Foxes thin on the ground?

[B&W FOX]

Most of my pest control is split between a pheasant shoot and a free range chicken farm on the Bucks , Beds, Herts border.

Spring period wasn't too bad only had two litters to sort out.

I think the local wildlife hospital may have got the message that I don't want their vermin and stopped dumping them locally.

But I haven't seen a fox in 2 months even though I use thermal day and night, they just seem to be non existent.
As we head into the winter period I normally hit them hard as I don't want them pairing up and causing problems down the line, but I may not have to this year.
Anyone else seen a reduction in numbers?

 

[Long drag]

I've been saying this for months, something is going on, lucky to see a fox every 3 or 4 outings, also see a reduction in rats numbers and increase in Hares.

 

[Jimbob39]

Not seen many this year. Shot 7 off the estate which is odd considering we put 1500 birds down.

 

[bullet chucker]

I was told in WS numbers are down, although they were hit hard earlier on?

BC.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Hmmm.
Oddly enough I have just been attempting to do a tally for the year to date by going through the FB version of “It will be all right on the night” video archive. I make it 47 to date which is a good year for me. Add to that the ones which are not on the archive due to Italian pilot error i.e, “nopressadabutton” and it must be over 200 60.
Over half of these are from two very rural small holdings - one of which I shot nos.18 and 19 on just two nights ago and the other is currently 15. As things stand I should easily make 20 on each before year’s end - as per previous posts I do not understand these very high densities…
That said in previously productive areas i.e. near our pens, fox numbers have been very low - likely down to our zero tolerance over the years.
I have no doubt that if we weren’t doing this the numbers would soon return to what nature and available food allows.

 

[Bo Diddley]

I'm still knobbling a few, although if the truth be known I think thermal/NV are affecting the numbers locally (rural Norfolk) so many people are using all the "tech" I blame the rise in popularity on all those Youtube videos being posted

 

[One on top of two]

1-2 every week for me and i dont go looking for them , if i happen to see one i go out the following night .

 

[DVS1]

Yep have noticed fewer this year, but then I put that down to the farmer not having sheep this year...no food sources no point being there.

Compared to last years 117 I've taken 20 this year so far but I also haven't been out as much

 

[jall55]

Had 130 last year and similar the year before
This year currently just sub 40
Had a Curlew on the ground for the first time in living memory this year and the fields and woods are awash with hares
Had 2 broods of greys - one with 10 and one with 5 - again first time in years
Keep at them

 

[finnbear270]

Saw a loner last night, but outwith my remit by a country mile.
I am quite happy with the current situation as it will make next Lambing period a less stressful one.

 

[Tim.243]

Most of my pest control is split between a pheasant shoot and a free range chicken farm on the Bucks , Beds, Herts border.

Spring period wasn't too bad only had two litters to sort out.

I think the local wildlife hospital may have got the message that I don't want their vermin and stopped dumping them locally.

But I haven't seen a fox in 2 months even though I use thermal day and night, they just seem to be non existent.
As we head into the winter period I normally hit them hard as I don't want them pairing up and causing problems down the line, but I may not have to this year.
Anyone else seen a reduction in numbers?

Drillings (lack of it) on arable land will have them looking else where as it is just plain dirt. Turn the ground over get some life going, also been mild. I was waiting for Fallow last night (one grunting) but saw a good few on the neighbour's drilled wheat, a fox crossed where I was same time the last 2 trips with the ground being plain dirt.
The time ran out for deer and this fox appeared working the grass headland so I shot her.
One farm stopped doing partridges with fox numbers falling off compared to when they had free food on the ground.
A lot of decent kit around where thermal spotters have made a big difference for foxes also deer (for me) it has also brought the shot distance down (for me) as you can just wait it out not flick a lamp around.

 

[Nimrod1960]

I don’t go foxing but there are definitely more hares about.

Culmination of technology and twenty years since the ban.
It was never about foxes with the antis. But once estates and farms had no reason to tolerate a few they were always going to be hit hard.
I know many on here have no time for the hunts but each to his own I say. Be in no doubt all forms of shooting are in their sights.

 

[kevtherev]

There are less foxes than few years back partly due to changes in farming practices there are less food sources for them compared to few years back.
Lot less arable acres due to SFI schemes.
Seeing lot more hares about as previously mentioned too.
No carcasses are allowed to be left on farms like years ago neither which again takes away food sources.

 

[jall55]

There are less foxes than few years back partly due to changes in farming practices there are less food sources for them compared to few years back.
Lot less arable acres due to SFI schemes.
Seeing lot more hares about as previously mentioned too.
No carcasses are allowed to be left on farms like years ago neither which again takes away food sources.

I think the SFI will increase fox numbers not decrease them - be far more prey available - and cover

 

[TURNBOLT]

We seem to be awash with foxes 50+ since mid September as jail55 says hares everywhere “never seen so many “ but we put that down to the continuing badger cull .

 

[AndrewT059]

Same sort of numbers for me so far, and increase in numbers for next doors keeper, so not a lot changed here.

 

[Tim.243]

We seem to be awash with foxes 50+ since mid September as jail55 says hares everywhere “never seen so many “ but we put that down to the continuing badger cull .

When Hares made 6-7 quid a head there was an incentive to shoot them, the market is not there (in Essex) they had to be head shot and left whole.
I see 40-50 hares on one farm while stalking then use the time foxing, to make a decent job you would need a quad.

 

[Bo Diddley]

When Hares made 6-7 quid a head there was an incentive to shoot them, the market is not there (in Essex) they had to be head shot and left whole.
I see 40-50 hares on one farm while stalking then use the time foxing, to make a decent job you would need a quad.

£5 for a large one at the minute here, we should get out with the .22Hornet this weekend, we have lots of hares.

Ps I like the dogs jacket...

Atb BD.

 

[Tim.243]

£5 for a large one at the minute here, we should get out with the .22Hornet this weekend, we have lots of hares.

Ps I like the dogs jacket...

Atb BD.

Yes he is a good lad never batted an eye lid in anything we have done.

 

[old keeper]

I shot my first fox over seventy years ago and, for a while, made a living from their skins. They were trapped, wired, or shotgunned. As a rule, we only took them in a six-month period when the skins were at their best. Only a few people took any great interest in killing foxes (apart from the hunts), and the fox population stayed pretty stable, as far as I remember, with plenty around.

Like others on here, I've seen a dramatic change in the equipment available, mainly thermal. The use of rifles, which were not readily available when I started, means that today foxes can be shot out to distances hundreds of yards further than we could using shotguns. Thirty yards was about the maximum back then using BBs.

Today, how things have changed! Foxing has become almost an industry in itself. I have no idea how many shooters now go out after foxes, but it must be huge. Many of them if social media and the shooting press are to be believed, shoot numbers that all those years ago would have been unthinkable. For us back in the fifties a really good week would perhaps have produced a dozen after being out night after night, today some shooters are taking that in a couple of outings.

Life for the rural fox has also changed with increased traffic taking a huge toll on adult foxes as well as countless cubs in late spring. Farming practices have also not helped but by and large, foxes adapt pretty well to them. I live in an area where I am the only person dealing with the foxes, there is a lot of rough land, cliffs etc. that is ideal country for foxes. The fox population here has remained pretty stable for years, apart from an outbreak of mange some years ago. Why people wonder why they are not seeing many foxes when they are shooting substantial numbers all year round is beyond me. Vixens have one litter a year, of which I would guess no more than perhaps on average, only three cubs reach maturity, so removing so many foxes is bound to affect the population.