Foxing Tips For a Newbie

[Merlyn]

Just be there whenever you can and stay as long as you can.
(Whatever the weather).

 

[B&W FOX]

Grass fields.are always first place to go, as fox love mice. Try and locate your self on a high piece of ground with cover behind you if possible for a good field of view.
Next is hay fields that have just been cut and bailed.All the nocturnal scavengers will be there.

Always wear a face veil, hat and gloves.

If you see a fox and can't take a shot make a note of the "time" and direction of travel and get yourself into position the following night to intercept it.

Golden hour is half hour before and after dusk. Last night was 9.30 - 10.30 pm and that was 2-0 to me.

Standing crops and shelter belts I always give a miss as it's hard trying to get a100% positive ID. even though a thermal will pick up a signature. If I'm not sure I won't take the shot.
I don't use a caller much, as I find it is possible to over do it and at too high a volume. My favourite is a rubber squeaky dogs ball.
As already said expect them to appear fast and very close behind you.!
The commotion is them trying to break their way through a hedge behind you.

A fox has to be lucky all the time. You only have to be lucky once.

 

[kieran]

I shoot a lot of my foxes from a high seat sitting out in the summer evenings at the roe bucks they will often come into the buttalo caller during the roe rut

 

[Nickb]

I shoot a lot of my foxes from a high seat sitting out in the summer evenings at the roe bucks they will often come into the buttalo caller during the roe rut

Yes but hes got 2000 acres to cover

 

[kieran]

Yes but hes got 2000 acres to cover

I’ve got more ground than that to cover and I’ve shot all my foxes in the same area more or less

 

[Nickb]

I’ve got more ground than that to cover and I’ve shot all my foxes in the same area more or less

Imagine how many you would shoot if you ventured further ?

 

[kieran]

Imagine how many you would shoot if you ventured further ?

I do venture further

 

[Nickb]

I do venture further

In a mobile high seat

 

[Overlay]

Set up hour before dusk on selected area after 0030 have a quiet shift about, normally see something before then, gives em a chance to do a routine patrol, put your time in and you’ll pick em up

 

[Nickb]

Set up hour before dusk on selected area after 0030 have a quiet shift about, normally see something before then, gives em a chance to do a routine patrol, put your time in and you’ll pick em up

It's much easier in Kent where you have a high density , not as easy up here you have to look for them .

 

[Overlay]

It's much easier in Kent where you have a high density , not as easy up here you have to look for them .

I’ve shot a lot foxes around your way over the year's on my friends permissions , a lot of it over sheep turf and managed woodland using the same technique, wait wait and wait on your chosen bit then move on, if I was to think of one thing that overrides it is to be able to get some knowledge into movement and knowledge of crossover points or good runs combined will always produce and to do that observation prior to and when out is the best key you see more sat still under a bush
They all gotta move sometime

Difference you want to be waiting for them not a fox looking for you

 

[Bo Diddley]

In a mobile high seat

One of these...

 

[Merlyn]

One of these is much cheaper and the tent is optional.

 

[Overlay]

Or or a brace of these if you really want to get amongst em

 

[stavross]

Get to learn your ground by walking it, look for fox sh*t ( they like to sh*t on top of things like mole hills ) once you have an idea of where they are moving, bait a couple of areas and watch them, for me the caller works best over autumn and winter, a foxpro or icotec they are both as good as each other but still don’t always work, high seats work really well if you are baiting a spot, oh, and learn how to use a mouth caller or how to squeak them in off your hand, I’ve called in more foxes this way than any elec caller has good luck

 

[wabbit warren]

Learn how to squeak in foxes. You absolutely will get them in a high seat - sometimes walking can mean you spread your smell and a fox will disappear.

Regards,
Gixer

I've squeaked them from a high seat. DONT!! get a caller and put it in a safe to shoot place in front of the high seat
I've had foxes standing at the bottom of the high seat ladder looking up at me to see where the noise has come from
as for walking do it as much as possible and practise shooting off sticks as well
good luck and welcome to the most anti social, addictive form of pest control

 

[gixer1]

I've squeaked them from a high seat. DONT!! get a caller and put it in a safe to shoot place in front of the high seat
I've had foxes standing at the bottom of the high seat ladder looking up at me to see where the noise has come from
as for walking do it as much as possible and practise shooting off sticks as well
good luck and welcome to the most anti social, addictive form of pest control

Depends on the area and the fox…no issues with shooting foxes from a high seat, if they are making it to the bottom of the seat you maybe weren’t keeping a good enough eye out or your seat was badly positioned.

 

[wabbit warren]

Depends on the area and the fox…no issues with shooting foxes from a high seat, if they are making it to the bottom of the seat you maybe weren’t keeping a good enough eye out or your seat was badly positioned.

i saw it behind me about 1/2 hour before it appeared at the bottom of the high seat ladde,r then heard it come through the hedge line just to my left
what i ment was if i was using a caller 75-80 yards out in front of me it would have made for that as it was the fox was looking for the squeaking coming from ME

 

[old keeper]

I've been shooting foxes for over seventy years now, at one time for a living when skins were worth decent money. I've used everything from prehistoric gear right up to the latest thermal equipment.

We had to learn the hard way making many mistakes along the way. Looking back over the years I don't think there is a right or wrong way to go about fox control. Much will depend on the sort of land you are shooting over, both farming-wise and what sort of terrain there is. Also, how much patience do you have? Fieldcraft has been replaced largely by technology and without a doubt fox behaviour has changed since the days when I started. Apart from really isolated areas foxes are far more tolerant of humans and their vehicles today which makes shooting the majority of them relatively easy to deal with.

My best advice for what it's worth would be to have a chat with a really experienced and successful fox shooter but learn from your own mistakes and experience. That should be part of the whole process. Also, learn and study fox behaviour, too many I suspect just kill foxes and in reality know little or nothing about what is a challenging and intelligent creature. Surely they deserve more?

Things are far easier dealing with foxes today than they were all those years ago but I still get the same buzz when I set off to deal with a particular animal that's been causing problems.

 

[B&W FOX]

@old keeper
I think they should get hold of a copy of your book for starters.