Patricks’s top tips
• Foxes will eat anything that’s edible, so use whatever is to hand. Suitable baits include: pigeons, rabbits, pheasant (my favourite), sardines/ other fish; dog/cat food kibble, meat offcuts, cat food sachets, peanuts (unsalted), concentrate such as squid or shrimp oil (from an angling shop) can be diluted and sprayed around
• For legal reasons no agricultural deadstock can be used as bait, but roadkill is fine
• If the bait’s too big for one meal, it’s likely the first fox to find it will lurk nearby when it’s full, so check likely resting spots before approaching; these are often within 100m, usually on higher ground that provides a view over an area
• When drag-baiting, something like an old onion sack can be crammed with the offerings – myriad holes allow the juices to dissipate, especially if you jump up and down on it first to soften everything up
• A ‘stink pipe’ can be made from an old length of plastic tube and buried in the ground filled with bait; the smell will help to draw foxes in. Locate it somewhere sensible, however, with a safe backstop and posing no risk to feet or hooves