In 5 years around Helena I’ve never called in a fox. Seen a couple while driving around but none called in day or night. Called for 30 years in Illinois and only called in 2 so what gives. See the guys out east calling the crap out of them. They gotta b out there. I called 40-50 coyotes a season in Illinois and probably 30 in Montana so I know pretty much what I’m doing.
Fox in Montana
- Thread starter Heymartay
- Start date
Grigsby
Active member
In my experience red foxes are easier to call in than coyotes. Maybe that's not the case in your area, or maybe there aren't that many around. If you have a lot of coyotes, maybe they keep the fox numbers down? I agree with zeeman, it seems they will hang around closer to humans than coyotes will.
wolverines
Well-known member
Just speculating, but if you go into a set targeting coyote and are using a lot of coyote vocals you drastically reduce your chance of calling in a fox. I have spotted a fox while using coyote vocals, but if I wanted to target fox, it would not be how I would approach it. I do agree that fox are pretty easy to call in. The fox I referred to came straight to the call immediately after I switched the sound to a rabbit distress. I've also lip squeaked a fox in to the base of the blind I was sitting in hunting a bait site one night. I'm sure some have had a similar experience with coyotes, but I haven't. If you are not using rabbit/rodent/bird distress sounds exclusively on stand for a fox, I would try that. I have also read and seen videos of grey fox fight sounds working really good to call fox. As a side note, If you are hunting a very coyote target rich environment, there is a chance that they aren't there.
hunt0168
Well-known member
My guess is that you just don’t have many fox because you have good numbers of coyotes. Fox are far more tolerant of living and hanging around people than coyotes.
Reds are more wary than Grays by a good margin, but easier to convince than most coyotes. Reds are less likely to show after coyote vocalizations, but not 100% on avoiding. Bird, rabbit and rodent sounds are best.
Grays don’t care about coyote vocalizations in my opinion. I’ve had them show up to vocals and just sit and watch. Gray fox pup distress is deadly for Grays. They cannot resist charging in when they hear it. I think Gray fox would show up if they heard a snicker bar being opened! They are not too smart or cautious.
Gray fox pup distress and gray fox fights are also effective on coyotes for the record. I have NEVER called a thing to red fox vocals. EVER!
Reds are more wary than Grays by a good margin, but easier to convince than most coyotes. Reds are less likely to show after coyote vocalizations, but not 100% on avoiding. Bird, rabbit and rodent sounds are best.
Grays don’t care about coyote vocalizations in my opinion. I’ve had them show up to vocals and just sit and watch. Gray fox pup distress is deadly for Grays. They cannot resist charging in when they hear it. I think Gray fox would show up if they heard a snicker bar being opened! They are not too smart or cautious.
Gray fox pup distress and gray fox fights are also effective on coyotes for the record. I have NEVER called a thing to red fox vocals. EVER!
Rhett Steele
Active member
Wish we had more fox around. They are hard chargers. Gray fox are in decline in Indiana, haven't seen one in several years.
DoubleLungRage
Well-known member
I told my buddy the other day that I don't see how there are any gray fox left because they aren't really cautious at all. I've had multiple grays come right up to me I guess to figure out what I was.
I've also had multiple bobcats come into coyote pup distress calls.
Lots of fox, mostly reds, around here. Lots of small game for them to feed on and lots of cover. Much easier to call than coyote. One nite last year I stood in a field and shot 7 reds in an hour or so, the farmer was very happy. I have also had fox come in after a coyote howl or fox/coyote fight sound. Fox around here are almost like rats around a dump
Hoosier_nitedog
Well-known member
I've never had a grey fox come to the call or atleast not that I know of, however I have certain areas around that I can almost guarantee a few red fox each year from playing rabbit or bird distress sounds
I hear y’all probably too many coyotes around though I know some people have good luck trapping them. I know in Illinois the coyotes started showing up in the mid 70’s in our area. We used to have some greys around but the coyotes took them out in short order, the reds took a hit for a few years but learned how to live with them. Would think I would see a few.
Rhett Steele
Active member
Got one farm that 6 reds have been taken so far this year. It's like that every year. Go just down the road, never seen a fox.
struggling_hunter
Member
I'm in NH
Second season calling, haven't called a fox yet even on the many sets where I only use prey distress. I was just thinking about this very topic a few days ago. I was thinking maybe they stay clear of the coyote territory that I usually hunt? Not sure
Second season calling, haven't called a fox yet even on the many sets where I only use prey distress. I was just thinking about this very topic a few days ago. I was thinking maybe they stay clear of the coyote territory that I usually hunt? Not sure
hunt0168
Well-known member
I have always heard just the opposite with regard to the reds and grays. Heard reds are more likely to be ousted than grays due to their preference of terrain. Reds are more likely to be in more open country where grays prefer thicker tighter cover and can more easily escape a coyotes pursuit. And those little grays are kind of cat-like in that they can climp some trees if necessary.
We have a lot more reds in Western NY in the bigger expanses of farmland and vineyards. I’m in the Mohawk Valley (Central NY) with less open ground and thicker cover. We have more of a 70/30 Gray to Red ratio here. Definitely call more fox than coyotes.