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Fox control: sitting in wait

Foxes are creatures of habit and will often follow the same paths on a regular basis, leaving signs to indicate to you that a particular area is being used. These include fox scats and a musty fox smell.

Like a lot of animals, foxes will take the easiest route through an area as long as they feel safe doing so. This can give you as the shooter the opportunity to predict and intercept the fox at a pre-approved point along a track or path, which should if possible be an open area and assured of a safe back stop.

Baits, callers – either manual or electronic – plus lures and high seats can all be incorporated into your plans for interception to increase your chances of successfully achieving a safe and humane dispatch.

Safety first

Before undertaking fox control, safety needs to be considered. Below are a list of key checks:

Spend time assessing an area in daylight for safe back stops, obstacles, footpaths, roads, houses, etc as well as reference points for distance. This will allow you to be confident in dispatching your quarry at night when many of these features will not be visible to you.
Check all the equipment you plan to use is in good working order, including rifles, shotguns, correct ammunition, etc.
If using a rifle, make sure it is zeroed to the range you are likely to be shooting at.
Where appropriate, notify the relevant people of your movements, such as the landowner, farmers and neighbours, and the area(s) you intend to set up as well as roughly what time you will be out.
Keep any relevant written permission from the landowner with you.
Make sure your firearms licence has a condition to allow you to control the species in question for the firearm you will be using and consider carrying your certificate with you.

The right kit

It is essential you use the appropriate firearm and ammunition for night shooting. Correct range judging is also vital to give yourself the best chance of shooting effectively. In most instances, using a centrefire rifle is preferable for fox control. However, over shorter distances and in certain circumstances, rimfire rifles may be appropriate.

Consider using a sound moderator for both rimfire and centrefire rifles, particularly in areas close to human habitation or livestock. Sound moderators also bring significant additional benefits in terms of hearing protection.

Shotguns with large magazine capacities, ie more than two cartridges, offer the user a significant advantage when dealing with large numbers of pests. Remember however, you’ll need relevant authorisation to hold such a firearm under licensing laws.

For ranges up to 30 metres, a 12 bore shotgun with a load of not less than 36 grams of large shot such as no. 1 or no. 3 is recommended as an effective alternative to a centrefire rifle for fox control.

Sit and wait

Waiting for a fox on a track, path or ride you know to be well used by foxes can be a long-drawn-out affair and the opportunity to take a shot then fleeting.

Taking up a position with a clear view will help you see a fox approaching from a distance gives you a significant advantage in successfully dispatching your quarry. However, this is not always possible, so elevating your position with the aid of a high seat is a good solution.

A high seat gives you a good field of view, elevated above the ground which affords you the safe back stop needed, while also providing a steady rest if using a rifle. It can also help you remain undetected by the fox via scent.

Here are some other good bits of advice:

Being camouflaged (especially if setting up during the day) helps prevent being spotted by a fox.
Make sure you take up a comfortable position as you could have a long wait.
Try to remain as still as possible; moving around too much could indicate your location to an approaching fox.
Try facing into the wind, or use cross winds also if you have an electronic caller. Bear in mind that many foxes will try to circle you as you call to catch a scent.
Always make a positive ID of your target before taking the shot.

Using calls

Calling the fox to your position can speed up the process significantly, but only if there are foxes within earshot once you are set and start calling.

It isn’t an exact science, what works in terms of call type, pitch, etc for you one day with a particular fox may not have the same success the next day with a different one. Environment, time of year and individual fox behaviour will all have an impact on how successful calling can be.

There are also different ways of calling. These include hand calling, often using a call which simulates prey such as a distressed rabbit, and electronic calls which offer a wide range of different calls. Each have their merits and potential drawbacks, with a large difference in price ranging from free to hundreds of pounds.

Hand calling or mouth operated calls

It stands to reason that if a call is being made by you, then a fox will look in your direction. This presents a risk that if you move or indicate your presence, the fox will make haste before you get the chance to take a shot.

When calling consider:

wind direction
your field of view, which wants to be as wide as possible. This allows you to see the fox from distance and track its movements as it approaches your position, as it may try to come around down wind.
whether have everything set for taking the shot before you start calling.
where the safe areas are for you to shoot and, once the fox is in such a location, stop calling.

Electronic calls

The benefit of using a remote-operated electronic caller is that it can be used from a distance, meaning the fox focuses on where the call came from rather than your position. The drawback can be the cost.

Here are some things to think about when using electronic callers:

Choose calls suitable for the location and time of year. For instance, the distress calls of local prey species may work well when food is scarce, but during the mating season a call imitating a vixen may be better.
Operate the call for a on loop for a time, then let it be quiet for a period, rather than having it continually on.
There are different thoughts on volume; try setting at a low level when you first start to call, slowly increasing the volume if you haven’t had any interest.
Stop the caller once the fox is in a safe zone for shooting and take the shot.
The location of the caller can increase or decrease the distance the sound will carry.
Unmute the caller and continue calling, checking for any other foxes that may have been drawn into your caller.
If using an electric call, keep in mind that if they are off the ground, their sound will travel further, so placing them on fenceposts, bales or other high points may boost success.
Aim to position the caller where you can see the fox coming with opportunities for a shot on route.
It is illegal to use sound recordings to take animals in Northern Ireland, but you can apply for a licence to use one there.

Visual lures and electronic callers

There are different thoughts on lures and their effectiveness will depend upon several factors but clearly to be effective they need to be visible.

These lures are often designed to be used alongside electronic callers and can also be remotely operated with the intention of providing a visual attraction alongside the call.

Baiting

Foxes are opportunists and it can be possible to utilise this by putting bait (food attractant) out in an area. This tends to work best in the winter months when food is scarcer and baits less likely to decay.

Like many elements of fox control, there are different schools of thought on what bait works best. However, it’s worth noting the rules on what can and cannot be used, e.g. fallen livestock must be disposed of correctly.