Leaving fox alone on purpose

[trappa 518]

I was at a farm this morning not too far away. Ive been going there for a couple of years now, ferreting , with the airgun and lately with my rimmy.

It had a major rabbit problem but over 1 winter i got them under control. It always will have plenty of rabbits on just because of where its situated but last week and again this morning i found some fox poo. I walked up a roe today but havent seen foxy as yet. I shot a few rabbits, but called in to see farmer giles to let him know i think there is a fox about.

Anyway, because its a farm that is 100% crops with no livestock whatsoever on, i advised him to leave the fox alone as i reckon it will do more good than harm in this particular situation.

Apart from getting a buzz out of shooting it, i cant really see a benefit in killing it. There are no sheep in the vicinity of the neighbouring farms, just crops.

The right thing to do?

[mudman 14]

Yes, I've let many a fox live which I could have easily shot. If its not bothering me, or the farmer, then why bother it? Sometimes its a case of live and let live. If the fox is potentially a problem then take it out, and the one that replaces it, and the one that replaces that one etc. But if no good is going to be achieved by doing that then there is no reason to kill them.

[Guest JohnGalway]

The right thing to do?

 

Leaving a fox that's doing no damage alone is the right thing to do. As long as he isn't killing Mr Giles sisters second cousins aunties chickens three doors down Actually I can see the fox being beneficial in crops, he'd eat plenty of rodents.

[SEAN3513 7]

The right thing to do?

 

Leaving a fox that's doing no damage alone is the right thing to do. As long as he isn't killing Mr Giles sisters second cousins aunties chickens three doors down Actually I can see the fox being beneficial in crops, he'd eat plenty of rodents.

 

i agree....to many people willing to shoot a fox for shootings sake.

 

if hes no pest....no problem.

 

regards

 

sean

[SportingShooter 0]

Yes, I think so.

 

I am a gamekeeper so on my Shoot, foxes are my number one enemy. But there he is a pest to me as he is a threat to my birds.

 

I also have a lot of crow shooting, and I dont eat crows so seen as the farms are purely crops, I leave him alone and let him eat the crows for me and Buzzard too.

 

So If I had a lot of Rabbit ground with no shoots or chicken farms then I would leave him deal with some of the Rabbits and Rodents for me.

 

Regards

SS

[cragman 2,780]

Trappa. There's far too many that would have shot the fox to big-up their egos with no thought as to why they've shot it. Why shoot such a lovely animal trying to live out its life, where it's not causing any bother at all? I've had lots of opportunities in the past to do the same but I've always let them go about their business, in fact, it's interesting watching them mooching about.

[SNAP SHOT 194]

Totally agree, with leaving it alone, but and i say but there may come a time when it has to be done, so well done for finding restraint when needed.

control not obliteration, Is what we all try to achieve..........

[elmer fudd 0]

Does a fox reduce the population of natural ground nesting birds ? I have some partridges and pheasants unkeepered and would prefer to see them flourish. As well as lapwing and curlew and the odd duck . Plenty of rabitts , foxy does`nt seem to get on top of them .

My father had 120 chickens killed in one night. years later a pen full of turkeys so he has his own view on mr. fox !

[SportingShooter 0]

Does a fox reduce the population of natural ground nesting birds ? I have some partridges and pheasants unkeepered and would prefer to see them flourish. As well as lapwing and curlew and the odd duck . Plenty of rabitts , foxy does`nt seem to get on top of them .

My father had 120 chickens killed in one night. years later a pen full of turkeys so he has his own view on mr. fox !

 

In that case, if there were ground nesting or rare birds on the ground then I would have shot him, but this I think is the point, If he is causing no bother on the ground then leave him be but if there is a chance he may cause future bother or needs controlling then he needs to be dealt with.

 

Regards

SS

[Mr_Logic 5]

True, but it's a stranger situation when the farmer wants them shot, but not for any particular reason, which is the case I've had quite often.

[moxy 617]

I hope that leaving old charlie is the right thing to do.

 

I have just said the same to a customer and didnt want to sound a prat.

 

My job is a cul de sac in a pretty well to do area and the bunnys are coming on from a council owned woodland, I know for fact that they will take no action. So other than the discreatest of trapping and snaring there isnt much else i can do.

 

Foxy has been seen around so i think its a matter of letting nature take its course and hope he can thin the numbers a little. You never know he may even become a pain one day and i may end up with a job.

 

ATB

[garyw 0]

trappa.good post there.i shoot a lot of foxes all year round but if farmer giles wants them leaving then they get left.

on one of my spots the land is divided by two large farms one side has a large pheasant shoot and i shoot 20-30 foxes every year there.the other side im allowed on to shoot rabitts/pigeons/squirrel/crows.but foxes are a no-no the family is steeped in hunting and still hunt to this day so i have to respect that fact.but on the other side of the hedge its a differant ball game.

[Gav 1,708]

I think it is just a case of if its not a problem then leave it, keep an eye out and if the population explodes then its time to pick them off a bit as they will wonder further afield and cause problems elsewhere, as it is from what you have said it may be doing part of your job for you anyway. All the best

[Guest Leveller]

Some sensible replies on here I for one won't kill anything for killings sake if it's not a problem or one for the pot why on earth kill something (obviously you don't want to eat a fox)

[masmiffy 82]

Have a friend who wrote this in a letter to Lord Burns some time ago!

So has enforced himself a close season and why not!

 

'My records show I have, with .22 centerfire varmint rifles, personally killed more than 3,200 fox in just over 28 years. About 1980, having become so efficient at killing fox, I set myself a fox shooting season, only shooting them after the finish of harvesting cereal crops to mid-night 3l December.'