The fox pages

[Stix]

This one was too poor and I suspect full of worms to make a pair of gloves out of let alone a rug.
Got him approx 6 years ago at the base of the Grampians in Vic.

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FMD...thats amazing...!!

Id have skun that one out for sure..!!!....mange, worms, whatever...!!...

[Die Judicii]

As a teenager in Sth Aust, there was a pure black one (I never saw it myself) that was in the neighborhood.
Heaps of locals had seen it, but never managed to get it,,,, and (pardon the pun) every man and his dog were out to get it.

Several years later,, sightings ceased.
We presumed it had died a natural death somewhere because no-one ever claimed to get it.

[Oldbloke]

Sooo, I sort of took up fox whistling (in a much bigger way) about 5 years ago. Just love it. Bought my 223 and away I went. (not into spotlighting here) Go for a nice walk, have a crack for say 20 minutes then move on. A nice way to spend the avo. A mixture of State Forrest and farms. Some times I just ambush over a dam, (sit & wait) esp in SF. Most places I go are hunted a fair bit BTW.

Anyway I have 6 or 7 whistles, callers, all the usual ones. Nothing electronic. Don't want them. Old fashioned. LOL
Usually I head out for a couple of hours in the late avo, occasionally in the early morning. Wear basic camo, face mask etc, into the wind or cross wind.

I guess I get one say,,,every 4 or 5 outings and doesn't seem all that successful. Often don't even see one.

Am I a sh1t hunter or am I doing well. Obviously varies at different times of the year. Last week for the first time I missed BTW. (bugger, my own fault)

Now, I guess I'm doing it the hard way but wondering what the average success rate is for those doing same?

[Blr243]

If you are out in the bush with a fox whistle instead of at home on a keyboard you are not a ****** hunter ..... thrill of the hunt , and anticipation, while listening to the sounds of the birds is paramount. Nine foxes is my best effort for a week hunting and I think I got 5 one night I’m also pretty good at getting none or one in a whole week

[Oldbloke]

So, I think that means in a week 4 during the day, and I think your a long way out. Most of my hunting is in areas that have a fair bit of hunting pressure.

"listening to the sounds of the birds is paramount"

Yes, have picked up a few after seeing birds or other animals (sheep) scatter, getting all flustered because there is a predator near by..

[Member-Deleted]

OB, my success rate so far while whistling is 0, so I'm 'crapper' than you at that caper. On the other hand my dumb luck sometimes brings a result. I cleaned up 2 on one morning while walking through paddocks looking for pigs. They bolted from where they were camped up in a pile of timber... startled the crap out of me but got 2 from 2 with SG out of a SxS 12ga.

[Member-Deleted]

anyone using a Silva whistle and would recommend?

[Oldbloke]

anyone using a Silva whistle and would recommend?

Not me. DIY and the the "best fox whistle."

[Oldbloke]

These are what Im using plus a Scotch caller. But have never called one with that.

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L to R
Polysyrene and glass
Duck caller
Toy squeeker
Toy squeeker in a tube
DIY duck/bird caller. High pitch.
Copy of a best reed caller
2 tenterfields, best and DIY
Button whistle

[AJB]

Silva fox whistle works the best out of all the different brands start off softly then slowly get louder that works best for me

[Oldbloke]

Bang bang. There is a comparison here. About 5 minutes in the silver gets a mention.


https://youtu.be/CX_1Q4KEcOo

At about $70 last time i looked i struggle with th e silva whistle

[Blr243]

When I said listening to the birds paramount I wasn’t referring to the fact that they might be indicating the presence of a fox or cat ...... I was merely suggesting that being out in the bush listening to birds is so relaxing that it doesn’t really matter if a fox turns up or not. A hunt where no shot is fired is still better than being at home

[Oldbloke]

When I said listening to the birds paramount I wasn’t referring to the fact that they might be indicating the presence of a fox or cat ...... I was merely suggesting that being out in the bush listening to birds is so relaxing that it doesn’t really matter if a fox turns up or not. A hunt where no shot is fired is still better than being at home

Certainly agree with that

[Grandadbushy]

Amen to that Blr

[marksman]

this is where it is always a good idea to have a plan 2 if all else fails
having the feeling like a hippy on weed after a good relaxing afternoon is good to reset but if its good to get something as well

[Oldbloke]

this is where it is always a good idea to have a plan 2 if all else fails
having the feeling like a hippy on weed after a good relaxing afternoon is good to reset but if its good to get something as well

Or a nice cold home made ale afterwards.

[Blr243]

If I have a big night thermal hunting and I get back to campsite at dawn I crack a rum and coke with my bacon and egg breakfast. It’ sounds bad and It’s not someing I could normally stomach at that time but after hard work it goes down well ..... and I can’t have a drink late arv or evening

[bigpete]

I'm just gonna go with you being a s**t hunter old bloke

[Oldbloke]

I'm just gonna go with you being a s**t hunter old bloke

I appreciate that.

[bigpete]

Lol,gotta stir s**t when I can!

[Oldbloke]

I did leave myself open

[Pudlux]

I have Silva and it works well. Got one of these T2 whistles a while ago and they are fantastic. 2 different sounds and 1/3 the price.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... qKsHCcGGXA

[Oldbloke]

I have Silva and it works well. Got one of these T2 whistles a while ago and they are fantastic. 2 different sounds and 1/3 the price.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... qKsHCcGGXA

So, your calling a fair few in then?

[NTSOG]

G'day, I have been having success lately with this whistle from Foxcalls.com:

https://foxcalls.com/index.php?route=pr ... duct_id=68

Foxes have been coming in fast and virtually as soon as I started blowing it.

Jim.

[Oldbloke]

G'day, I have been having success lately with this whistle from Foxcalls.com:

https://foxcalls.com/index.php?route=pr ... duct_id=68

Foxes have been coming in fast and virtually as soon as I started blowing it.

Jim.

Sounds very bird like. I noticed on the last (2nd) visit i havnt seen any rabbits. So will concentrate on using other calls now.

[NTSOG]

G'day Oldbloke,

There are a number of similar calls made by the same mob in different pitches and each with a different timbre - think the difference between the 'voices of a clarinet compared to an oboe compared to a saxophone - and I have had some success with all of them, but this 'shrieker' or 'squeaker' does gain their attention - and we don't have any bunnies around; only 'roos and hares.

Jim

[marksman]

l do some work for a pro at times including culling foxes
what is used is a foxpro caller that we set out around 100m away but we also drag a bait around in a big circle to get a smell happening
the bait is usually just a lump of crap meat with some tuna oil over it, it is dragged as far and wide that you want to go criss crossing back and forth
then just sit back and wait, we do alright late in the arvo as well as at fox time, around 10-11 oclock at night seems to be when
he also has the night sight gear, thermal ect.. to spot
it could be set up to suit yourself in how far you would want to go eg... put a sent trail and baits and whistling
it is different for a pro because he is getting a heap more money for the foxes than the recreational hunter but the tactics can be used

[NTSOG]

G'day Marksman,

I have an Icotec 350 caller and occasionally have scattered cheap canned dog food in a circle on the ground around the Icotec in the direction from which I hope the fox will be coming. I have had some success with the Icotec, but lately am doing better with the mouth calls and they are easier to carry.

Jim

[Oldbloke]

MM, thats a good reminder to try bait. Thnx. Will do that. I still have last yrs pichards in the freezer. Worth a try.
Going to make one of these to try. More bird like sounding.

https://youtu.be/HX_3oS2M07o

Convinced its a bit like fishing. Sometimes they go off the bite. Lol

[NTSOG]

HI Oldbloke,

Well that whistle will be a lot cheaper than the commercial ones. I always have a bait station operating at one site in a paddock behind my house which seems to be on a fox 'highway' from SW to NE. They come around a large dam which is fenced and offers lots of cover on the banks and encounter my bait plus trail camera.

Jim

Jim