I know lamping and night vision are illegal in a number of European countries and therefore foxes are hunted in the daylight hours.

Do you have much success with daytime calling or more with highseat or dog hunting?

I am just wondering as I often consider giving a few squeaks before leaving a highseat or forest glade but always thought most foxes would not be active after first light.

Thoughts?

G'day Boggy,

Dont know about Europe but down here in Aust. foxs are taken day and night. Never hurts to give a few squeaks. then wait and watch 360.

Cheers

Greg

Hi mate - just wonder if our foxes are actually underground at the moment...

Do foxes den up over winter in Oz?

Boggy, I used to shoot six or eight times a season with a "gun pack". Basically a small pack of five or six terrier cross hounds. 12 to 15 guys would surround a small wood, the dogs would be introduced and drive the cover to the guns.

A typical day would be 5 to 10 foxes shot. It was great sport. The widespread uptake of lamping here 15 years ago killed it off.

Shot them at all times of the day.foxes are often active middayish in the summer. The vegetation can make things a bit difficult.Early morning and late evening would be the most productive.

As our deer season is September 1st to February 28th we have to satisfy the itchy trigger syndrome

A few fish guts fermented in a container does a great job of attracting them. Just don't spill it !

Foxes in the middle of the day are quite regular, especially given the number of times they are found in pheasant covers during he day.

I think they probably den up more when breeding, or when heavily pressured.

Dry cold days will find them sunning themselves in quiet spots.

K

quote:

Originally posted by Boghossian:
Hi mate - just wonder if our foxes are actually underground at the moment...

Do foxes den up over winter in Oz?

Boggy,
Down south in the high country they might, dont really know. Most place if they do den up they still get out and about during the day. Best times I have found are early to mid mornings and late afternoons. Though the odd one can be picked up around the middle of the day.

Good luck when you try.

Boggy,

Our Teutonic Drive Hunts often result in Foxes taken during the course of the day; last week 1 during a Wild Boar Drive Hunt and another 5 taken out of the Sugar Beets on a Small Game Drive Hunt (Pheasants & Hares primarily).

Experience has been that it appears to be very weather dependant as rain or drizzle will send them to their dens straightaway.

I like the Fish Trick, too ..... lacking fish you can always have a night on the town and then hold your hand(s) into the wind.

quote:

I like the Fish Trick, too ..... lacking fish you can always have a night on the town and then hold your hand(s) into the wind.

When exactly do you transition to dirty old man? I want to mark it in my outlook calendar.

I will be stalking all weekend but will give a few squeaks to see what's about.

I have shot lots of foxes during daylight hours.
Stalking, calling and using a dog have been the main methods.

If the weather is windy and/or wet, the foxes tend to stay inside dens.
Then it is usually best to know where the dens are and use a den dog and a hunter or more standing guard with a shotgun over the exit routes for the fox when the dog forces it out of the den.

If there is snow on the ground that is still to walk on, it can make for some very exiting stalking when tracking the fox to get a shot at it. This demands good stalking skills and some knowledge and experience about hunting fox this way.

Calling fox during daylight hours in the winter months can be very efficient. Even at mid day if you can move in undetected not to far from where the fox rests during the day.
A fox is always ready for a meal during the winter months, so it is always worth to try some calling.

The last method I use hunting fox in the daylight hours is by using a single dog that gives chase to the fox. I have shot lots of foxes in front of one of my Dachshounds.
If there is deep snow(not very likely in England ), a longer legged dog is better.

The combination of using a dog that gives chase to the fox on the ground and a den dog if the fox is in a den already or run into one when chased by a dog is extremely efficient if you have good dog/s and the hunter/s know what to do.

Fox calling during daytime can be effective, here is some of my foxes and a bonus badger...


http://youtu.be/brfdnWVLFlU

http://youtu.be/MXbLFuUAJ7c

http://youtu.be/MW1aycp17aQ

http://youtu.be/296FehSpsWg

/ P-A

quote:

The combination of using a dog that gives chase to the fox on the ground and a den dog if the fox is in a den already or run into one when chased by a dog is extremely efficient if you have good dog/s and the hunter/s know what to do.

Very interesting - a classical example of European dog versatility. Over here a good 'bushing' dog would push cover and a good earth dog should be a 'stayer' in most all circumstances (i.e. time for the locator and spades).

What fox calls are you guys using? I have had limited success with the Mark 1 left hand and WAM call, but thinking of asking Santa for some more long range calls (not electronic).

P-A - I enjoyed your vids, particularly the running badger!

Thank you Boghossian,

Tough I still have regrets about the fact that I did not get both badgers...

Yes - it was a good chance for a rare left and right on badgers!

I had a spectacular blank today - 8 hrs and the deer won. The only fox took one look at me and dived into cover. Back out tomorrow.

Never give up...