include those chambered in
.22-250, .223 and .204 Ruger. A
. 22 Magnum will work well at
closer distances. Small, soft fox
bodies do not handle expanding-tip bullets well, and this is
important if you plan to keep
the fur or do a mount.
You will need a good binocular
and a window-mounted spotting
scope to scan and spot a red
before you begin your stalk. Note
the wind where you are, where
the fox is, and at points between.
Wisps of snow can reveal the
wind direction in areas where
grasses are buried under feet of
white snowflakes.
Snow camouflage is important
to wear if you are hunting in a
snow-covered landscape. While
I’ve written a lot about napping
fox, they are also listening
intently while they lie about.
If you are crunching crusted
snow during your approach,
the fox will hear and look for
you. Blending in with snow
camouflage could provide those
seconds needed to take a killing
shot should a fox rise. Fox also
are unpredictable and will, for
unknown reasons, rise to look
around, then turn about and go
back to sleep.
I saw a fox that I thought
had frozen to death return to
life and stand to look about
when a huge grader with a
back-up alarm reversed while
plowing a far distant road
ditch. That fox knew it was an
odd noise and observed until
it decided that grader was not
a threat. Then it went back to
sleep atop a snow drift.
When looking for fox, also
look for tips of ears or a faint
hint of red in a stark white
world. Fox like to hunker down
behind snowdrifts when possible
to keep out of the wind. Good
optics are a plus when looking
for a hint of red fur. If the sun is
battle of the brrrr …
Really cold weather — 0 degrees Fahrenheit and below — can change
the pliability factor of many hunting items. Plastics can snap, and the
grease used inside of binoculars and spotting scopes to help move gears
and glass can become solid and the optics frozen. You can avoid this
problem by keeping any binocular used on a sub-zero fox hunt tucked
inside the top of your coat’s front when not in use. With the binocular
on a neck strap and held next to your chest inside your clothing, it’ll stay
warm and be ready for use in an instant. You’ll also find tripods far more
shooter friendly as a rest when you must settle a rifle over snow. Some
shooting sticks can be adapted for use with snow bases or baskets.
You’ll find these at REI ( http://www.rei.com/product/753991) and many
backpacking stores for less than $10. Snow and cold temperatures
changes many hunting principles, so plan ahead.
out, consider wearing sunglasses and turn your optics’ eye cups in as
you scan. Looking at glaring snow through a binocular can give you a
headache in short order.
In shallow early-season snow it’s not uncommon to notice a fox
leaping. It’s actually trying to get a snow-covered mouse or tiny
rodent to move so it can make a kill. This tactic does not work
once the snow is a foot deep or more. Fox also eat insects, rabbits,
pheasants and other birds, and fruits and nuts. Take note of and
inspect any apple orchards in your hunting area. You can also get
a fox to stand with a pheasant call (see www.woodswise.com for
a mouth-blown pheasant call) or other bird sounds. Fox seem as
interested in birds as bobcats do. Start out calling in low tones and
increase the volume as the time passes.
read Up on red
The more you know about fox, the better you’ll be at getting a fox
pelt. Research your state’s hunting and nongame websites for specific
details about how red fox in your area live, and possibly where they
live. For example, Colorado’s Division of Wildlife website had this
statement at the bottom: “In Colorado, the species occurs throughout
the state except for the southern half of the eastern plains.”
Another example is Kansas, where the state’s Division of Wildlife
and Parks reports this on its website: “Red fox occur statewide, but
are most common in eastern Kansas, where urban areas and woodlots
are most abundant.” This site also revealed that reds in the U.S. are
probably a result of fox being imported and released from Europe by
earlier settlers. I can attest that fox hunting is very popular in much
of Europe and the countryside is dotted with fox hunting huts. The
Kansas website also noted that fox kills by hunters had been on the
decline in recent times: “About 500 red fox have been harvested
annually over the past few seasons, though double this were
harvested several years in the mid-1990s.” They’ll need to possibly
update that site as reds make a rebound. The site goes on to note that
hunters take less than a third of the annual state fox harvest. Trappers
gather the others. Might be a good place to go fox hunting!
