Live catch trapping foxes

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Live catch trapping foxes
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Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 09 9:39 pm Post subject:
The bait should be on the far side of the treadle. Though this one sounds trap-wise and you might just have to sit up all night with a rifle till you get the beggar.

markjadams

Joined: 06 May 2006
Posts: 109
Location: South West Wales

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 09 9:52 pm Post subject:
How and where should they be placed? Mark.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Wed Mar 11, 09 7:47 am Post subject:
I've not tried live traps but I've been told most of the manufactured ones are way to small & need to be double the size. If it where me I would lamp & squeek the culprit & sell the trap on E-bay.

whitelegg1

Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Posts: 409
Location: Woodford Green

Posted: Wed Mar 11, 09 6:23 pm Post subject:
Do you tie the bait to the trap? Pete

KILLITnGRILLIT

Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 894
Location: Looking at a screen in the front room

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 09 8:31 pm Post subject:
Personally I would have used snares, cheap and therefore you can use many of them and increase the chance of a catch and quick dispatch of a fox. Check all traps at dawn, dusk and just before bed. .

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46240
Location: yes

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 09 8:41 pm Post subject:
snares are not for me as there are a variety of other critters about piglet in a noose isnt something i want to find (or my daft old wooly wolf )

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 09 7:36 am Post subject:

I've done very well with fox traps in the past. I don't put the bait in the trap but dig a shallow pit and place a dead chicken in it before placing the trap actually over the bait.
If you have a problem with the fox trying to get at the bait without entering the trap then surround the three sides with sharp prickles such as gorse.
'Thick' inexperienced young foxes in Autumn are always easier to catch than older ones with some miles on the clock.

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 09 8:53 am Post subject:
It should be noted that it is unlawful to use fallen livestock, such as dead poultry, as fox-trap bait. This comes under disease prevention legislation. You could always slaughter one of your own fowl to use as bait, but that rather negates the chicken-protection purpose of trapping foxes in the first place.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 09 9:14 am Post subject:
What about using some tinned dog food? Some smells quite strongly and people seem to use it to feed the critters round here.

whitelegg1

Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Posts: 409
Location: Woodford Green

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 09 9:19 am Post subject:

Depends on how many chickens you have...
For me with 3 hens, it would semm a little rash!

However if I had a flock of 600, one dying to save many might seem to have more validity...

Pete

Once one has caught the fox...
What is a legal method of dispatch for the urban dweller?

Without a open FAC, is zero range shotgun permissable?
Or in fact zero range .22 air rifle? (Would not entertain anything more than zero range with this!)
Shame that zero range rimfire would NOT be allowable, as this would seem to be the most suitable and quiet option!

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 09 9:20 am Post subject:
I've found cat food much better a bait than dog food, no idea why.

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 09 9:23 am Post subject:

whitelegg1 wrote:

Once one has caught the fox...
What is a legal method of dispatch for the urban dweller?

Without a open FAC, is zero range shotgun permissable?
Or in fact zero range .22 air rifle? (Would not entertain anything more than zero range with this!)
Shame that zero range rimfire would NOT be allowable, as this would seem to be the most suitable and quiet option!

You could take the cage, fox and all, to somewhere you do have permission to shoot it with your .22, though I prefer to shoot them at point-blank range with a .410 - fairly quiet compared to a 12-bore.

Never use an airgun on a fox. Not even at point-blank range. You'd be very unlikely to kill it outright, and when you've wounded it, what then? You'd also be laying yourself open to a charge - rightly, in my view - of causing unnecessary suffering.

whitelegg1

Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Posts: 409
Location: Woodford Green

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 09 10:25 am Post subject:
Fair point. I'll trust your judgement. I'm now on the the lookout for a nice and cheap .410, some subs and possibly as second shorter stock for the kids Pete

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 09 11:29 am Post subject:
If you do move the cage with the fox in it, mind your fingers. And remember to disinfect everything after shooting it, including some Jeyes Fluid or similar where the blood pooled if it's in your garden. They carry Weil's disease.

SteveP

Joined: 23 Jan 2008
Posts: 155
Location: North Devon

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 09 1:40 pm Post subject: Re: Live catch trapping foxes

Back to the original problem (I would have posted earlier but not been online). A fox will be reluctant to tread on the wire so cover it with straw or soil. If you can cover the outside with straw bails so it is like an earth tunnel even better.

When I used a live catch trap I used bailing twine tied to the bait, passed out the back of the trap and back under to the treadle. If the bait is pulled the treadle drops.

Steve

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