SPORTING ANSWERS
How to catch a crafty fox
FOXING
Q I have a fox that regularly appears in roughly the same area — but being close to farm cottages it’s not somewhere I can safely shoot with a centrefire. Noise is also an issue, as the tenants have a young baby. If I can get it close enough, I could probably shoot it with a .22 rimfire. Do you have any advice on doing this humanely?
A The .22 LR is the perfect tool for these sorts of jobs as long as shot placement is good and ranges are kept short. As you are so close to some other properties, I’d advise using a number of sandbags to create a safe backstop and ideally try to shoot from a downward angle, such as an upstairs window of one of the properties. If this isn’t an option, a high seat would also work.
Patience is key but with regular baiting in front of the sandbags your fox will soon find it and feed there. Be sure to put bait out just after dark so it doesn’t get eaten by birds. If you have a trail cam, it will be
