Fox trapping

[steveR]

My rim-fire 22 is inadequate for field foxing, OK for a head shot in a cage, so hence my search for a 100% successful trap.

Dafydd WW

While not ideal, I have shot foxes successfully with a .22 using HV rounds. Needs must etc

These days, like you, I have a guy with "all the gear" and happily, he "has the right idea" too!

 

[britt]

With the cage trap I start with bait in the entrance and the door tied open. When it goes I bait the middle with the door tied open, you have to get them confident to go in and learn the way in. Finally put the bait at the back behind the footplate.
I find that once I've caught one and the trap smells of fox I quickly get another.

 

[Cowmansam]

Cage traps the bigger the better smaller ones will catch Cubs and desperate ones 8 foot by 4 by 4 is a good size either pedal or hook for your bait

 

[Cowmansam]

Easier make one yourself too as the bought traps you catch one badger by mistake and there trashed

 

[Alias]

I bought one from Lane Ends Farm in Cornwall years ago, strong made.

Caught a couple but much more likely to catch farm cats. Neighbour borrows it and he's had quite a few foxes but gets badgers as well, he lets them go but they'll back again the next night for more food. If the problem is with released town foxes then they should be good to trap. Brother's kids saw one kill a hen outside kitchen window, middle of the day. They chased it off with dogs but it was back half an hour later, .22 sorted it, it had a shaved leg.

 

[Bertram]

Hi All ,

Its a bit late in the day, but just 3rd visit by a fox in just over a week and now have no hens left.

Fox shooting chap came last weekend and shot 4 foxes in three visits. There is a townee moved to the next door property, who works at a local Vets, who brings home ex treatment foxes, puts them in a big cage, and then releases them (allegedly). This illegal, but proving it is neigh impossible

Been here 40 years, and only ever had the occasional fox about.

My enquiry is :-- does anyone have experience of a successful cage trap, I could bait it and then shoot the foxes myself.

Hope to hear of some helpful advice.

Dafydd Wynn Williams

Quicker just to catch the townie and humanely despatch him?

 

[Longlowdog]

The most I've personally seen in the back of a pickup playing dead was 13 when a mate was keepering outside Lancaster. A writer in a shooting magazine had photos of 23 in one night on the edge of a city.

 

[Dry Rot]

I doubt whether live traps will catch many in the Highlands. Fox destruction was like a religious campaign. The major time to control was at denning, when foxes had their cubs. Steel traps at every den entrance then the keepers would wait near the den in the hope of getting a shot at an adult at first light. If they couldn't watch the den, they'd place a bodach or scare crow to keep the adults away. It was quite common to find small stone huts near traditional den sites to shelter the watcher. No spot lights back then, let alone thermal imaging! The derogatory name for a cunning person was "A hill fox". I remember being shown a press cutting from the local newspaper over 20 years ago. It was from a newspaper dated 25 earlier and told how Mr X had shot a fox. Imagine getting your name in the paper for shooting a fox today! If a fox was seen on an estate, all the keepers from neighbouring estates would be called out to have a drive for him.

 

[Dan@JF]

A two compartment hen house with sprung entrance better than dead bait.

This would be by far the simplest solution in this scenario. I wouldn't even bait, I would just set it up so the fix thinks its getting into the house.

One of the most important things when cage trapping is to remove the fox and dispatch elsewhere.

 

[neilo]

This would be by far the simplest solution in this scenario. I wouldn't even bait, I would just set it up so the fix thinks its getting into the house.

One of the most important things when cage trapping is to remove the fox and dispatch elsewhere.

From someone who’s never done it….. how do you remove a live fox from a trap to dispatch elsewhere?

 

[steveR]

From someone who’s never done it….. how do you remove a live fox from a trap to dispatch elsewhere?

Telehandler....

 

[Dan@JF]

From someone who’s never done it….. how do you remove a live fox from a trap to dispatch elsewhere?

One end bites and one doesn't. I'm happy to handle foxes but to be honest the most stress free way all round is to allow them to go into a dark space. Very simple to make a plastic tube out of 9" corrugated pipe, 2ft long with an oil bucket on each end, very simple, very effective.

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

From someone who’s never done it….. how do you remove a live fox from a trap to dispatch elsewhere?

More importantly why would you want to. Shoot it in the trap. Quick and clean

 

[shumungus]

This would be by far the simplest solution in this scenario. I wouldn't even bait, I would just set it up so the fix thinks its getting into the house.

One of the most important things when cage trapping is to remove the fox and dispatch elsewhere.

Why?

 

[shumungus]

Is 40mm weld mesh (type of stuff you make hay racks out of ) good enough for a fox trap?

 

[Anymulewilldo]

The most I've personally seen in the back of a pickup playing dead was 13 when a mate was keepering outside Lancaster. A writer in a shooting magazine had photos of 23 in one night on the edge of a city.

4/5 years ago I shot 3 with the 12 bore behind the buildings in one afternoon after the afterbirth from a fresh calved cow. Couldn’t believe it. Dad went back that night with the rifle and shot 6. All in the same field. Next day we were talking with next door and he was proper confused. Him and the gamekeeper had been sat out the night before, 1 each end of their big wood. Shot 16 between them 9pm-2am. When we looked 1 of ours DIDN’T have a shaved leg, while 2 of theirs didn’t. About a fortnight later the neighbour caught an unmarked white van on his lane. Threatened too get violent if the driver didn’t open the van too prove he wasn’t pinching stuff. Van was FULL of empty cages. The next week we shot 18 between us.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Why?

I’m more interested how you remove the live fox…? No way I’m putting my hands near the dirty buggers. Just poke the .410 through the mesh!

 

[shumungus]

In my youth I seen a man lift a live active badger by the tail and carry it.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

In my youth I seen a man lift a live active badger by the tail and carry it.

Rather him than me!!!

 

[Treecreeper]

I doubt whether live traps will catch many in the Highlands. Fox destruction was like a religious campaign. The major time to control was at denning, when foxes had their cubs. Steel traps at every den entrance then the keepers would wait near the den in the hope of getting a shot at an adult at first light. If they couldn't watch the den, they'd place a bodach or scare crow to keep the adults away. It was quite common to find small stone huts near traditional den sites to shelter the watcher. No spot lights back then, let alone thermal imaging! The derogatory name for a cunning person was "A hill fox". I remember being shown a press cutting from the local newspaper over 20 years ago. It was from a newspaper dated 25 earlier and told how Mr X had shot a fox. Imagine getting your name in the paper for shooting a fox today! If a fox was seen on an estate, all the keepers from neighbouring estates would be called out to have a drive for him.

There was a time when a fox going through the line on a shoot day was grounds for a. keepers dismissal.