When is the best time to bait foxes in NSW?

The primary window is **March to May** (autumn), when juvenile foxes are dispersing into new territory and natural food is declining. This is also the pre-lambing protection window for most NSW flocks. A secondary baiting window runs **May to July** during the mating season, when foxes are more mobile and encounter baits more often. **Avoid baiting in August and September** when lactating vixens are in dens with young cubs.

What month should I start feral pig control?

It depends on your region. On the **Northern Tablelands**, winter (June to August) is prime because cold conditions concentrate pigs. In the **North West plains**, summer (December to February) works best when heat drives pigs to water points. In the **Hunter Valley**, late summer through autumn is the sweet spot. The key principle is to time baiting and trapping for when natural food and water are scarce, because that is when pigs are most likely to take your bait.

Can I bait and shoot at the same time?

No. Run them separately. Shooting disrupts animal behaviour and pushes feral animals away from bait stations and trap sites. The recommended sequence is: bait first (to reduce the bulk of the population), then trap to remove bait-shy individuals, then follow up with shooting for remaining animals. Space shooting operations at least two weeks after baiting or trapping programmes conclude.

How do I plan pest control around lambing?

Start your fox and wild dog baiting programme **four to eight weeks before lambing begins**. For flocks lambing in August, that means baiting should run in June and July. For spring lambing, start in late winter. The goal is to remove resident predators before your lambs hit the ground. Coordinate with your neighbours through Local Land Services for maximum impact across the landscape.

When do feral deer rut in NSW?

It varies by species. **Fallow deer** rut in April and May. **Red deer** rut in late March to April. **Rusa deer** rut in late June to early August (peak July). **Sambar deer** have two activity peaks, May/June and September/October. **Chital deer** can breed year-round with no fixed rut. During the rut, stags are vocal, distracted, and less wary, making it the best window for ground shooting.

Is winter or summer better for feral pig control?

Both work, but for different reasons and in different regions. Winter is better in colder areas (Northern Tablelands, Central West) because pigs move to lower country, forage during daylight, and shorter grass improves visibility for shooting. Summer is better in hot, dry areas (North West plains) because pigs concentrate around water points and are predictable in their movements. The principle is the same: control is most effective when conditions force pigs to concentrate.

How often should I run a pest control programme?

For feral pigs, research from NSW DPI and the National Feral Pig Action Plan is clear: two operations within four months achieves the population reduction needed to prevent rapid recovery. Pigs breed fast enough that a single operation barely dents numbers long term. For foxes, at minimum twice yearly, autumn pre-lambing and a spring or summer follow-up. Wild dogs need sustained year-round pressure with autumn and spring baiting programmes as the backbone. One-off operations provide temporary relief at best.

When should I schedule a thermal drone survey?

**May to September** (autumn and winter) provides the best conditions. Cool ambient temperatures create maximum contrast between warm animals and the cold ground, making detection reliable. Summer surveys are possible but less accurate because rocks and soil retain heat and create false signatures. Early morning flights, just after first light, give the best thermal contrast within any given day.

Do I need to control pests year-round?

Yes, but the intensity shifts across the year. Every species has a peak control window and a maintenance window. The calendar approach means you hit each species hard during their vulnerable period and maintain pressure through monitoring and follow-up during quieter months. A property with ongoing seasonal programmes spends less per year than one running emergency operations after damage has already occurred.

What is the best order of control methods?

The standard sequence is: **assess** (thermal drone survey or property assessment to establish what you are dealing with), **bait** (to remove the majority of the population with minimal disturbance), **trap** (to catch bait-shy individuals), then **shoot** (to remove remaining animals and provide ongoing suppression). Running these in the right order multiplies the effectiveness of each method.

Pest Control Calendar NSW | When to Bait & Trap

The right method at the wrong time of year wastes money and effort. Every feral species has seasonal windows when baiting, shooting, or trapping is most effective, driven by breeding cycles, food availability, and weather conditions. This calendar pulls together government recommendations and field experience into a single annual plan for NSW properties.

Why Timing Matters

Every feral animal has a breeding cycle, a feeding pattern, and a set of habits that change through the year. These patterns create windows when control methods are highly effective, and windows when you are wasting time and money.

Fox baiting in August, for example, is a poor investment. Lactating vixens barely leave the den and are unlikely to find your baits. Shift that same programme to March or April, when young foxes are dispersing, hungry, and naive, and your bait take goes through the roof.

The same principle applies across every species and every method. This calendar consolidates recommendations from PestSmart, NSW DPI, Local Land Services, MLA, and Agriculture Victoria into one practical annual plan.

The Annual Pest Control Calendar

This table shows the primary activity for each species in each month. Your property may vary depending on region, seasonal conditions, and which species are causing the most pressure. Use this as a starting point, then adjust based on what you are seeing on the ground.

January

Species	Activity	Method
Feral pigs	Peak baiting and trapping (summer water concentration)	1080/HOGGONE baits at water points; corral traps
Foxes	Shoot dispersing juveniles	Ground shooting with thermal optics
Wild dogs	Monitor and reactive control	Shooting if encountered
Feral deer	Chital only (year-round)	Opportunistic shooting
Rabbits	Peak baiting window (feed scarce, breeding paused)	1080 or Pindone oat baits
Pigeons	Shooting and trapping	Air rifle; bob traps

Farming context: Summer cropping underway. Supplementary feeding. Pig and rabbit control protects summer crops and stored feed.

February

Species	Activity	Method
Feral pigs	Continue baiting and trapping	Water point concentration continues
Foxes	Shooting continues; begin pre-baiting for autumn programme	Thermal shooting; deploy free-feed stations
Wild dogs	Monitor	Maintain exclusion fencing
Feral deer	No seasonal advantage	Opportunistic
Rabbits	Bait then rip warrens (soil dry and friable)	Complete baiting, begin warren destruction
Pigeons	Shooting and trapping	Year-round programme

Farming context: Late summer. Harvest preparation. Rabbits are at peak numbers following spring breeding.

March

Species	Activity	Method
Feral pigs	Baiting and trapping continues (autumn transition)	Transitioning from summer to autumn programme
Foxes	Autumn baiting begins (primary window opens)	1080/PAPP ground baits; trapping; shooting
Wild dogs	Autumn baiting begins (mating season starts)	1080/PAPP ground and aerial baits
Feral deer	Red deer rut begins (stags vocal and distracted)	Ground shooting
Rabbits	RHDV K5 virus release window (rabbit calicivirus, if applicable)	Virus release when no juvenile rabbits present
Pigeons	Shooting and trapping	Year-round programme

Farming context: Autumn joining for sheep. Autumn break arriving. Fox and wild dog baiting programmes kick off before livestock are at their most vulnerable.

April

Species	Activity	Method
Feral pigs	Baiting continues in drier areas	1080/HOGGONE at established stations
Foxes	Peak autumn baiting (dispersing juveniles, pre-lambing)	1080/PAPP baits; trapping; shooting
Wild dogs	Peak baiting (peak mating activity, highest bait uptake)	Coordinated 1080/PAPP programmes with LLS
Feral deer	Fallow and red deer rut peak	Ground shooting (stags least cautious)
Rabbits	Begin fumigating surviving warrens	Carbon monoxide (CO) fumigation (soil moisture aids gas containment)
Pigeons	Shooting	Reduced breeding activity

Farming context: Weaning. Autumn break. Critical period to knock back predator numbers before winter lambing.

May

Species	Activity	Method
Feral pigs	Transition to shooting (cooler weather increases daytime activity)	Ground shooting; thermal operations
Foxes	Baiting continues; begin den location surveys	1080/PAPP baits; map den sites for spring fumigation
Wild dogs	Baiting continues	Continue coordinated programme
Feral deer	Fallow rut wrapping up; sambar first activity peak	Ground shooting (sambar stalking in wet conditions)
Rabbits	Fumigation of surviving warrens	CO fumigation
Pigeons	Lower activity	Maintenance shooting
Thermal surveys	Excellent conditions begin	Cool nights provide maximum thermal contrast

Farming context: Winter crop sowing. Weaning complete. Thermal drone surveys are now in their optimal window.

June

Species	Activity	Method
Feral pigs	Prime shooting season begins (daytime activity, short grass)	Ground shooting with thermal; stalking
Foxes	Winter baiting (foxes mobile during mating)	1080/PAPP baits
Wild dogs	Pre-lambing baiting (4-8 weeks before August lambing)	Coordinated ground and aerial baiting
Feral deer	Sambar first peak; rusa rut begins	Ground shooting
Rabbits	Fumigation follow-up	Target recolonised warrens
Pigeons	Lower activity	Maintenance
Thermal surveys	Peak conditions	Best month for baseline population surveys

Farming context: Winter. Livestock on supplementary feed in many areas. Pre-lambing predator control is critical now.

July

Species	Activity	Method
Feral pigs	Peak shooting continues	Ground shooting; thermal/spotlight
Foxes	Winter baiting continues; avoid starting new programmes after mid-July	Winding down before denning season
Wild dogs	Pre-lambing baiting continues	Ground and aerial baiting
Feral deer	Rusa rut peak (stags vocal at wallows)	Ground shooting
Rabbits	Fumigation follow-up	Last fumigation before breeding resumes
Pigeons	Install exclusion netting (before spring breeding)	Netting on grain sheds and silos
Thermal surveys	Peak conditions	Excellent thermal contrast for all species

Farming context: Mid-winter. Lambing approaching for many flocks. Last chance to get predator numbers down before lambs arrive.

August

Species	Activity	Method
Feral pigs	Shooting continues (winter)	Ground shooting
Foxes	AVOID BAITING (lactating vixens in dens with cubs)	Monitor dens located in May/June surveys
Wild dogs	Lambing protection; trap bait-shy individuals	Trapping; reactive shooting
Feral deer	Sambar activity rising	Ground shooting
Rabbits	Monitor (breeding season restarting)	Avoid baiting during breeding
Pigeons	Complete exclusion netting installation	Before peak spring breeding
Thermal surveys	Excellent conditions	Last peak month before spring warming

Farming context: Peak lambing for many NSW flocks. All predator control should already be in place. Focus on protecting newborn stock.

September

Species	Activity	Method
Feral pigs	Shooting continues (spring)	Ground shooting
Foxes	Den fumigation (cubs older than 4 weeks, vixen away foraging)	CO fumigation with Den-CO-Fume; destroy dens by deep ripping
Wild dogs	Spring baiting programme begins (targets survivors and new pups)	1080/PAPP coordinated with LLS
Feral deer	Sambar second activity peak	Ground shooting
Rabbits	Breeding season (avoid baiting)	Monitor only
Pigeons	Peak breeding begins	Shooting to reduce breeding population

Farming context: Spring calving starting. Lambing continuing. Fox den destruction removes the next generation before they disperse.

October

Species	Activity	Method
Feral pigs	Shooting (spring)	Ground shooting
Foxes	Complete den fumigation and destruction	Deep rip all located dens
Wild dogs	Spring baiting continues	Aerial and ground baiting
Feral deer	Sambar activity; chital opportunistic	Ground shooting
Rabbits	Breeding season (avoid baiting)	Monitor warren recovery
Pigeons	Peak breeding	Shooting; check exclusion netting

Farming context: Spring calving. Shearing in some areas. Wild dog spring baiting programme wrapping up.

November

Species	Activity	Method
Feral pigs	Shooting continues; begin planning summer baiting/trapping programme	Scout water points; identify trap locations
Foxes	Post-weaning recovery period	Monitoring; opportunistic shooting
Wild dogs	Shoot dispersing juveniles (newly independent pups)	Ground shooting; spotlight
Feral deer	Fallow and red deer fawning (Nov-Dec)	Leave fawning deer alone; resume in new year
Rabbits	Breeding season	Monitor
Pigeons	Peak breeding	Shooting

Farming context: Weaning. Harvest preparation. Time to plan and prepare for the summer control season.

December

Species	Activity	Method
Feral pigs	Summer programme begins (water concentration starting)	Deploy bait stations and traps at water points
Foxes	Family groups forming; cubs emerging	Shooting (young foxes becoming active)
Wild dogs	Summer monitoring and reactive control	Shooting if encountered
Feral deer	Fawning continues	Reduced activity
Rabbits	Begin pre-bait feeding for January programme	Deploy free-feed stations
Pigeons	Peak breeding	Shooting; check netting

Farming context: Summer cropping. Harvest. Heat building. Feral pigs becoming predictable around water, setting up the summer baiting window.

Regional Differences Within NSW

The calendar above is a general guide. Your region affects the timing significantly.

Northern Tablelands and New England: Cold winters concentrate feral pigs more reliably than other regions. June to August is the prime pig control window. Wild dog pressure is highest here, and both autumn and spring LLS baiting programmes are essential. Fox baiting before August lambing needs to start in June.

North West Plains: Hot, dry summers are the most effective period for feral pig control. December to February drives pigs to water points where baiting and trapping yields are highest. Wild dog aerial baiting programmes typically run March to June (autumn) and October to November (spring).

Hunter Valley: A transitional zone. Late summer through autumn works for pig control. Fallow and red deer are the primary deer species, with rut shooting in March to May. Fox pressure peaks around vineyard and mixed farming operations.

Central West: Mixed farming country where foxes and rabbits are often the priority. The summer rabbit baiting and ripping window (January to March) is critical. Fox baiting before lambing follows the standard autumn/winter programme.

North Coast: Deer (chital and fallow) are increasing rapidly. Wild dog and pig pressure comes from adjacent forested country. Warmer conditions mean pig activity is more consistent year-round, but dry spells still create concentration points.

The Right Order of Methods

Running multiple control methods on the same property works, but the order matters.

Step 1: Assess. A thermal drone survey or property assessment tells you what species are present, how many, and where they concentrate. Without this, you are guessing.

Step 2: Bait. Baiting programmes remove the bulk of the population with minimal disturbance. Feral animals that have not been disturbed feed confidently at bait stations. This is where you get your biggest numbers.

Step 3: Trap. Trapping catches bait-shy individuals that survived the baiting phase. Some animals learn to avoid baits but will still enter a well-placed trap.

Step 4: Shoot. Ground shooting removes remaining animals and provides ongoing suppression. Shooting first (before baiting or trapping) pushes animals off bait stations and trap sites, reducing the effectiveness of those methods.

Step 5: Monitor. Follow-up thermal surveys or trail cameras measure the result. Did you achieve a meaningful population reduction? Are numbers recovering? This data drives the next round of control.

Planning Your Year

Start with your worst pest and your farming calendar. Work backwards from the dates that matter most to you.

If foxes are your biggest problem and your ewes lamb in August, your year starts with autumn baiting in March to May, followed by a pre-lambing top-up in June to July, den fumigation in September, and monitoring through summer.

If feral pigs are tearing up your creek flats, your year revolves around the dry season. Summer baiting and trapping at water points, winter shooting when they are active in daylight, and thermal drone surveys in May to August to track numbers.

If you are dealing with multiple species (and most NSW properties are), layer the programmes together. Fox baiting and wild dog baiting can run simultaneously on the same property. Rabbit baiting and ripping fits into the summer gap before autumn fox baiting begins.

The point of a calendar is not to follow it rigidly. It is to make sure you are not caught flat-footed when the control window for your worst pest opens. Plan ahead, coordinate with your neighbours through LLS, and hit each species when conditions are in your favour.

Want help planning your annual pest control programme? Contact Feral Up for a free phone consultation. No obligation. We look at your property, your target species, and your farming calendar, then put together a programme that hits the right pests at the right time of year.

When to Control Feral Animals in NSW: Month-by-Month Calendar