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Author
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Topic: Red Foxes
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R.Shaw
Peanut Butter Man, da da da da DAH!
Member # 73
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posted January 05, 2004 07:49 PM
Not many red foxes in my area and what few exist are not too quick to answer the call. The coyote population is very low. Seven years of mange and 2 years of drought have taken it's toll. Whe few survivors have literally moved to greener pastures.
Temperature today was 9 degrees with a 20 mph wind in the northwest. Four inches of new snow on the ground. Mike and I were driving between stands when he spotted an animal walking over the dam on a lagoon. The lagoon was abut 15 acres and part of a hog confinement facility. We stopped the truck and used one of the hog barns to hide our approach. Thinking it would be a long range shot, I left my .17 rimfire in the truck along with the caller.
We peeked around the corner of the barn and were surprised to see two red foxes on the ice abuot 200 yards away. One loafed around in the middle, while the other made it's way to the far bank which was 300 yards from us. We both lip squeaked and the loafer headed straight to us. It was fun watching him use his tail for balance as he trotted on the ice. Anyway, he ended-up 30 yards away and I would not let Mike shoot with his 22-250. He stood around for a few seconds and worked his way back to the lagoon. When he went over the dam, I again used the barn for cover and went for my rifle and WT. When I returned, the loafer was sitting on his butt in the corner and the other fox was curled-up on the dam. Using my foot, I pushed the speaker around the corner of the barn. Five seconds later both foxes were returning on the run. The loafer stopped at the same spot we had called him to not 15 minutes earlier and the other was still in a low spot below the dam. I put-on an exhibition of piss-poor shooting and missed the loafer. The other ran out of the low spot and across the road in front of the truck. Out of habit, Mike whooped and the fox stopped. Range 60 yards-hole 6 inches.
He enjoys sewing and for 25 minutes we both enjoyed the weather.
Randy
Posts: 545 | From: Nebraska | Registered: Jan 2003
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Norm
Knows what it's all about
Member # 240
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posted January 06, 2004 06:13 AM
Randy, great story, thanks for sharing with us.
We don't have those reds down here in AZ. I miss seeing them on the IA snow though.
Thanks again.
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Carpe Diem
Posts: 778 | From: Phx AZ | Registered: Oct 2003
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Steve Craig
Lacks Opposable Thumbs/what's up with that?
Member # 12
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posted January 06, 2004 06:13 AM
Hi Randy,
Great Story! Yeah, the 250 is a little hard on the reds. Have you gone on your Texas hunt yet? I forgot when you said you were going. Did you get any video of that little red sucker? Low coyote numbers just means more reds and more bobcats too. Later
Your Friend
Steve
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Yes, we did produce a near-perfect republic. But will they keep it? Or will they, in the enjoyment of plenty, lose the memory of freedom? Material abundance without character is the path of destruction. - Thomas Jefferson
Posts: 442 | From: Cottonwood,Az, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted January 06, 2004 04:29 PM
When the chatter get around to red fox, I always feel a little inadequate. Never killed one! ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
Randy, good story; thanks for sharing.
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31465 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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R.Shaw
Peanut Butter Man, da da da da DAH!
Member # 73
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posted January 06, 2004 04:34 PM
Thanks Norm, Steve, and Leonard.
Steve
I had checked the battery before we started calling that afternoon. It was low and the cold temps finished it off. Oh well.
We head to Texas the last week of this month. Hope I have as much fun there as I always do with you.
Randy
Posts: 545 | From: Nebraska | Registered: Jan 2003
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Barndog
Knows what it's all about
Member # 255
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posted January 06, 2004 04:55 PM
I remember my first red fox. I had just brought my future wife out to the house for the second time, I'd been there for about 5 minutes when I looked out the window and saw a nice red fox in the back yard. I grabbed the .223 and fired and missed, there was about an inch of new snow, so my little brother and I tracked him about 2 miles and found him in a alfa alfa field catching mice. What a sight, he'd wait by a hole for a mouse to stick his head out and with cat like speed would grab the mouse and throw it in the air with one motion, while the mouse was on the way down he'd catch it in his mouth and swallow it nearly whole. We watched him for about 5 min. he caught about 10 mice. About that time he was waiting at another hole when he feel into eternal sleep. I brought him home and skinned him out on the back lawn in front of my future wife. I didn't know I was gone for 4 hours, the time just slipped by. I thought if she could handle being alone with my mom for that long while I was hunting she was worth keeping.
Posts: 185 | From: Idaho | Registered: Dec 2003
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Barndog
Knows what it's all about
Member # 255
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posted January 06, 2004 05:03 PM
I used to live near Lonny, I didn't know him, but my relatives settled the town of clifton just north of him. And there are a lot of red foxes up there, I bet he's got a few good stories.
Posts: 185 | From: Idaho | Registered: Dec 2003
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