To those of us who do it regularly, a night out foxing is no big deal. For many others who have never, or rarely, been before, it can be a really memorable occasion. As a result, one of the things that Paul, my regular shooting partner, and I like to…
Foxes
Patience is a powerful tool where foxing is concerned, writes Patrick Hook.
Here are his top 10 tips for foxing in the moonlight
- Be stealthy, take your time and become part of the fabric of the landscape
- Don’t smoke while you’re out (better still, don’t smoke at all)
- Don’t wear aftershave or use pungent toothpaste
- Put your mobile phone on silent
- Avoid things that will give your presence away – noisy gates, brittle sticks, etc.
- Wear quiet clothing – no swishy materials, no clumpy boots
- Don’t carry anything that rattles – ammo, keys, etc.
- Don’t allow yourself to become skylined.
- Learn your ground, but be aware that your quarry probably knows the terrain better than you.
- The moon will reveal any light colours or reflective surfaces, so check your kit over for anything visual that might give your presence away. If in doubt, put some matt tape over it.
How to control foxes when they’ve become lamp shy
Lamping may be one of the most efficient ways to kill foxes but if you miss then, you'll have created a much fightier foe. Liam Bell outlines other options for fox control
How to keep predators out of your pheasant pen
Wise keepers make life as difficult as possible for those pheasant pen predators intent on finding a tasty meal. Birds are usually lost in two ways: Mass kills of poults caught together on the ground (usually within the pen) by the predator A gradual loss, as one or two birds…
No guarantees with this most wily foe the fox
It will come as no surprise that foxes are the UK’s biggest predator of both ground-nesting birds and released game. Because we don’t have large apex predators to assist with their control, as they do in some other parts of the world, it is down to us. Reasons to control…
What diseases could my dog pick up from foxes?
Disease from foxes All dogs, including gundogs can get the following disease from foxes: Sarcoptic mange Lungworm Rabies Dogs and foxes do suffer from the same diseases, though, of which the most worrying is rabies. We have been rabies-free in Britain for 98 years — since quarantine for dogs was…
What happens to urban foxes dumped in rural areas?
If you do much foxing you are doubtless aware that most farmers are worried to some extent about ‘drop-outs’ — urban foxes dumped in countryside, trapped foxes released on or close to their land by some of the animal charities. It’s a regular occurrence for me to have to reassure…
Cartridges and calibres for pest control
Wondering what is the best calibre for foxes? Rabbits? There are so many different species of pests – you can’t band together a rabbit and a fox – that you can’t have a single calibre for them all. So instead I am going to take a look at the various…
Tracking foxes and how to stop them picking up YOUR scent
Patrick’s top tips for tracking foxes • Do your best to keep the wind in your face as that way you’ll be approaching from downwind • Avoid wearing anything perfumed, as it will signal your presence long before you arrive if it catches on the wind • Putting down smelly…
All about the fox
I thought it was time to do a piece all about the fox. Let’s address some of the various questions that the fox shooter often encounters. Can you eat fox? The short answer is yes, but the meat is generally considered to be tough with an unpleasant taste. The late…
5 tips for lamping foxes
1. What’s the right time to go out lamping foxes? Foxes are generally nocturnal and see excellently at night. Wait until it is properly dark outside before setting off. During the night foxes will sleep for a while – usually from around midnight until 3am. 2. Know the ground Night…
What are the legal calibres for foxes and rabbits?
After many years shotgun shooting my partner and I have been looking into culling foxes and rabbits by rifle at the various farms where we shoot.
How to call a fox
HOW TO SQUEAK A FOX: Here the Nataional Gamekeepers Organisation tell you how to call in a fox.
Tips for the foxing first-timer
Foxing tips If you’ve been following my series on how to add rifle shooting to your skill list, with the specific intention of controlling foxes, you should be ready to hit the field by now. You would have selected a gun that is appropriate for your needs, the optics are…
Is there a minimum recommended calibre for a foxing rifle?
Fox control: Why do all the rifle experts have such a low opinion of the .22 rimfire for fox control? I have taken numerous foxes at ranges of 100 yards – measured not guessed.
How to choose a foxing rifle
Choosing which foxing rifle best suits your needs is not necessarily straightforward as varying circumstances will dictate different choices. The first basic decision has to be whether you intend to shoot from a truck or from foot, and that will be determined by two basic factors – a) the nature…
How to gain a permission to shoot land
If you have a pressing need to stop one or more foxes from killing your livestock you probably already have somewhere to shoot, but let’s suppose that you don’t know any landowners. How on earth do you go about getting someone to agree to let you on their property? Well,…
Is a deadly rabbit virus affecting fox numbers?
Q: Four years or so ago the local rabbit population crashed. We have had myxomatosis previously but the population always seemed to recover to some extent — this time it has not. Could rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) be causing this? Since foxes that prey on rabbits also seem fewer…
Fox hunting ban repeal could nearer than you think
Shooters have been encouraged to support a repeal of the fox hunting ban after Prime Minister Theresa May pledged to give MPs a free vote on the issue. Mrs May described views on the divisive topic as “a situation on which individuals will have one view or the other, either…