I see more than one together on one farm, and shoot all I see on the other.
I am ambivalent about this as they do good as predators but they can be a nuisance.

I am aware that there are quite a few keepers and people on game shoots keen to protect their investment.

Not trying to provoke an argument but more interested in peoples' insights regarding keeping a balance in the countryside.

 

[Moonraker68]

I tend to shoot them on sight. They are a major predator of roe kids, as well as game & ground nesting birds. I've also lost about 6 bantams to a vixen during daylight hours in recent weeks.

 

[www.yorkshireroestalking.]

All game shoots here.
I have 15 permissions at preasant, all but 1 want the foxes shot on sight (ALL OF EM) and the other 1 said shoot if you must?? (I tend not to as his brother hunts and no game shoot).
I personally would shoot the last 1 given chance I would save loads of time then and have more time to shoot all the rabbits that would be running around.

 

[User00003]

All game shoots here.
I have 15 permissions at preasant.

mate,,you've got pheasants on your mind...poults coming at the mo by any chance?

 

[RED-DOT]

A new born set of cubs and its mother will eat more than a ton of food before the vixen sets them free and i don't want my ground game to be part of that ton. Stupid question for a stalking forum as the newborn fatalities due to foxes is well documented.

 

[User00003]

A new born set of cubs and its mother will eat more than a ton of food before the vixen sets them free and i don't want my ground game to be part of that ton. Stupid question for a stalking forum as the newborn fatalities due to foxes is well documented.

there's no such thing as a stupid question,,,only a stupid guy asking a question..LOL - just joking around.

 

[FACEMIESTER]

You will never shoot the last fox. Do not worry on that front.
Facemiester

 

[Paul at Fechan]

I shoot them because it's a must. They are opportunists so will kill anything they can whether it's in the interests of the farmer or not. A few lambs are worth a fair bit of money. I like having extra rabbits too...

 

[techman]

When, I see them. I'm with Moonraker, lost seven hens and a turkey to a daylight raid recently. poultry all shut in at night, but a fox still tried digging its way in. Saw paws for the next couple of days, as wire is dug into the ground around the pen.

 

[bogtrotter]

Shoot on sight, they prey heavily on new born Roe kids, ground nesting birds, game birds in release pens, poultry and lambs, found 17 lambs at one earth thats what was visible.

Plenty places where they are not controlled and overspill will filter in to areas where they have been removed, even without the additional help of the green brigade![ nature hates a vacuum]

All we a doing is trying to manage the population we will never eradicate foxes, something of which I am glad as though
they are my sworn enemy's I have a sneaking admiration for them.

 

[merlin]

They also eat the local grey partridges.

We shoot 'em when we see 'em.

 

[gelert]

Weve kept chicken for as long as i can remember.Nothing fancy just the rode island brown layers.
Over the years weve built up quite a collection.
Last year we woke up to what can only be descibed as a complete massacre.
All,every single ****ing 1 had been killed bar 1 duck.20+ chickens and 5 out of 6 indian runner ducks.
Heads bitten off, breasts taken etc.
The 1 remaining duck was given by a friend who told us shed been attacked by a fox befor so good knows ewhat shes seen so far.
the truth is If i see a fox it gets shot.

 

[BODACH]

As the book says every mans hands against the fox, yet they still thrive, take one out and another will fill the void pretty quick, loads of places they breed now, not keepered or close to an urban area, so take out when you can is my opinion.

Bod

 

[craigievarkiller]

Shoot every last single one on sight !
Even when stalking into good Bucks, I will abort the chance to take the Buck if Charlie makes the mistake of showing up.
As for the rabbits, mice and other small vermin..... we have more than enough Buzzards up here to take care of them... and we are not legally allowed to control Buzzard population.... at the moment.

Charlie is No. 1 vermin in my humble opinion and should be shot at any and every opportunity.

 

[User00003]

Weve kept chicken for as long as i can remember.Nothing fancy just the rode island brown layers.
Over the years weve built up quite a collection.
Last year we woke up to what can only be descibed as a complete massacre.
All,every single ****ing 1 had been killed bar 1 duck.20+ chickens and 5 out of 6 indian runner ducks.
Heads bitten off, breasts taken etc.
The 1 remaining duck was given by a friend who told us shed been attacked by a fox befor so good knows ewhat shes seen so far.
the truth is If i see a fox it gets shot.

sounds to me it's the DUCK!

 

[Si]

Arable farmers will say leave the foxes, because they keep the rabbits down.... sheep and poultry farmers will say kill the buggers

 

[unicorn71]

Shoot every one you see and then look harder for the ones you don't see, as for them controlling rabbits thats what rimfires are for

 

[limulus]

All the golf courses I cover insist on leaving the foxes, they keep the rabbits down and 'the golfers like to see them'.
On the pheasie shoots its see it shoot it eat it (ok forget the eat it part), on the stalking permissions again its shoot the lot.

 

[finnbear270]

Shoot on sight, unless landowner specifies not.

 

[miffy]

Most mammals and birds have a lot of predators,but fox's don't have many ( except us guys )
I would not like to shoot the last one, but i doubt that will ever happen.
However they are a beautiful creature.