Calling Red Fox In Winter

Over_Kill

Over_Kill

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Hi i have been told that in winter red fox start breeding and during this time they r more interested in looking for a mate than coming to a call. Another reason for this is so that during the breeding season they dont run into another male and end up in a fight, maybe they have to be in good condition for a female to want to breed with them. Is this true? i would love to hear a few oppinions on the subject.
 
Even though they are very interested in breeding at that time, they still have to eat. While you may not call in as many during that time, it still pays to get after them. Sometimes you'll manage to call in the pair during that time.
 
Cool thanx ill keep trying, we have managed to call in 4 in about 5 full days trying. I need to get some camo and give that a try i think
 
What sounds are you guys using for fox?Ive never called one. Ive only been at yotes for about a year.When your calling are you trying for fox or just calling for whatever comes in?
Thanks Daryl P.
 
Foxes like a higher pitch and more frantic. Do these two things and you'll be more likely to call a red fox if they are in the area. Coyotes will respond too.
 
PurpleCoyote,

I've only "ever" called in one Red, many moons ago= Lipsqueek.

Tried a Faulk cottintail distress, on two other Reds, some yrs back. They ran the opposite direction. I must've sounded too husky fur'em /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

Now that I think about it. That was the 1st/2nd time calling & the 1st call I ever bought & tried. I tossed it in the snow after the 2nd Red ran away /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif.
 
nothing is written in stone. you can call in doubles in october- november or singles during the dead of winter and spring. nothing beats calling in fox with some snow on the ground or in the air on a cold winter night.
i like to use a rodent coaxer (Sceery) or coaxer/ squealer (Lohman Circe). i have had the most responses using either bird/ woodpecker distress or erratic squealing. calling very high pitched with a cottontail distress has worked for me but i like to use the coaxers more often than any other.
 
Thanks to all for the reply,s. I love to hunt but I guess Im not that good at it.I sure enjoy being out there in the cold and snow and usually by myself. I like hunting with friends but they usually are to noisy or have to be home by whatever time.When I go it might be an hour or two or all day just depends on the mood and how its going.
Thanks again
Daryl P.
 
Quote:
Foxes like a higher pitch and more frantic. Do these two things and you'll be more likely to call a red fox if they are in the area. Coyotes will respond too.



I have found this also works good for me i use open reed call very high pitch, lipsqueeks also work fine. Ive called around thirty now mostly at night, but u can see them react well to very high pitch frantic noise.
 
I am using gravelly and loud jack rabbit-style calls for red fox and do well with that. They seem to travel a long distance to check that out during the hungry months in late winter and I want to reach far. I saw one run in from 3/4 mile this winter and a few more from a 1/2 mile. I haven't seen a single one get turned off by that sound (I often call again when I see them very far out) but it may be that our foxes eat different stuff than yours. Same species as far as I understand, but ours eat our big hares and also roe deer (mostly the young in summer, but sometimes older animals. Roe deer are small though) besides rodents and other small stuff.
 
Articfox,

I've had good success with low, gravelly sounds too. But, time and time again, when I go high-pitched and erratic, I've had better luck.

Coyotes, on the other hand, seem to prefer a deeper gruff sounding call.
 
Randy,

You've tried this on a lot more foxes than I have and I expect I haven't seen all the high-pitched sounds can do yet. Just pulling a lance for the gravelly stuff to keep all options open. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif Sometimes I think the red fox gets pictured as a little too timid, afraid of anything bigger than a cottontail or a bird, and that is not what my limited experience suggests...

I like the topic too. I can discuss pros and cons of different sounds for winter red fox for the rest of the fall, given someone else can too!
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
It's interesting that your foxes seem to be bold. While some of ours are, most are extremely shy. I believe that's because they are forced to live with coyotes.
 
It is certainly true that most of our red foxes can live their entire adult life without encountering any natural enemy capable of killing them. I haven't thought about that. It makes sense if that results in bold foxes!

Things may change with growing populations of wolves and lynx, but only in parts of the country. Where I hunt they will at the present time only need to look out for man and maybe the occasional eagle.
 
Quote:
Where I hunt they will at the present time only need to look out for man



I'm thinking that man would be YOU!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
You betcha! I've got a new Predator Enticer decoy, a new (used) Sako .222 rem, new Predator Sniper Styx (w/snow feet), red fox urine and a spray bottle, and some new calls. I'm ready for winter calling! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
You'll probably like the .222, using fmjbt bullets, or something else? No snow now? Colorado got a tiny bit of snow , probably in the high country.T.20
 
T.20,
I also think the 222 may be a good compromise. We can't use a .17 on fox and .20 calibers are non-existant on the market. I'm sure there will be times when it will make a mess but then again fur prices are next to nothing and I like the potential for accuracy and the easy handling. My .22 hornet didn't quite handle the careful foxes testing the wind at 200-250 yards last winter and they are the ones I'm thinking about now. (And the 6,5x55 feels like overkill!)

A friend says he has a load with v-max bullets that usually gives no exit on foxes. I may try that. I'll experiment some. This winter I'm 100 percent focused on killing a higher percentage of called in foxes, but if they look nasty when shot, doing something about that will be next on the list.

No snow yet, BTW! It's been a very warm and dry summer turning into a warm and wet fall. I'm hoping for cool and dry now, and severe cold as winter strikes! That should make the foxes eager to check on a scream!
 


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