fox problems

[Rustyinfla]

   Hey folks, I'm new to this section of the sight. I'm usually working with the H&R's and such but I've got a problem. FOXES, or maybe just one. The problem is he found my chicken yard.

  Several years ago I busted one with a shotgun but figure that was luck. That boy got 11 of my free rangers in 2 nights. I've never had one go to the fenced in chicken yard and dig under. He got one earlier this week so I left his hole alone that he dug and put a couple of home made wire snares on that hole. Last night he came back. I saw where he dug in but not all the way thru.
  I've got a dozen snares in route from Tom here. If any body that has any suggestions on sets that they could offer I would be forever in your gratitude.
   I'm not really a trapper and don't even play one on TV, just a guy trying to raise a few chickens.
  Thanks,

[Bogmaster]

 Rusty, hang one of those snares where he dug under.Also look for any trails it may be using to get onto your place,these are also good locations to hang a snare.
  And thanks again for the order.
 Tom

[Rustyinfla]

   I hope I can hold out till they get here. He put the sneak on last night and got both my roosters.

[Bogmaster]

 Block up the hole with a board tonight,your snares should be there tomorrow.
 Tom

[Rustyinfla]

   Well at 12:10 tonight I got my fox. It turns out he had a mask and a ring tail.

  My night off tonight and I was sitting here reading when I heard the chickens making a lot of noise. I grabbed my 870 and a light and headed out the front door. When I got near the chicken pen and was shining the light around I saw a set of eyes looking back at me from the tanglefoot at the pen. I leveled off and fired. The bandit went down but I put another round where he looked to be, then another for good measure since I could hear noise but couldn't tell if it was from the coon or the chicken he was making off with.
   When I went back out 30 minutes later the hen had crawled back to the door of the pen. The coon was about 25 lbs.

[Bogmaster]

 Rusty,glad you were able to save your future chicken dinners. Better for you than a coon.
 Tom

[41 magnum]

I caught 4 coon in 2 nites, a family unit that was raiding a neighbors chicken/duck pen.
 
SOOOO, you may want to keep a snare hung on that trail, at least.

[Bugflipper]

I've had them act in a coordinated effort to relieve pens of quail. One would stand in place with both hands reached in the pen. The others would herd the quail to the one waiting and he would pull them through the 1" chicken wire when they made it to his hands. They are pretty crafty boogers.
Those snares wont go to waste, you'll just have them for next time. I think a chickens job is just to invite unwanted guests over for dinner. I may go 4 or 5 years without loosing one then the varmint wars start all over again.