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Gidday Graham,

Many thanks for the sound file.

I’ve been out two nights and nailed a fox the first night. I was very pleased with the result!

I’ll keep plodding along but the neighbours are stoked with a total of four to my name now.

Not a huge dent by any means but at least I feel like I’m doing something.

Thanks again Graham.

Kindest regards. JJ QLD

G’day Graham.  I haven’t been out hunting for a year but I finally managed to get out there and try out the “secret weapon”. .within minutes I had a little cub fox sitting on a log! Shot the cub from around 70m away with my CZ 17HMR. I shot my first fox with your help and would like to say a big thank you to you. I’ll be going back out this  weekend to try for another fox . Thank again regards Nat  NSW

Got a feral cat last night with your parrot call. The owner of the property had been trying to get this cat for months. A big strong black tom in the prime of his life doing lots of damage.

Had your parrot call that you sent me loaded up on a cheap mp3 player that I got on ebay. The cat had come up to me earlier responding to my fox whistle but took off when I put the spotlight on him. So moved away from him, had a break for half an hour then put the mp3 player down the paddock about 40 meters from me. And sure enough in he comes out from the River about 200 meters away leisurely strolling straight for the mp3 player. I was tracking him with a Night Tech HD25 thermal camera. When he got about 20 meters in front of me, turned the spotty on and gave it to him side on with the .222 straight through the heart. I like having the ability of being able to put the mp3 caller in a different position to the shooter, which of course you can’t do with a whistle. Thanks IL  NSW

Another thing I read in the SSAA Hunter magazine is when you get cats eyes, they normally turn away and don’t get another shine. Meow to them and they will stop and look back or even come trotting back to the vehicle. We shot 9 in 3 nights doing that.  KP  Qld

Wonderful result. A local restaurant lost 6 chooks to a fox. I went there with the sound machine and Ipod and Charlie came running for the wounded birds while I sat in the trees. Then the gun spoke and the rest is history. Thank you for the program. IC  Vic

Hi Graham….Letting you know the “Secret Weapon” works a treat.  Thanks for making it available.  Cheers  GM  Vic

My experience is that Thermal and spotlight work well used in conjunction. The spotlight will often detect fox eye shine and then we can usually then find it with the thermal and go dark and quiet or sometimes just dark and if we know the paddock can even sometimes drive carefully towards the fox with no lights at all.

Regarding zeroing my Thermal scope, what I find works well for me is I hole saw a hole in a piece of cardboard so I can fit an empty pill bottle or more recently started using Urine Sample Bottles (USB). A thermos of hot water (Use your coffee if you like!) and that gives a terrific thermal disk to aim at. I mostly aim at the top edge of the disk so the bullet doesn’t hit and destroy the bottle. And I have also thought (but not yet used) that if you don’t have a thermos you could just pee into the bottle and the warmth of the urine would also work. I also try and remember to put a texta mark at the top of the lid of the (USB) so that if the bottle does get hit and destroyed you can then retrieve the lid and at least see exactly where the bullet hit it. (You know which way it was up in the target)  PS  WA

Hi Graham took the secret weapon to my cousins place and it worked a treat had success 4 out of 5 occasions.  Regards  PC NSW

I tried the “secret weapon” last night while out spot lighting, we player it through a portable speaker sitting on the roof of the vehicle after spotting a fox more than 800m away. It worked really great!! After playing the sound for a couple of minutes the fox came into 80m (would have been closer but was on the other side of a netting fence), the fox was shot with a 17 hornet, another was taken the same way on the way home, thanks for the sounds worked a treat.  DM  NSW

Hunting at night with the aid of a thermal monocular it seems that the older foxes are significantly less interested in the tin whistle then the young ones. I’ve also observed them generally paying little attention to rabbits that they often pass within 20 or 30 metres.
This is perhaps explained in you April ‘Australian Shooter’ article with only a very small percentage of animals having eaten rabbit.
Anyway, I would be really keen to try the wounded parrot sound. Might save a few more lambs! With thanks   IA

The decoy is a weapon, I setup an speaker about 30m out from the farm sheds and sat at the shed and started the music. I’d guess 15minutes is all it took for a young vixen to arrive. As you indicated she was shy but interested so she was nailed at 50m.  SB  NSW

Friend of mine and I went out last night he had the secret weapon on his phone.
Unbelievable results I was totally amazed. AS

Hi Graham,

Last week I went out spotlighting and my dad bumped the button while we were in the house yard and a feral cat ran straight up to us but we couldn’t shoot it because is was in front of our truck but otherwise it worked reasonably well but I think we could have used it a bit louder. Thanks  ML  SA

June/July seems to be the time of year that foxes mate.  Mating foxes are often easier to approach when they are occupied and throw caution to the wind.  If you discover foxes mating, FOXBUSTERS recommend shooting the vixen first.  The dog fox (male) is likely to remain in the vicinity so you stand a chance of getting him too.

July 1^st while out spotlighting, I spotted mating foxes at 130m.  I shot the vixen, he dragged her 3 metres before the bulbus glandis released them from being tied together.  I followed the direction he went, but quickly lost sight of him.  On returning to look for the dispatched vixen, there he was and he was reluctant to leave.  He also was quickly dispatched.  On examination, the one year old 4.75kg vixen had eaten a number of beetles and a bird.  The 3 year old dog fox weighed 6.85kg and had eaten nothing for many days.

This incident was verification of the advice and technique.  Graham from FOXBUSTERS.

Hi Graham

A few months ago I contacted you and got a copy of the “secret weapon” fox call. It worked well for myself and my hunting buddy over hear in Victoria calling in foxes that otherwise would not respond to other calls. I am embarrassed to say that somehow I have lost the sound file off my phone that I used to play it from and I can’t find it anywhere else in my records.

Is it possible for you to send me another copy of the sound file please?

My hunting Buddy and I get out every few weeks to a month on the properties we have permission to shoot on and recorded 43 foxes shot over summer this year and just over 50 for the previous winter. We started using the “secret weapon” on the cubs this year as it was the only thing they would listen to as there were so many crickets out this year they would not even really look at the light they were so focused on chasing crickets.  GD  Vic

Another copy sent to GD

Hi Graham

Just a quick thank you, as my local gunsmith rang and told me my Anschutz 1530 in 222 was ready to pick up (I’ve been eagerly awaiting this as it was something I’ve always wanted )with only 20 rounds in hand I gave it a quick zero and headed to one of my local spots. Well with 15 shots left I managed 10 foxes from 50m to 250m all came running in with the secret weapon , a real credit to my gunsmith fitting a new barrel and freshening up the action.

Once again thanks that secret weapon definitely works Cheers  JR WA

Thanks very much Graham,

We will be shooting from quads, as we are on 650 acres of dairy farm. The foxes don’t give the quads a second glance as we bring the cows in with them.  I have just been outside with my wife’s Bluetooth speaker which is small but very loud and I have probably the best part of 50m range with the Bluetooth from my phone, this will hopefully allow us to set the speaker up away from our shooting position. Modern technology hunting now!  Simply amazing.  We will be using 22mags however in the past we have had to start using 243s as the foxes won’t come within range of the 22s whistling from the hand or a penny whistle, from my little test the other night I believe the secret weapon will change that. 5 sets of eyes were looking at me from one of our dam walls!!  Again thank you so much, it’s a brilliant thing you’re doing and a service to our great country.  I’ll let you know how we get on.  AL  NSW

Hi team,
This works great!! I tested your sample last night and it’s amazing how the foxes come in.
They are in plague proportions on my place at the moment and my mate and I are hoping to change that a little tomorrow night.
I would greatly appreciate an MP3 of the secret weapon.
Thanks so much and keep up the great work!  AL  NSW

G’Day Graham  First up, thanks a million for the ‘secret weapon ‘. The misses and I have just started using it the last 2 weeks to the detriment of around 40 foxes so far. We have recently moved out to the family owned farm Southern NSW and have taken on around 4000 acres but with the extended family around us we have around 50000 + to explore.  Mostly flat land dry crop country and after a couple months calling with whistles we found the foxes to be keeping their distance.  With the secret weapon playing, it’s too much for them and they tend to bolt toward the Ute.  We took 9 foxes on Thursday night around a mob of young lambs only moving the Ute once. Mostly young ones, but 1 big dog fox.  Again mate thanks heaps for the recording. We will keep you updated on the progress as we are now hitting the full swing of the season.  The misses is now a fox hunting addict and improving each night we venture out. Cheers mate keep up the good work.        LB  NSW

I’ve found lately with the Magpies nesting and their chicks starting up when they hear the “ Secret Weapon “ they carry on as much as the parrots do all around the caller and this even makes / sets a more realistic scene of something that is injured and has the foxes believing more and more willing to come in . The other day I had the caller on with the “Secret Weapon“ with Magpies around then they started to go crook at something about 100 metres in the bush and swooping and alarm calls and thought to myself that is probably a fox and sure enough it kept coming with Magpies giving it a good going over until it got close enough and I bowled it over  . Was great to watch the Magpies going at it and the fox snapping back at them as it wasn’t liking all their attention at all but still didn’t stop it from attempting to attack whatever it was distressed as it thought.  CB–WA

Graham, I have been chasing this fox for 4 months since you asked me if I could go down and see Tracy regarding her chooks been taken.  For the first 2 weeks I tried to call it and stake out the chook pen, I saw it a few times but in other places or it was too far away, or not able take a clean shot.  Around late into the 2nd week Tracey and I saw it over the road, I had the perfect shot, but off the shoulder and Missed, Sad Night that one.  I kept going down there but to no avail. So I told Tracey she needs to trap it, Trap it she did, and the fox got out of the solid built trap, it pulled the door inwards and escaped. We are both very disheartened by now.  I hadn’t been down there until week or so before the trapping, she had been locking the chooks up earlier until this point. (Approx. 7 weeks)   Tracey text me on Sunday night 24/09/2016 at 6.02pm, the fox took a Rooster in front of her and she Kicked it and it let the rooster go, (Rooster is still OK).  He had taken 4 chooks the day before while she had been at work. She said he had been back a few times through that week, So Monday night I went down at 5.30pm, sat there until dark and Nothing, just as Tracey was locking up the chooks,  I scanned the place and there he was, coming in the back way around the drain line, he propped and sat there, looked at us, obviously not bothered by humans by now. Tracey held the light 2mtrs to my left, so I couldn’t see his eyes shining, only him sitting looking at me,  I supported myself on the shed pole at 115 Yards, I’m not that steady shooting like this, but I thought I can’t miss twice so I breathed and steadied myself properly and squeezed the trigger, wasn’t sure if I hit him until we walked over there.  There he lay with a bullet through the heart (I love that Eliminator 111) Tracey was a very happy lady at this point and me too.  Just though you would be interested in the outcome, that’s 4 months I’ve been chasing this fox, he was an older male. He was a cunning bugger.  IM–WA

Hi Graham your secret weapon really does work, I shot this vixen at about 30m with a 22lr at about 5pm on Saturday.  FG-WA

Hi Graham  congratulations on a good product.  Your fox call works very well in in the South Oz mallee but not quite as effective around the almond orchards, but with at least 5 or 6 out of 10 still interested which still makes it a valuable tool.  Thanks for your help.     Cheers ..PD – SA

Hi Graham,  Thanks for that I will give it a try over the weekend when I go to his WA wheat belt  property.  I would like to get to other parts of the state to help out with vermin control on farmers property in the future but knowing the owners and getting the permission is my biggest problem living in the city and not knowing farmers in the country. I am currently in the process in getting my firearm license and rifle but have been going to his property for the last 2- 3 years and shooting with him and his friends at night chasing foxes, rabbits and roos.  Thanks again  & I will see how I go on the weekend.  DF – WA

Hi Graham used the parrot recording I don’t know whether the foxes have never heard a parrot but (galah) but the rabbit seemed to be much more effective I think it will still work well on cats we eliminated 9 foxes and one large cat 20 kms south of Mullewa on Friday night.. Thanks again. BM-WA

Well we had our first fox busting exercise on a new property and got 14 foxes and 2 cats All were weighed sexed and examined they contained a lot of rock melon a large quantity of centipedes berries mice and beetles one of the cats had a large snake and a legless lizard. Fox busting has given us a whole new meaning to hunting.. Thanks Graham. BM–WA

On Saturday afternoon we gave the parrot sound a go. We setup out the back of what used to be our family friend’s farm house (now abandoned) . A creek and some thick bush backs up to the old house and sheds. I have a boom box (speaker) that talks to my iPhone via Bluetooth. The sound is very effective in bringing parrots around into nearby trees and their squawks plus the recorded sound made for a very realistic scene. Sure enough after about 5 min up trots a fox. Unfortunately, a miss. Undaunted, we moved 500m along the creek to an area very thick with reeds and bull rushes. Again the parrots sat in the trees above the sound and went crazy. 5 min of this and up trots another fox, presenting a nice clear side profile to my brother who was hidden in some fallen timber off the fox’s left. He didn’t miss. JM–WA

I have just started using the Icotec 350 electronic call with remote control, this is working quite well as the fox is focusing on a target about 50 yds out. It has fox and cotton tail distress calls on it as well as all the American stuff. The red fox distress call has worked best so far. I mostly use the Tenterfield whistle also, most success with that year round.
Using a .223 improved. Look forward to trying this sound though, will let you know how it goes. AD–WA
I find the Silva fox whistle the best and just starting with the electronic stuff now.
Called a couple foxes in last week at night with an electronic caller via a phone app, imitating a ‘Jack rabbit distress’ call and worked a treat… The whistle had no effect in the same spot 15 mins prior
This time of year being Breeding season I haven’t had much luck at night in the past, which is why I’m exploring different options.
RB–Vic

Thought you’d like to know (my youngest boy aged 10 who came out with us at Easter) and I had a night out a few weeks ago and again used your SW sound to great effect. It’s unbelievable really and quite humorous at times. Has to be seen to be believed.
The evening started well just after dark as we saw a fox eyeing us off about 150m away over a bit of a ridge. Could only see its head. Killed the engine and the headlights and started up the SW sound. Had the edge of the spotlight on the fox. Nothing happened after a few minutes so I turned off the spotlight and waited, then tried the SW again. After a minute or so I decided to turn on the spotlight again and after sweeping the light around discovered the fox pretty much outside my driver’s door looking up at me. Panic ensued! I started up the car engine to swing around to my son’s side (passenger side from which he shoots out the window) and told him to get ready for a possible shot. The fox trotted off and as it came broadside to him at about 50m I stopped the car and yelled out “oi” . Sadly for the fox it stopped for a look and copped a 40 grain 22 magnum bullet through the chest.
Later on we saw another fox in some stubble and went through the same routine but this time it snuck off into some bush to our left. We moved 100m or so and tried again. I could see its eyes sneaking through the bush looking at us. Amazingly it came out of the bush a bit towards us and sat in the open on its backside facing us at about 75m. He again let one rip and the fox jumped up in the air and did a back flip and landed dead on the ground. It was a great start to the evening which ended up in us getting 5 foxes.
After my son fell asleep I tried your technique of spotlighting and shooting out the drivers’ door. Never tried this before but found it to be easier than expected. I rigged up a combined rifle holder/shooting rest which worked a treat as the spotlight is on suction cup roof mount system and stays pointing in the desired direction when you take you hand off the handle. One fox was taken at about 180m in stubble and it the fattest, heaviest fox I’ve ever seen. Another one had a mouse in its mouth and took no notice of me. JM–WA

I sold many scalps last season with the state bounty. I often drive down the road, park ute the in semi hidden position, put caller out on a post and hide behind tree, call for 2 mins shine torch upwind, if eyes spotted turn light off, keep calling turn light back on, when the fox starts to zig zag time to change call format, and if the fox pauses take a shot, then move a km or 2 to another location and repeat the procedure. Always hide, and wear camo in the dark…foxes can see in the dark, if you need to break cover use a light ,this makes it hard for the fox to see.
I have also found in mating season fox mating shrills are very successful, though little utilized, I think they should be more studied and put to use. A Fox Club is a great way of both getting rid of pests and fellowship thru a sport or activity. Ours is informal but has set of rules. One being only foxes, rabbits, hares and feral cats can be shot, a point system is in place. Trophies are presented at the end of the season. Juniors are encouraged to promote ethical hunting. We are even sought after to hunt on a normally “clash of cultures” [for want of a better word] greenie blocks and covenants. I often leave foxes shot day previous on back of the ute, helps. Cover scent confuses fox senses. I spread urine from fox shot earlier on boots [wear same old discarded boots] also helps. I have made a cd of chooks squawking and lambs bleating, works well on foxes but sound quality could be improved, the chooks in distress works well on the fringe of towns, lamb bleating I recorded from sheep yards, works well near a paddock with lambs in it, the smell of lambs and noise of lost lamb brings them in. If you would like more info on starting a fox shooters club or if you require more tips on fox calling also, let me know.
Thanks for your mp3 and an ear. GS–Vic

Just built a 6mm Ackley on a Winchester action 27″ barrel it’s a screamer 87gr at 3300 fps still more tinkering to do trying to get 3500 fps
But it’s accurate with the current load so I am happy for a while
My favourite varmint rifle is a Kimber long-master .223 55gr Vmax ”
Thinking Of upgrading to a hid spotlight as foxes at 300m are hard to make out with the yellow light even with a good scope grass is yellow in colour.
Not sure how the foxes will react”
Might be too bright so I will change to a lower wattage bulb.
I just stumbled on to the site and thought it sounded like a good idea to give the bird call a try, as a fox is almost as good as a descent pig
I’ll let you know how the bird call went next time I go out. RW–NSW

It’s about time I sent you some feedback. I’ve been using the distressed bird call, and have had mixed results. Played at a moderate volume, it works to bring foxes in close enough for a good shot. Played too loud, and they bugger off, but I suspect that is the case with any sound. Just need to get the volume right and they come for a closer look. Last week it even brought a wallaby in for a closer look (I don’t shoot wallabies). DK–Vic

I’ve just taken up shooting around 3 months ago and have quite an interest in hunting foxes, especially seeing as they owe me quite a few chooks. I live and hunt north west of Melbourne. Pretty good country for foxes lots of wheat crops, bush pockets and heaps of bunnies, lambs and chooks. I’ve only caught 1 so far and have just taught myself how to use the Silva fox whistle. I’m pretty keen to whistle a few up, not much cover in the crops but you can see them coming a mile off so quite challenging. I enjoyed reading all the different articles on your page, was really helpful. Cheers again and hope to send you news of my whistling antics soon.
G’day Graham, great news. I took my son out for a hunt last night and glad I did. Just on dusk, I headed to the back corner of my brothers farm and used a dam bank for cover. Was able to get setup without spooking the many ducks that call it home. After a quick blast on the Tenterfield we sat for about 5 mins when the ducks took off in a hurry and my son said, “there he is on the other dam bank”. I took a breath, exhaled and let the .223 fly the 70mts. End result, my first called up and dispatched dog fox. What a feeling I could do it every night. We spotted another under the lights half hour later, but the wind was coming from right behind us and I reckon he caught our scent and disappeared. Great night for me and hopefully the first of many with my son the spotter.
Cheers again DG–Vic

Thought I’d let you know that your parrot sound also works on cats. My 12yo son and I setup along a creek just before Xmas at about 4 in the afternoon. Will was positioned behind a fallen log with the 22 and I set up the boom box in a tree about 15m in front of him, turned on the parrot sound and scurried back to my nearby hiding spot. No sooner had a settled in and began to get my bearings and he fires off a shot. I was about to scold him for an accidental discharge then noticed a cat rapidly departing the scene of the crime, so stood up and let it have it with the shotgun. After I recovered from the shock he said as soon as the parrot sound started this cat came screaming out of some nearby thick bushes running full pelt towards the sound and sat next to the boom box in the tree and he had shot at it.

We were both very happy with ourselves since it the second only cat I’ve shot, and third in total (my brother got one a few trips back) after 15 years of hunting around the farm. My 12yo son has now gone from non-believer of fox calling to a strong advocate.

There were also in inordinate number of foxes about, with us taking 22 over two nights. Mostly 2015 born, but some older ones. One was run over on the way back to town, and another fell to the SW sound 10am Sunday morning. JM–WA

I’ve shot many foxes here on my 5 acres, using a very accurate Brno 22 with low velocity target ammo. I am also a member of a hunting club that has ties with property in Tamworth and Cobar. I like nothing more than a night spotlighting concentrating on foxes and feral cats. I have a very accurate Ruger Varmint in 220 Swift that has been my spotlighting rig for many years, but only last year re-barrelled a Savage F class rifle to 6mm dasher. The Savage rifle was a backup target rifle when I used to shot “500 Meter Fly” and 1000 yd comps.
The Swift has never let me down, but I was a little concerned with muzzle blast at night and losing the sight picture. The Savage, although a little heavy, but perfect for a spotlighting rig, is unbelievable. Knowing what I know now, I would just stick with standard 6mm BR calibre instead of buggerising around with the improved Dasher chamber. MA–NSW

I tend to do ambush style hunting from a well camouflaged hide. I use a night vision scope so there is no need for a spotlight.
I have a Tikka T3 in .223 with a 1 in 8″ rifling. I hand load for this and my favorite bullet is the Sierra Blitz King; very accurate and fragments well.
I also use a CZ 455 with the .17HMR barrel on it.
I have used a more traditional mouth blown fox caller and sometimes open up a freshly shot rabbit so there is the smell of fresh rabbit blood.
I “wash” my hunting clothes in the dam there and make sure I don’t use anything smelly in the 24 hours before. No tooth paste, no deodorants, plain food, no alcohol, curry, spices etc.
When I was in the Army I remember smelling freshly showered soldiers in “clean” uniforms from about 250m away. How much more can foxes smell?
Many times I have seen people go “hunting” and walk along smoking, talking and stinking of chemical cleaners only to conclude that there is “nothing here to shoot”. ME –NSW

Thank you for such a prompt response. I thought you would be so busy following the SSAA article that you wouldn’t have time. I might even go out late this afternoon and give it a try. I have it on my phone, so will give that a go first. The mp3 speakers that you mention on your website are inexpensive so I will buy one of them.
I hunt only on my own farm about north of Wagga Wagga, ‘over east’ as you people in WA refer to us. Although I would like to go further, and only joined SSAA to get some tips for hunting foxes like this that you have so generously shared. About two years ago I changed my sheep enterprise to a breeding enterprise from running Merino wethers only, and a bit more attention to detail is required. I bait in a co-ordinated program twice a year as well as carrying my .223 with me around the farm at times.
I am convinced that they are looking at us and saying “Old Larry went to see what that noise is and he died” or “Young Charlie’s mum had a piece of meat that smelled like that and the whole family died”, so anything new that comes along is good. Pretty keen to give this ‘secret weapon’ a try . RD–NSW

Another mate of mine had a Foxpro and he came out for the trip, it worked but we a lot to learn in regards to the nature of the fox. We probably scared more off turning the spotlight on and off, not realizing you can leave the spotlight on. We got 4 in 2 nights but probably called a dozen or so. I was out there early January and got 4 young ones just spotting, they were just too inquisitive for their own good. Lots of feral cats out there as well so it will be interesting to try it out.
Thanks for your help mate.  DM–Qld
I have had good luck with a sort of kissing and sucking on the back of my hand and between my thumb and pointer finger while making a loose fist. You can modify both how you suck and the shape of your fist to alter the sound. This has called in quite a few foxes for me so far including as close as 5m from me. NJ–WA

As with anything hunting sometimes you will see a few then next time not many.
Having said that our fox shooting whilst spotlighting has been ‘amateur hour’ and from talking to other shooters we need to put a bit of science into our technique hence your ‘secret weapon’! LH–NSW

Thanks very much for the “secret weapon” I hope it works here in Victoria and it’s not a local parrot. I spotlight rabbits very close to Melbourne as the main focus of pest destruction and try to take the opportunity to cull as many foxes as possible as well. We see quite a few foxes but despite using traditional
Whistles we don’t have a great deal of success, they seem to hang around the edge of the light but not come in.
I also hunt with dogs terriers and stag hounds in Northeast Victoria with good success in dens and flushing them in cover. Thanks again and wish you all the best with your endeavors. MA–Vic

Thanks for putting up this site, I’ve been shooting foxes for years and now find whistling a relaxing way to spend time in the bush. Sure spotlighting gets quite a few too, but out-foxing a fox is a great achievement. I have a few different techniques and would like to give the parrot a run. I’m in Central Victoria and have lost count on the number of foxes taken, last year’s bounty was over 2500 for our area, it covers a big area too. Thanks ME–VIC

Hi there i have just discovered your very interesting and informative website.
I live in southern NSW, the fox problem here is as bad as anywhere else in the country.
I would like if i may to get an mp3 copy of your decoy sound.
Thank you,PS–NSW

Have already taken 4 foxes with this, if I can get mp3 version of it for no reception occasions that’d be gold thanks.  JM

I would like a copy of your “Secret Weapon”.
I am very passionate about controlling and eradicating feral pests in this country, particularly foxes, cats and cane toads.
I have been very inactive in this pursuit over the years, but with retirement looming in the near future I hope to have more time to engage this passion.
If the recording is half as effective as it was on our Jack Russel Terrier, it should be devastating indeed! Thanks.   GJ

I read about your anti-feral crusade and your “secret weapon” in the SSAA mag. I hunt on my friend’s uncle’s farm in south-east Queensland which is absolutely riddled with foxes and wild dogs, and would love the opportunity to try out your secret weapon to help me clear a few more up. Thanks.   IP–Qld

If you’re happy to share your fox attracting sound I would love to give it ago.
I’m a recreational hunter in the New England region of NSW, we have plenty of foxes and appears numbers are growing. Thanks.  BT–NSW

I am interested in experimenting with your fox call sounds.
Currently I work in a voluntary fox eradication program using baits.
There is no alternative to baits other than bringing the foxes out as they simply cannot be seen in thick Mallee and bush.
The sound attraction methods seem a very good way to diversify on our children’s sheep station property as well.
They lose lambs like there is no tomorrow to foxes.
Also interested in any info you may have on Feral Cats and how to attract them to any caller. DK

Could you send me a copy of the decoy sound please? I have a fox taking my chickens and it’s a bugger to catch. PW

I keep chickens and every year the foxes claim a couple, last year I shot 21 all within 500mts of my home, mostly within 200mts. This year I’ve only shot 4 so last year’s work paid off BUT there is one (which has had 3 chooks) that keeps giving me the slip that I’m keen to nail.
After hearing your call I must say it sounds very impressive and would love to give it a try as the traditional whistle doesn’t seem to work for me anymore???
Now that I’ve looked over your web I must congratulate you, very informative, Thank You. CA

I have just bought a Ruger game caller. Yet to try it out.
Another bird sound that seems to work is the blue jay! KF

Can you please send me a copy of the MP3 sound
also another great sound is a vixen on heat
thanks JH

For your info, I have great success using a dwell control on my spotlight, in some cases after an initial whistle or call they run straight at the light and I weaken the output as they get closer. In my district in Victoria the lazy males will camp 20m up on top of the canopy of cypress trees, easy shotgun targets. Working dogs on the flats seams to encourage this behavior. BA–Vic

I am 67 years old and started shooting foxes cats with my dad when about 9years old. Shot my first solo call and kill when 11 using the round rabbit distress fox whistle and my Uncle’s model 12 Lithgow 22RF near Wandering. Over the last 15years or so I have been disappointed in the results from the old call methods and had some success but nothing to write home about with electronic calls form USA.
I would really like to see a few more foxes in my sights now I have time to spare.
Would appreciate any help you can give me
thanks RG—WA

Hi just read the article in the SSAA Australian shooter mag sounds like you guys in the west have a ball shooting foxes as I do.
My father taught me and my brothers how to shoot rabbits and foxes over forty plus years ago.
We have shot thousands of foxes over the years spot lighting and walking on them and whistling them with a rabbit whistle. Your bird call sounds great and have tried other bird and animal calls in the past but yours seams more natural than most if I could have a copy I would be so grateful.
I have some video of me whistling foxes if I can get it to you I will TS—NSW

Have been using a fox whistle for 50 years but willing to try this method. IB–NSW

I have been shooting on a group of properties in the New England district of New South Wales for almost 40 years and foxes have been a favorite target which I called with an ordinary button whistle with a lot of success. An old friend of mine, a professional shooter at Cobar in western N.S.W., who shot hundreds of foxes each winter, told me that you had to kill every fox that you shot at or pretty soon you would not get any.
About ten years ago the manager of the properties three young teenage boys started shooting and fairly quickly the foxes stopped coming to the whistle.
Since then I have tried the Tenterfield type whistle and a Cass Creek electronic caller and have had hardly any results. In June last year while spotlighting we came across a six legged four eyed fox which took off rapidly. We were laughing so much that we couldn’t get a shot in. Could you please tell me what kind of caller you use and give me some idea of your “secret weapon” BB–NSW

Hi, Foxes are my thing; I have been hunting them since I was in my early teens in the 90s. I have hunted them with bow, rifle, shotgun, and trapped them. I would really appreciate another tool in their destruction. If you could send me a copy of your secret weapon it would be much appreciated and well used.
Cheers, CS
P.S. All the best with your efforts to kill the buggers.

I have been using different whistles with varied success both at night and during the day.
Last years tally was only 12 foxes and 2 cats. Love the site well done.
If you could send me your secret I would be very grateful. PH

I just read about Foxbusters in the Australian Shooter magazine.
I’m a property owner in Boyup Brook WA. We just had our red card for foxes hunt and removed over 400 foxes from the district. But there were lots we couldn’t shoot too.
I’m looking to improve my fox hunting. The button whistle I use has not been very effective – especially against older wiser foxes. I prefer to shoot the foxes from a distance with a rifle rather than try to chase them down with vehicle and shotgun, which I feel increases the risk of accidents.
I would greatly appreciate if you could send a copy of the secret weapon to help with my fox hunting. AM–WA

My family has recently purchase a 8000 acre property just south of Dongara WA .
I go shooting at least once every few months up there for rabbits and have been trying to get more foxes as I have only shot two on my last trip we have traps set but number are limited.
Would this MP3 work played through my car stereo or would I need an external speaker or what are your thoughts on the predator callers on eBay . Cheers DA–WA

Hi Guys, Read the article in Australian Shooter mag.
Appreciate all the hard work you have put into the website. Awesome information.
I have never used any electronic calls before, but you obviously have had some great success with it. I’m based in the Macedon Ranges, Victoria.
Any mp3 you think might be worth trying I will give a crack.
I whistle in daylight but also spotlight.
I tend to switch between a Silva Fox whistle, buttons and the odd child’s squeaker toy.
Love the website. MD—Vic

G’day Foxbusters, as a keen hunter of feral species in Aus, would love any advantage to outsmart Mr fox. I hunt on a couple of properties 5-6hrs west of Brisvegas. Would appreciate a secret weapon….CS—Qld

Greetings from the Wild West. we too are engaged in hunting foxes – not as often as we would like – and are always keen to add to our armory of attracting calls. We would appreciate an Mp3 of the squawking parrot to assist us on our next mission.
Regards and happy hunting. TA

Hello Gentlemen,
I have been spotlighting foxes for 20 odd years, at various locations through SA. I shoot mainly by myself, (bit of time out), all with rifle, no chase, generally with 22BR.
The tin whistle while often effective seems to be getting a bit tired, with some foxes actually running as soon as they hear it.
If I could request a MP3 copy of the decoy sound, I would love to give it a go. thanks, B.

Very interested in your story as i enjoy fox hunting more than any other form of recreational shooting as it provides protection for our treasured small natives and small newborn lambs etc. i am a shooting mate of one of your letter contributors. I want to buy a fox caller out of UK and the one I am after is a something orarva ….500 hundred which is about 400 bucks delivered, do you have any suggested products in mind, I would set on the back of a buggy and anything that does not stop and look towards the light I would play them a tune. my tool of choice is .204 Ruger with 26 inch Krieger barrel topped with a Leupold mark 4 8 to 25 x 56, unfortunately is hard to focus in the spot light, i am looking to a Swarovski 5 to 25 x50 as it might be quicker to bring to focus. enjoyed your story, regards. LW—WA

I have always used a button whistle to imitate a distressed rabbit. However, sometimes they just don’t want to know about it. Using a distressed parrot sound gives them an option. I can’t wait to try it! JH
Well done on feral extermination guys!   BP

Nice story in the Australian Shooter, well done.
Must say we use your music most times we go out, and between that and the Silva whistle we have them running at us.  Last year we shot 110 on just a few farms around Busselton, shot them pretty easily, just driving around in front of ute mostly. Saw many more but we get them next time. Went out couple weeks ago and shot 9 pretty easy, most coming into your sound.  Looks like Red Card not on here this year, the usual guys that organize it too busy.  Plus being long weekend doesn’t appeal to some people.  Might still go for a shoot though. DB–WA

Just wanted to let you know the mp3 was excellent. Five seen, five shot.
Didn’t bring them running, but definitely had them curious and held them, which is really handy when shooting by yourself. Four were younger females, the young ones trotted around the arch of the light two of them eventually sitting down and just looking.
The other was an older male, he actually trotted in to about 150 metres, then hid behind a bush and kept peeking his head around. In the end he peeked once too often.
In all it was very interesting. Thanks again, and good luck with the fox control BA–SA

Tried the parrot sound last night with no success. The foxes didn’t seem to care. Rabbits mice and the grandparents chooks and the main feed for the foxes around here. I’ll keep trying at various times and let you know if I have any success RA–SA

Great site and what a wonderful job you are doing to eradicate the Fox pest. IB–NSW

Many thanks for the kind email with MP3 file, my mates and I will be happy to give you feed back after our next fox hunt scheduled for April.
I participate in two types of fox hunting:
1. Spotlighting on an 86,000 acre property in outback NSW. Mates are all between 60 and 72 years of age. We hunt riding quad bikes during the day and spotlight off the back of a 4wd at night. Have been going to this property and another property for nearly 20 years. Had 9 of us one year including one old high school buddy.
2. The other fox hunting is done with a mate in Victorian sheep country. My mate organizes a regular hunt with about 10 to 12 guys with shot guns and about 1 doz hunting dogs. We surround a patch of likely bush and two guys and a few dogs enter to push the foxes out into the open. One weekend last year we scored 34 foxes. I think the score for the 2015 season was about 260 foxes. Thanks again. Happy hunting. G

I finally got to try your secret weapon and I have to tell you I’m very impressed with the result. Foxes ran to the sound as soon as they heard it. Thank you I will be using it again soon. LP–NSW

Hi Graham thanks for sending the parrot call… I live in T Qld and do most of my hunting around this area I did go spotlighting last night and shot seven… Two I got with the parrot call… Thanks, cheers JW–QLD

At the age of 78. I have been using the bent tin whistle with very good results from the age of 12. Last week I went bush whistling up fox’s and managed to get 4 in the one night, using the Bent Tin whistle. BUT ! Tonight was different. I went to our local Golf course where I had been told there were Fox’s. Got behind a bush with the breeze in my face, torch in my hand and started your Secret Weapon going. After 30 seconds I turned the torch on, much to my delight a fox was running in. But wait there’s still more. All up I got 3 Fox’s to come to your Secret Weapon. Lucky for them I could not shoot them, being in a Suburban area. Many thanks JT—NSW

Hi Graham, thanks again for sending me the secret weapon. I tried it out near Albany last night with amazing results. Had it playing driving a property and saw eyes within 15 minutes. Dropped the first fox, went a picked him up and left the noise playing. Hung him on the fence, hopped back in the ute and another had come galloping up the paddock in the meantime. Dropped the second fox on the exact piece of ground as the first 10 mins apart. Finished my lap heading for the farmhouse and two more foxes within throwing distance of each other again!!! 4 foxes in one hour. These Albany foxes go mad for it. One thing I did notice is they seemed to come in from distance and then circle this noise at about the 150 to 200 yard mark. When I gave my Silva fox whistle a blow they seemed to give me a good flash of eyes and stop as they got confused. (Good combo none the less 🙂 very happy indeed. Thanks again.  CR–WA

Graham out today with your ” Foxbuster ” and shot two foxes before dusk. My wife drove the car with the speaker on the front of our Landcruiser at idle and that brought the foxes in , one at about 50 mtrs and the other at about 10 meters. I must say that when I showed my farmer mate in Tocumwal NSW he did not believe  me, I now believe he may be a convert.
Great  to be able to assist the farmers and our native wildlife to eradicate this pest.
Cheers and thanks again.  IB  NSW

Hey Graham secret weapon worked a treat for our annual district fox shoot Saturday night.  We ended up with twelve foxes for the night and an overall of one hundred and eight between six teams weather was perfect looking forward to next one cheers.  MF  WA

Hi Graham. Thankyou for the MP3 file, I will keep you informed on how I go, I’m a one man band normally, I started shooting a couple of years back when my neighbours Chooks and ducks got taken all in 1 one night, never had a reason to shoot since I was a Kid, But since the chooks Its been all out war on the foxes around here, My neighbour gave me one of the latest SSAA magazines and your article caught my eye straight away, I was impressed to say the least, I have been learning more and more about the way foxes work, And you have given me more ideas to make my job easier again, Thankyou, I have thought about buying a decoy sounding device but have put it off, I recon yours will make all the difference, One problem I have around my suburbs, there are lot of houses spread out so I have to be so careful before pulling the trigger on my Savage .223 , But it is a challenge I enjoy. Yep your right, foxes are harder to get at the moment, But I’m very persistent and it keeps me away from the TV most nights,  IM–WA

HELLO GRAHAM,  WHAT A U-BUTE FOX CALL !!!  I FINALLY GAVE IT A GOOD WORKOUT TONIGHT. I LET THE CALLER WORK SO I COULD SEE JUST HOW GOOD IT WAS. BOY OH BOY !!!  THREE FOXES AND ALL OF THEM CAME RIGHT UP TO THE FENCE BESIDE THE UTE !!!  NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.  THANKS SO MUCH FOR SUCH A FINE PIECE OF GEAR.

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO GET THE FOXES TO STOP BEFORE THEY GET TOO CLOSE WITHOUT RUNNING AWAY ???

Reply

I usually shout out oi oi !!!!!!  or a blast from a shotgun usually stops them.  Foxes don’t always respond in that manner, some are cautious and stop or circle a hundred or so metres out.  It pays to shoot them then before they change their mind and run away. Did you call them in daylight or night?

THANKS FOR THE RESPONSE.  IT WAS AT NIGHT WITH A SPOTLIGHT.  I LEFT THE MOTOR RUNNING AND ONLY TURNED OFF THE HEADLIGHTS.  I WILL TRY THE Oi Oi !!! SHOUT NEXT TIME AND GET  AT THEM A LITTLE FARTHER OUT.  TOP NOTCH CALL.  THANKS AGAIN.  DK – NSW

Hi Graham,

Thanks for sending me the MP3.  Saturday night we took out a portable speaker and used the Secret Weapon without any success. We were out in the ute spotlighting and spotted 3 foxes between at various distances between 200 and 300 yards. We shut the light down and gave the MP3 a good run on and off over the course of half an hour. We knew the foxes could hear us because they showed interest when we played it but they would not come in at all. They may just have been a bit too smart as they wouldn’t come to the whistle either. On Sunday night I tried the MP3 in another location where there was plenty of fox droppings but after quite a while I couldn’t raise a fox here either. We were down in Bairnsdale in Victoria.

Please don’t take this as criticism I just wanted to let you know how we went with it.  If you have any ideas on what we might have done wrong please let me know.  Thanks again  T – Vic

REPLY

Thanks for your feedback, T.  You are quite right, not all foxes come to the distress call.  We have had a lot of early rain here in WA.  Birds are nesting early and foxes are mating early.  They are much harder to call in when sex is on the agenda.  This may be the case in Victoria.

When spotlighting, we only play the call when we see a fox.  It may be 400-500 meters away.  Immediately turn off the motor and lights except one spotlight.  Shine the spotlight low but still able to see the foxes eyes.  When the eyes bob up and down, the fox is coming.  It is worth having open ground for the fox to cross.  If the fox stops in range to think, it’s time to shoot.  They sometimes circle to get downwind from you.  Other foxes can come from another direction.  Be sure to have your variable scope set on a low power ready for a close shot.  A fox can see you with all lights off but can only see a light when you are shining it in their direction.  I also use other callers when the “Secret Weapon” isn’t working and sometimes they work instead.  The idea is to outfox the fox.  Hope that helps  Graham