Fox control before the poults go out: a keeper’s summer fieldcraft

With poults due to go out at the end of July and early August, keeping on top of the fox population is one of my priorities. So I thought I would take the opportunity to look at some of the techniques and fieldcraft that I employ. Weaned cubs as well as adults will be out on the prowl for whatever they can find and can prove a nightmare for me as well as other wildlife.

I do my best to encourage other wildlife on my ground but it can also lead to foxes moving in and treating the situation like a fast-food takeaway. There may be young birds that have just fledged as well as leverets present on my ground. Another issue is that on shoot days, a fox charging through a drive may disturb pheasants prematurely and cause more disruption than a “well-trained” spaniel.

Foxes can travel considerable distances at night. Trials of tagged animals have shown they may cover eight miles in one night and can have regular routes – routes that are followed by fox after fox. This can be used to our advantage because working out their habits points us in the direction of where to site high seats or places to wait out at dusk and, with the advent of night-vision equipment, at night using sticks. Trail cams can be an invaluable aid to working out these routes.

Rifle checks, kit and fieldcraft for fox control

Before setting off do your usual checks – appropriate clothing, food, drink, rifle zero checked – and make sure you have all your other essentials with you. While I do not advocate excessive long-range shooting, if you only zero your rifle at 100 yards, try it on a target at 200 yards and see what the bullet drop looks like. If you are out under a full moon be aware that you will be far more visible to a fox – particularly if you are in a low seat or on foot with sticks.

Think about a background to conceal yourself and keep noise and movement to a minimum. Look at wearing camouflage or dull clothing and perhaps a face veil. This is why I like using Bog sticks when on foot. The sticks can easily be moved and the rifle can be clamped to them, allowing you to use binoculars in daylight or night vision after dark. Make absolutely sure that the sticks are even and placed solidly so that they do not fall over with the rifle clamped to them.

The other invention I have come up with is a low seat made from the wheel and axle of an old trailer. A seat has been added to the wheel and it allows you to swing through 360 degrees. The Bog sticks also allow 360-degree movement, but you should only shoot from any angle if you are certain it is safe. Otherwise, consider what your safe avenues are. Both the seat and Bog sticks allow almost silent movement.

Be aware that before a fox comes out into the open it will be using its acute senses of smell and hearing. On that note, think about wind direction before setting off – have alternative locations in mind if the wind is in the wrong direction. Even from a low or high seat don’t assume your scent will be above the fox; it can swirl and spread out.

Ideally, high seats should be placed near release pens, which are an obvious attraction for foxes, in areas where ground-nesting birds are present or at junctions of rides or hedges. Be aware at all times of any footpaths and your backstops.

How to spot the signs of an active fox

Look for fox droppings, the smell of foxes or signs of recent kills. Headless pheasant poults or primary feathers that have been cut cleanly by teeth are all signs of an active fox.

One other giveaway is kills that have been buried in molehills. Foxes bury their prey to eat later to avoid maggots forming in it or corvids from stealing it. If you are on foot with sticks, look at freshly cut fields. They smell different and reveal rodents and insects, all of which act as a draw to foxes. Going out after rainfall can also reveal more fox activity.

With regard to calling foxes without night-vision equipment, I generally sit quietly until dusk is approaching, then start calling quietly at first to draw in a fox that may be near. If that is unsuccessful, increase the volume of calling to try to reach a fox that may be further away.

Fox control is an essential part of my job, whether to protect my birds or boost other wildlife, and hares in particular have benefited. There is an old saying – or perhaps a modern one – that foxes are a bit like drug dealers. If you get rid of one, two more take their place. So it doesn’t pay to be complacent – keep on top of them.

Mike Appleby runs the Honeycombe Shoot in Dorset with his wife, Antonia.