trapping help needed

[auto culto 0]

Just been asked to "re-locate" some foxes, I've got the trap and spade but I'm just wondering what the best bait to use, I've tried a squirrel and a rabbit but all I've caught up to date is a hedgehog . It maybe that I'm placing the trap wrong so any advice you offer will be appreciated.

cheers Matt

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

I was once told that a life long MAFF Fox Trapper swore by roast chicken carcasses, mate. The sort ye see in those Spit Roast Cabinets in some shops?

 

Are these rural or town foxes though? If townies, KFC or Donner Kebab would likely be more up their street these days?

 

If ye catching hotchies; Is the bait laying or hanging behind the treadle? I don't know, but I wonder if a hung up bait might not be a bit less detectable by the little slug sniffers?

[auto culto 0]

at the min i,ve got the bait cable tied to the top of the treadle so. Is this wrong ? should it be under

[Cadders 0]

Depends where you are, KFC chicken you can beat it

[waz77 15]

Cant you find their earth Auto Culto? They'll have dependant cubs now so it'd be better if you could catch them all up and relocate them together

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

Taken complete litters of cubs in the old Coypu cage traps...I found 'cat food' to be a good, smelly lure

[auto culto 0]

I know where their earth is but i dont have access to it so all i can pretty much do is is place the trap on a known run (about 10 yards from the hole) and hope they take the bait. As there urban foxes i think I'll try a chicken carcass or fishy cat food like some of you said as this would probably be their main diet anyway.

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

at the min i,ve got the bait cable tied to the top of the treadle so. Is this wrong ? should it be under

 

 

It's not an absolute and universal wrong, mate. No. But, in your case, ye getting hotchie's, so it's more a case of 'not suited to the deal'.

 

Where it is, it's accessible to those hotchi's. I don't know how high or long (past the treadle) your trap is. But a bait placed above and behind the treadle sounds like ye best best. Could ye not convert the trap - even temporarily - to a Bait Hook mechanism?

[auto culto 0]

ok I've covered the floor with soil but i had the same result last night (1 hedgehog) i also baited outside the trap using a pigeon and all that was left was a few feathers and the wings I'm sure now that if i can stop the hedgehogs tripping the cage I'll manage to catch the buggers. Any ideas how to adjust the sensitivity of the catch, I can email you a pic of the cage if required. Its has a vertical sliding doors both ends with the paddle in the middle. I've had a think about what you've said about making a hanging bait trip and the only method i can think of is by hanging the bait from the top with fine fishing line and hope the fox snaps the line to fire the doors, do you think this would work or are there easier methods.

[woodga 170]

that must be a sensitive trigger if a hedge hog can set it off ??try putting some moss or leaves under the plate just enough so that it will take the weight of the hedge hog but not that of a fox that might work for you

Edited May 9, 2007 by woodga

[moley 115]

that must be a sensitive trigger if a hedge hog can set it off ??try putting some moss or leaves under the plate just enough so that it will take the weight of the hedge hog but not that of a fox that might work for you

it could be the same hedgehog your catching, if its a male , take it out the area , if its a female you best let her be as she may have young about

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Woodga's thinking just what I was thinking yesterday. I actually started writing to explain it, but I got bogged down and lost patience with myself, decided to shut up and thus gave ye the abridged response!

 

But, yeppers; Average hedgehog must barely weigh a couple of pounds? Fox around fifteen? It's all part of the Art of Trapping, to set ye trap for ye intended quarry.

 

Regards a shot of this trap? That might prove more usefull. Only I'm far and away from the last word in all this. Don't confine yeself to my burblings. Stick the shot(s) up here and let everyone see the situation. Ye'll get more input that way If ye don't know how to get them up here, let me know and I'll sort it out for ye.

 

Mheanwhile, yeppers; Tie the bait hard against the roof of the trap. Right above the treadle. Being as it's a double entry and central treadle, that does make it less than ideal for the trick, but it's better than what's happening as is. Only be sure to strap an old piece of wood across the top of that bait too ~ stop them trying to get it out from the top, see? And make sure the cage is pegged down too, so they can't roll it.

 

PM me, if need be, about those photo's. The Mailer I give here doesn't alert me and I only check it once a day. PM'll alert me and get me faster

[Guest little_lloyd]

If i was in your shoes i would either run a few foxy wires or ask the landowner of where the earth is then you can set up the live catch up there :thumbs-up:

[auto culto 0]

cant risk using snares as there in a urban location and I'd risk catching cats and making a racket in the early hours. Its got to be a cage so they can be relocated. Tonight I'll try to bait one end of the cage and keep that door shut and use a sponge coated with fullers earth to support the treadle. Collared dove is on the menu for tonight so lets await tomorrows next exiting installment

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Now the Dog can see the rabbit! Pictures!

 

Ok, mate; I'd personally want to expand that treadle to start with. Every chance a fox may just step right over it.

 

That aside, yeppers, looking at the apparrent sixe of the cage, shutting a door and baiting, as suggested, at that end would make me sleep well

 

Ye realise, of course, relocation of a caught fox is illegal. (I know. It's the internet )

 

Best of luck!