This is topic My First Furry Fox in forum Predator forum at The New Huntmastersbbs!.
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Posted by varmint101 (Member # 41) on January 27, 2004, 07:04 PM:
Well, I didn't want to leave anyone out. "Krusty said so" ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Well, I decided to do something different this morning. Take my Marlin 17VS 17hmr instead of my .243 and hunt the field looking into the woods instead of the woods looking into the field.
The way this part of the field works is it's flat and then goes down a hill and it's woods at the bottom of the hill with a small creek running the outside edge. I crouch down for the last few yards before it drops off and lie down into the prone position and wait a minute or so before I start calling with my newly aquired (a few weeks ago) flame maple Krusty Krier open reed call.
I start off and call a quiet waah wahh for about 35 seconds and stop and wait a few minutes like I always do.
I was just getting ready to put up my hand to call again when I see a flash of red down through the brush. All of a sudden he pops out at the edge of the woods by that creek. I'm waiting to see what he's going to do before I decide to take the shot because I sure wasn't going to put that call back up to my mouth out their in that field! I decided if he was going to turn to go back I would lipsquick and take him at 60 yards if it all worked right.
Finally after a moment of indecision of whether or not to hop over the creek the fox jumps over the creek and starts going down the side of it. I thought well, that's enough. So I lipsquicked and he stopped broadside at about 50 yards and I centered that cheap Tasco scope right behind the shoulder and squeeeezed the trigger. Pop thwack! He was down but still seemed to want to go somewhere so I stood up and put another shot in the same place and he quit moving. I had finally called in and shot my first red fox!
It was a big male..at least I think he was big. Felt like he weighed 20lbs lugging him back to the house. I didn't make anymore stands which made for a short hunt as I was happy enough! I took some pictures with my camera of the fox with my gun and the call I used, but unfortunately I don't have a scanner or a digital camera. Maybe Krusty will want one and he has a scanner?
That little 17hmr 17gr. V-Max did the job. I'd hate to think what my 243 or 22-250 would have done to it! I passed up a few shots last January at red fox with my 243 because I knew it would just tear the crap out of it. That's what I got the 17hmr for! I love it when a plan comes together. Sure is a nice, soft, thick fur! Anyways hooray! Just thought I'd share.
Matt
This is where I was laying prone at.
Fox with my Krusty Krier
Fox with KK and my Marlin 17vs 17hmr
Same as last only closer up
Posted by albert (Member # 98) on January 27, 2004, 08:34 PM:
Congradulations! I doubt that you will forget it. Don't be so sure that the 243 would ruin your fox. I feel that a fox is so small and light that the bullet might not expand much and actually give minimal damage. I have shot about 6 foxes with a 243 found that it less damage on average than than my 17 rem.
Posted by Tim Behle (Member # 209) on January 28, 2004, 05:25 AM:
Good Deal Matt!
Posted by Greenside (Member # 10) on January 28, 2004, 05:47 AM:
Good job Matt! Nice Fox!
Looks like you have the set-up figured out. I bet you could find another stand with similiar characteristic's within a couple of miles and another within a couple of miles from that one.
Go out and get some more!
If more eastern hunters looked for setups like that, I bet there would be a lot more smiling and alot less crying!
Dennis
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on January 28, 2004, 04:09 PM:
Congratulations! That's a nice fox. Thanks for sharing.
Good hunting. LB
Posted by Krustyklimber (Member # 72) on January 28, 2004, 04:32 PM:
See Matt, I told ya so. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
"Krusty said"
So Matt and I are in the PM chat, and he says
"I wanted to post these pics on HM, but I don't want to get in trouble"
I said "in trouble on Leonard's??? what for? even I can't get in trouble on HM"
"Cross posting in different forums"
I said "that means not posting it in two forums on one board... not that you aren't supposed to post it on two completely different boards."
I explained that many posts get played out on a few boards at a time, and it is very interesting how similar threads evolve on different boards.
That may not be the first fox called to a Krusty Kriers call (Jerry beat you to it), but it is the best lookin' of the two.
I'll update my webpage on Sunday, I'll make sure you're on there.
Congrats Dude!
Krusty 
Posted by Norm (Member # 240) on January 29, 2004, 11:12 AM:
A beauty. Thanks for sharing... beats a coyote any day... we just don't have the reds here in AZ...
Posted by Barry (Member # 34) on January 29, 2004, 05:51 PM:
Great fox.He looks like he just took a bath and used conditioner.Good job.
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on January 29, 2004, 07:40 PM:
Gorgeous pictures man! Great Job!
Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on January 30, 2004, 05:12 AM:
Nice red, varmint. Isn't it amazing that something as pretty as that just runs around out there in the weeds?
[ February 20, 2004, 02:28 PM: Message edited by: Cdog911 ]
Posted by varmint101 (Member # 41) on January 30, 2004, 07:31 AM:
Thanks guys! He had a perfect pelt. Yes it is amazing those little suckers run around out there and also for the most part undetected. I'm glad I finally got one of them. There is a lot more tracks out there now so there are more. Now, if I get the chance again, I think I will take a good shot at a fox with my 243 or 22-250 and see what happens. That fur is just so nice I would hate to waste one. Anyways it's cold now! 1 degree with a -24 wind chill do the math! lol It's like I'm living in Montana or North Dakota for a day or something. Good shooting,
Matt
Posted by Tim Behle (Member # 209) on January 30, 2004, 08:32 AM:
Matt,
Use a heavy bullet in that 22-250 and it will probably pass right though. Hit a bone with the .243 and you may have a hard time finding the tail to take home.
That little HMR is a hell of a good calling rifle for your area. Just take your time with shot placement on coyotes and avoid running shots. A couple of years ago, my neighbor told me that it was impossible to kill a coyote with a 15 grain Berger. Said I'd wound and lose everything I shot at. So the next 10 coyotes I brought him were all killed with the little 15 grain pill. ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
All head shots, I'd stop them just long enough to drop a bullet in the ear. Little bullets work fine, shot placement is the key.
If you have a high pitched coaxer type call. Try fluttering your tongue as you blow it. It makes a wounded bird type sound that the fox love.
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