[CornishBoi]

We have a persistant fox problem at our small holding in St Austell, Cornwall. We have lost a few chickens in the past and although we have been lucky the last few visits, it is still trying and we are worried about losing more chickens and also the lambs coming lambing time! It currently visits almost daily at about 05:00 and 20:00.

We would prefer that the Shooter have their own silenced rifle, as we have nosey neighbours close by and don't want them disturbed too much, however we would also consider someone with a shotgun as a last resort. Obviously we would assume you have conformed to all legal requirements of gun ownership and having your own insurance would be preferable as we wouldn't accept any liability for any loss, damage or injury on our premises.

You could either leave a trap and I will let you know when it's caught for quick dispatch, or you could hang around and try your luck at hunting it to give it a sporting chance.

Please get it touch ASAP if you think you may be able to help.

Many thanks!

[loosey]

Hi There ... Just by some fluke of luck we also have a small holding in St Austell! I'd be interested to know exactly where you are as we have a huge dog fox who we don't seem to be able to get!!

My OH does pest control for a lot of people over Devon & Cornwall, is fully licensed and is always keen to keep his eye in! He doesn't trap, he will either call the fox in or wait until dark and use him lamp if no luck at dusk. He has a .22 rifle if the foxes are smaller and a larger rifle if needed. We have some shot guns lying around but wouldn't use them for fox. Fully licensed etc.

Feel free to email me through the forum and let me know your contact details ... I have him fairly booked up with jobs early evening but I know he'd be keen to help asap!

Loosey 

[AlanC]

hi......imo you rely need to get on board with the sourounding farms and smallholdings to get the problem in hand and take out as many of the resident foxes as you can. also id consider getting some folk with terriers in and see what earths are about as most will still be feeding cubs and a vixen with a litter is an absolute nightmare as she is in hording mode and will kill anything in sight and store


hope you get the probelm sorted if i was closer id of been happy to help
Alan

[whitby_sam]

We too have a fox problem here and we've tried allsorts. We have the problem that some of the land the fox has been seen on (and presumable where its earth is) belongs to a farmer who has given "shooting permission" to someone else for and is reluctant to let us "tread on his toes". Unfortunately said chap with permission to shoot the land is nowhere to be seen. I don't think the farmer is being awkward as he seems very nice in all other situations but it is making our lives difficult not being able to get to the bloody thing!

Do fox calls work?

[shetlandpaul]

if you invite a person onto you land then im pretty sure you are liable for any injury or damaged caused. would culling a single fox work won't you just get more moving in.

[shrekfeet]

Paul you are right - kill one and another takes his place. You need a regular and sustained approach to stay on top of the numbers. Yes, calling them in does work, usually the call of a distressed rabbit. You are going to struggle to kill it with a shotgun, you really need a rifle.

Speak to the farmer who has issued the rights, get the number fo the guy who shoots the land, call him up and explain your problem. He should help - or give you the nod to deal with it yourself. Be careful of your FAC terms though as you may not have the right to shoot on other land unless you have an open licence

[Cobra]

Always found a shotgun at night worked for me, had one that kept after the lambs, stayed in the field waited, took a day or two; hit the light and whilst he was stareing it was a one shot kill.

Generally you can get one that just keeps coming back to yours, instead of doing the rounds; Ive always had the belief that, the only reason they will do this, is if its an easy life, so you need to think about preventative as well, if hes persistant I would say its because hes got it easy. (As for preventative hopefully someone can give you some better guidance, best of luck with it.)

I lived in Newtown Nr Fowey for years, then moved to Victoria Road, miss the place something St Awful  Well miss the Tinners to be honest 

[daniellestocks]

We too have a fox problem here and we've tried allsorts. We have the problem that some of the land the fox has been seen on (and presumable where its earth is) belongs to a farmer who has given "shooting permission" to someone else for and is reluctant to let us "tread on his toes". Unfortunately said chap with permission to shoot the land is nowhere to be seen. I don't think the farmer is being awkward as he seems very nice in all other situations but it is making our lives difficult not being able to get to the bloody thing!

Do fox calls work?

Fox calls do work, the squeaky thing like a squealing rabbit, we used do them when out lamping! soon gets them in!!!!
Same goes tho, if you kill one, another will soon take over the territory, whomever lamps should do regular rounds

[AlanC]

hi cornishboi as a few have said it takes a sustained effort to make a dent on a population. but i know it can be done as one of the estates i used to work on hadnt seen a fox in 5 years on 13,000 acres but its hard work you need to first of all get rid of all the residants and them make sure you have snares and such like in place to pick up and wanderers in the area and also keep and eye on the earths in the area to make sure there not back in use

imo shooting them is ok and is a fair enough way to try and tackle them but the only real way you will find them all is with dogs weither it be wither it be a pack of hounds or a few terriers

i know most types of dog hunting are banned but there are a few exeption where you can use terriers and hound to flush foxes to guns and imo this is the best way as the dogs will find them for rather than having to sit and see if they come out

have a look on this site im sure there will be someone on here near to you know can help
(if you dont wany to sign up to the forum let me know and i can put a post up for you)

http://www.thehuntinglife.com/forums/ hers a link to the main site
http://www.thehuntinglife.com/forums/topic/9857-hunting-with-terriers-legally-england-scotland-wales/ and heres one on the use of terriers for fox controll for any one that might not know

[Roxy]

We have a large population of foxes here.  Hard to calculate how many, when vixens are seen with 6 cubs each.  But at night I can see eight foxes just in one part of the field.

We did have an excellent man come on shooting. He had been doing it for years, and knew exactly where the dens were, and where the foxes went every night. He came night after night, and would sit patiently.  He had two dogs with him, and could call the foxes too.

I am not into hunting with dogs, but have no objection to shooting foxes, so long as its quick, and a good shot.  The only stipulations I gave to the man who we had shooting was that he made sure he killed the fox (and he mostly killed them outright and if not he followed them, and gave them another shot) and he did not shoot any fox during when they had cubs.  Much as I do not like foxes killing my hens, I was not having the vixen shot and cubs starving to death down a hole .......that to me is dreadful.

I was happy with what this man did, and he came for many years. Sadly his dogs are now elderly and so is he.  I suppose he does not want to be out on a cold night waiting for foxes, any more.  Did have someone else who came a few times, but not seen them for ages, so we are back to a large fox population again.

[AlanC]

im sure if you put a post on the hunting life there would be someone that would be able to help

where abouts are you anyway roxy if you dont mind me asking ?


Alan

[Roxy]

A long way from you .....in the Derbyshire hills!!