A controversial topic?

[Maran14]

In my highly caffeinated state, I’ve been inspired by another thread.

The question; Is anybody using drones for foxing and how do people feel about it?

Some context and a little bit of background…

I’ve been VERY fortunate and picked up a few good permissions in my first year of shooting, something I don’t take for granted.
It has been impressed on me just how crucial each and every crop and animal is to keeping a farm alive, in a world where those in charge seem to be blind to the fact families are holding on with a few very worn out fingers.

To this end, it has become clear that not all farmers are willing to wait for a problem Charlie to be removed or for rabbit (insert other animal) numbers to be reduced.
They NEED it done now before their profit margins are the thing being shot at.

I believe it has become normal for shooters to use night vision and thermal bits of gadgetry… quite a stride from lamping.
Was this introduction seen as controversial?

I work with drones all day everyday, so I’m in a privileged position where I get to see how they advance in their development, how they help, how they hinder and importantly for this thread - how they can be applied to different settings.
I myself have used them to photograph land, crop and livestock for farmers and also see which field is full of rabbits in the pitch black and on one occasion, locate a fox.

I don’t wish for this to become the norm, but I can see how they may be used to great effect.
Particularly on larger farms or like in the inspiring thread, locate deer.

 

[Mr. Gain]

Some quick thoughts on an interesting question...
I'm not sure how a drone would be useful for foxing, unless you could do sustained reconnaissance to identify regular routes and the location of earths.
Foxes that are a problem, by definition, go to where they are causing that problem, which makes it easy to ambush them on site or en route.
Alternatively, you can establish a bait station, or stake out a field after the hay has been cut, whilst calling can bring a fox into range from many hundreds of metres away. In short, there are lots of straightforward ways to find a fox without a drone.
With deer, it's different. They are more static; any problems they cause tend to be less localised; and only some species can be called in and then only some of the time. Moreover, the goal is more likely to be management than local eradication.
In this context, drones can be very useful, aiding population assessments and allowing one to expend one's time and energies on going after the deer where they are, instead of looking for them where they're not.
What am I missing?

 

[Maran14]

Some quick thoughts on an interesting question...
I'm not sure how a drone would be useful for foxing, unless you could do sustained reconnaissance to identify regular routes and the location of earths.
Foxes that are a problem, by definition, go to where they are causing that problem, which makes it easy to ambush them on site or en route.
Alternatively, you can establish a bait station, or stake out a field after the hay has been cut, whilst calling can bring a fox into range from many hundreds of metres away. In short, there are lots of straightforward ways to find a fox without a drone.
With deer, it's different. They are more static; any problems they cause tend to be less localised; and only some species can be called in and then only some of the time. Moreover, the goal is more likely to be management than local eradication.
In this context, drones can be very useful, aiding population assessments and allowing one to expend one's time and energies on going after the deer where they are, instead of looking for them where they're not.
What am I missing?

Thanks for your thoughts.

I don’t think you’re missing anything! A very welcome point of view. Maybe the wisdom within SD will decide they are indeed of no use for foxing, and as you say, more use for something like deer.

I’m hoping somebody that is/has been using one for such is able to answer more of your points.
Which, by the way, I think are very reasonable.

It’s entirely possible that drones in this context are only beneficial to your first points.
Mapping a new farm before walking it, locating frequently travelled paths and earths, identifying a rough number of foxes in an area, identifying possible foxes at a distance before calling or stalking up are a few thoughts too.

 

[Smellydog]

I get enough drone from indoors....

 

[Maran14]

I get enough drone from indoors....

I mean, as far as answers go, this will take some beating!

 

[The Singing Stalker]

I am with Mr Gain and his thoughts. I don’t think, it would do a great job with foxes.
Rabbits, yes, deer, also yes. But I would struggle to see how it would work with the fox. By the time you locate him, then move to where is was….. he is most likely long gone. Most of the time.

 

[Maran14]

I am with Mr Gain and his thoughts. I don’t think, it would do a great job with foxes.
Rabbits, yes, deer, also yes. But I would struggle to see how it would work with the fox. By the time you locate him, then move to where is was….. he is most likely long gone. Most of the time.

Another good point. Thank you

 

[finnbear270]

Reckon I would need an instrument rating.

 

[Longstrider]

Interesting to see this. I was out walking the dog on one of my permissions at the weekend and could hear a drone or two being flown about 1/2 mile away. Once the walk was finished I drove round to where the people were flying the drones from to have a gander ...

Turned out to be a family group with little drones about a foot square and one that was no more than about 4" square. Fitted with cameras they were whizzing about the place and were pretty impressive. The guy hooked the goggles up to an i-phone so I could see what he saw whilst flying it and the potential for spotting game and wildlife was immediately apparent to me. However, the things were really really noisy. Surely most wildlife would be away on it's toes if you flew one of those things over it ?

 

[Maran14]

Interesting to see this. I was out walking the dog on one of my permissions at the weekend and could hear a drone or two being flown about 1/2 mile away. Once the walk was finished I drove round to where the people were flying the drones from to have a gander ...

Turned out to be a family group with little drones about a foot square and one that was no more than about 4" square. Fitted with cameras they were whizzing about the place and were pretty impressive. The guy hooked the goggles up to an i-phone so I could see what he saw whilst flying it and the potential for spotting game and wildlife was immediately apparent to me. However, the things were really really noisy. Surely most wildlife would be away on its toes if you flew one of those things over it ?

You’re absolutely right, they can be very noisy little things!
However, like anything else, it’s how you use it…
From what you’ve described, it sounds like they were racing around with no real aim, other than going as fast as possible and just having some fun.

The motors will have been at or near to their limit and I’d guess it sounded almost like a scream as they whizzed past relatively low?

Without any lengthy training (currently about 20 minutes online), you can fly anything under 250g - which invariably will be a DJI Mini - without too many restrictions.
A max height of 120m/400ft (for safety reasons) and the Mini becomes almost silent when you are static and observing an area or just panning left and right, because the motors aren’t overly exerting themselves.

You make a good point with regard to its possible application though, one that I think is echoed by others in this thread!

Thanks for your reply

 

[willowbank]

I am with Mr Gain and his thoughts. I don’t think, it would do a great job with foxes.
Rabbits, yes, deer, also yes. But I would struggle to see how it would work with the fox. By the time you locate him, then move to where is was….. he is most likely long gone. Most of the time.

Just send a heat seeking missile btw I know nowt about drones lol.

WB

 

[Maran14]

Just send a heat seeking missile btw I know nowt about drones lol.

WB

LamberOne this is ShooterOne, prepare for fire rain.

 

[old keeper]

When I started on my fox control life, we shot/trapped them for their skins. We got considerable numbers, even by today's internet standards!

The equipment used was extremely basic, and we made a lot of money for precious little outlay. Today, people spend a fortune on equipment to shoot something that is worthless. Thermal, night vision of various types, ballistic scopes and now drones, whatever's next?

Hard learned fieldcraft, lighting setups that cost virtually nothing, a cheap 12-bore and away we went. Happy days!

 

[Mike1979]

When I started on my fox control life, we shot/trapped them for their skins. We got considerable numbers, even by today's internet standards!

The equipment used was extremely basic, and we made a lot of money for precious little outlay. Today, people spend a fortune on equipment to shoot something that is worthless. Thermal, night vision of various types, ballistic scopes and now drones, whatever's next?

Hard learned fieldcraft, lighting setups that cost virtually nothing, a cheap 12-bore and away we went. Happy days!

Totally agree as one of the idiots who spend a fortune to shoot a worthless animal...absolute insanity

However, all the fancy kit in the world is of little use if you dont know how foxes behave ...but it certainly makes life a lot easier.

I dont think the use of drones is practical from a fox control perspective ...time spent on the ground is the only way to go.

 

[Maran14]

When I started on my fox control life, we shot/trapped them for their skins. We got considerable numbers, even by today's internet standards!

The equipment used was extremely basic, and we made a lot of money for precious little outlay. Today, people spend a fortune on equipment to shoot something that is worthless. Thermal, night vision of various types, ballistic scopes and now drones, whatever's next?

Hard learned fieldcraft, lighting setups that cost virtually nothing, a cheap 12-bore and away we went. Happy days!

Whilst I agree with you, and I’m doing all I can to learn, I’d like to offer another perspective.

A newbie like me enters into shooting (to generalise) knowing there’s no money to be made.
I suppose it falls into the category of being a hobby, so the acceptance of spending a few pennies is a bit easier.
I imagine one of the driving forces behind gear development is the modern world we live in.

Lots to get done, everything is urgent and there’s no time to do it in.
Farmer calls and wants a fox gone NOW. If you can’t, you’re replaced.

 

[old keeper]

Whilst I agree with you, and I’m doing all I can to learn, I’d like to offer another perspective.

A newbie like me enters into shooting (to generalise) knowing there’s no money to be made.
I suppose it falls into the category of being a hobby, so the acceptance of spending a few pennies is a bit easier.
I imagine one of the driving forces behind gear development is the modern world we live in.

Lots to get done, everything is urgent and there’s no time to do it in.
Farmer calls and wants a fox gone NOW. If you can’t, you’re replaced.

You live in a different world from me, "spending a few pennies" as you say on a hobby! not so much a few pennies but thousands of pounds.

As far as "The farmer calls, etc," they used to call us, and we went and got the job done. Fox control is not that difficult if you spend a bit of time on it. Today, it's become a "sport" in its own right to many people. We used to look at it rather differently

 

[Maran14]

You live in a different world from me, "spending a few pennies" as you say on a hobby! not so much a few pennies but thousands of pounds.

As far as "The farmer calls, etc," they used to call us, and we went and got the job done. Fox control is not that difficult if you spend a bit of time on it. Today, it's become a "sport" in its own right to many people. We used to look at it rather differently

Genuinely, I’m glad you’ve found and commented on this thread.

I suppose I do live in a different world, or at least a changing one.

I have another thread, a bit older now, asking those with experience to share it.
Would honestly look forward to hearing what you have to share.

 

[BenBhoy]

Pretty sure @Tim.243 & @bumpy22 are still using drones.......



Sorry, someone had to say it!!

 

[BenBhoy]

Would honestly look forward to hearing what you have to share.

You buy the books & bloody good author mike is too.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Struggling to synchronise the mobile phone App's trigger release (lock time) with a drone-mounted 22 Creedmoor!

K