Lamping Foxes
- Thread starter fallback124
- Start date
fallback124
Member
tell me about it ahaha!You've clearly got thebug
Jus a wee update
after taking out a young ish Vixen at 7pm after noticing a fox showing up around the same time the last few times in the camera, same distance but dropped straight down and collected 2nd ever fox! but did notice another fox scurry away in the same field... dog nuts and some chicken eggs i have been using lately
Len the dog
Well-Known Member
That’s it, you’re away.
Took me about 8 fruitless forays before I shot my first one with a rifle but every time I learned something new. Then it all fell into place and after that I rarely drew a blank.
fallback124
Member
Hi guys
not much to update finally getting a better hang on the camera though, have blanked the last few nights but seem to be getting some sort of a pattern for one fox I think its the same one I seen when i shot the last vixen, going from what i am seeing on the camera, seems to be the same young ish fox showing up seems to like coming in around 6AM in the morning, now what would you fellas do when you know roughly the time a fox is coming in on and how do you approach that, set up at 5:30 am use of the lamp every 5mins or so?? Will put in a picture of the bugger
bar that not much I did see a large fox at 10am in the morning when i was checking the camera no gun with me but the only fox I have seen in the last few weeks in the camera seems to be that young fox.. the camera is off by one hour but from the last few weeks 6am seems to be when foxy comes in with a few during 10/11pm but mainly in the morning
edit cant seem to post more then one picture but will include one below
Thanks all
not much to update finally getting a better hang on the camera though, have blanked the last few nights but seem to be getting some sort of a pattern for one fox I think its the same one I seen when i shot the last vixen, going from what i am seeing on the camera, seems to be the same young ish fox showing up seems to like coming in around 6AM in the morning, now what would you fellas do when you know roughly the time a fox is coming in on and how do you approach that, set up at 5:30 am use of the lamp every 5mins or so?? Will put in a picture of the bugger
bar that not much I did see a large fox at 10am in the morning when i was checking the camera no gun with me but the only fox I have seen in the last few weeks in the camera seems to be that young fox.. the camera is off by one hour but from the last few weeks 6am seems to be when foxy comes in with a few during 10/11pm but mainly in the morning
edit cant seem to post more then one picture but will include one below
Thanks all
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Overlay
Well-Known Member
Your doing well, with the camera, survey the whole field over a week to find any cross over points on his route and wind dependant set up a couple blinds and sit it out, gooey cat food slung up a small bush will give a good air scent and hold it for a clean shot
work with any breeze to get where you want to be and exit the same way you went in with no fuss or noise
having a stealth will be a great help
good luck
work with any breeze to get where you want to be and exit the same way you went in with no fuss or noise
having a stealth will be a great help
good luck
Just to add to some of the biggest comments on here.
Lambing first and foremost is an opportunist method. Yes I myself have sat at dens and static lampedusa the same area for hours sometimes actually sitting out the whole night looking over one area but it is still opportunist and has always worked best when driving place to place and scanning as you drive covering a huge area.
Dedicated foxes rarely use lamps anymore in fact I fancy going back to the roots one night and leaving the thermal spotter and nightvision behind and running a lamp and see if I still have it lol seriously though up until November and I still do lamp deer under license so I regularly still use a lamp but deer are different but again it's for covering large areas .
Baiting does work but not as well as you think as sitting out on such a small property is limiting.
Thermal and NV has been the game changer in it.
But what I suggest instead of baiting is get a caller. That fox your hearing is matining right now. Calling in these foxes to you will work better than anything and remember you need to have those buggers within 100yrds if your using the .17hmr, it works fine don't worry about that but sub 100 is recommended.
No matter what enjoy the challenge and the journey.
I have shot a heck of a lot of foxes in the lamp over the last 20 odd years but NV and thermal is the way to go.
Have fun I actually envy you as I wish I was starting out again .
Lambing first and foremost is an opportunist method. Yes I myself have sat at dens and static lampedusa the same area for hours sometimes actually sitting out the whole night looking over one area but it is still opportunist and has always worked best when driving place to place and scanning as you drive covering a huge area.
Dedicated foxes rarely use lamps anymore in fact I fancy going back to the roots one night and leaving the thermal spotter and nightvision behind and running a lamp and see if I still have it lol seriously though up until November and I still do lamp deer under license so I regularly still use a lamp but deer are different but again it's for covering large areas .
Baiting does work but not as well as you think as sitting out on such a small property is limiting.
Thermal and NV has been the game changer in it.
But what I suggest instead of baiting is get a caller. That fox your hearing is matining right now. Calling in these foxes to you will work better than anything and remember you need to have those buggers within 100yrds if your using the .17hmr, it works fine don't worry about that but sub 100 is recommended.
No matter what enjoy the challenge and the journey.
I have shot a heck of a lot of foxes in the lamp over the last 20 odd years but NV and thermal is the way to go.
Have fun I actually envy you as I wish I was starting out again .
would help if my predictive didn't go nuts on my phone haha
fallback124
Member
thank you for reply, typically the wind crosses over the field can be a tricky but have way dealing with that have found out being very quite is helpful hahah thanksYour doing well, with the camera, survey the whole field over a week to find any cross over points on his route and wind dependant set up a couple blinds and sit it out, gooey cat food slung up a small bush will give a good air scent and hold it for a clean shot
work with any breeze to get where you want to be and exit the same way you went in with no fuss or noise
having a stealth will be a great help
good luck
fallback124
Member
Thank you for the reply,
I definitely get your point of view I do plan going on the NV route but leaving that for now it would make such a difference,
interesting about the caller one Will pick up one in the shop, would you ever use the baiting in conjunction with baiting or go out to fields and call foxes ? I have tried the hand calling one or twice when I had a fox away from my bait but every time I did the smart foxys seem to run now Im thinking it was my own fault as I find it hard to keep the same squeak sound haha, I may try this option when the farmer has lambs might be a good idea as I said i'd help him out. Thanks for the help always learning from this forum thanks again.
Baiting works if you can stay completely incognito like spotting with Thermal or NV or if you wanna try entice them in during the day but again it is a long sit out. If your going to bait get yourself a trail cam and set it up over it and likewise top up your bait station regularly this way you can figure out routines and times and that will make easier to know when to sit out.
Bait was always better when you were working middens and setting snares, that's a little more complicated these days.
You don't need to go mega expensive for a NV spotter wither , Nightfox (formerly Laserware) do one for a couple hundred quid which is ideal for small holdings. Again don't ho stupid crazy on a caller, Bluetooth speaker and your phone works until you get into some stuff. In fact PM me your address I might have a caller that you can use with your phone I keep as a spare.
Mouth calls are great if you have already spotted the fox, pick a raspy one though but the back of your hand works nice too just takes practice. But you can't really blind call with mouth callers as your need to focus on spotting.
The modern way is to locate with thermal. Then lamp on and shoot. Only use lamp when shooting not searching.
The modern way is to spot with a thermal then shoot with a thermal - The fox has no clue
Thermals are expensive for someone starting out or trying to get an odd fox that has got into some chickens try an ordinary white torch and get a red wrapper off a "tin of Quality Sreet chocolates" for a red filter held on with an elastic band.
After picking out the fox eye shine, keep the light just in front of the fox so that you can see it, but not straight at it which might spook it. that way it may well just follow your torch light and guide it to you.
A .17 HMR is quite adequate for fox out to 100-130yds, a head shot even further, they have a thin skull.
There has been some very good advice on here best of luck that is the way to impress your farmer and get permissions
After picking out the fox eye shine, keep the light just in front of the fox so that you can see it, but not straight at it which might spook it. that way it may well just follow your torch light and guide it to you.
A .17 HMR is quite adequate for fox out to 100-130yds, a head shot even further, they have a thin skull.
There has been some very good advice on here best of luck that is the way to impress your farmer and get permissions
A head shot at even further than 130 yards is questionable to be honest
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Cant recommend a head shot with a HMR. Across the ribs works every time. Little risk of wounding.
You need a thermal. T J are just about to release a Pixfar Mile 2 it will be £500 ish. I looked through one at the Stalking show and was very impressed. If your scanning fields it will transform your foxing. You can still use a red LED torch on your rifle. Appears thar the Arken Zulus at £450 is the best NV for the money so for £1k you will have a set up which will last for years.
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