Fox populations

H

Heymartay

Active member
How come you Maryland and Virginia guys have so many foxes around? We had a lot in Illinois before the coyotes took over , but nothing like what you guys have. The reds are holding on but greys are very few and far between. I think nonexistent in n ill. Love to be able to go out and shoot 10-15 in one night.
 

Years ago when I trapped fox (in Virginia) I mainly got grays due to where I live (mountains and thick hillsides mainly), but these days we seem to be getting more and more reds than usual. I don’t know why, but regardless, we continue to have several fox coexisting with the coyotes. To what extent coyotes may be killing fox here, I can’t say. I am glad to have both.
 
In the area that I live we don't have nearly as many foxes as we did even a few years ago. On some farms where we would kill 6-8 a year now we don't hardly ever see one.
The Eastern Shore still has a pretty good population from what I hear, but I don't think that they have the coyote population that we have.
 
We don’t have coyotes in Maryland’s eastern shore to speak of. I think it has a lot to do with large water crossings to get here and it doesent freeze like it used to. We have fox because they were brought here for sport and had no predators and now aren’t even really trapped. That being said I don’t see many greys either. Pretty rare. There are a couple guys that guide fox hunts in the east and do pretty well but luckily no one on the eastern shore of Maryland ....yet
 
Soon there will not be many reds on the Eastern Shore either. Who needs coyotes to thin them out reaper4 and his guys are hammering them. The only time the reds get a break on the Eastern Shore is when those guys are sleeping which is about two hours a day. Keep after them!
 
Thanks Joe! But we are taking it easy on them this year. Little filming and then nothing until January. The kids have me busy with hockey this year.
 
You go through parts of Illinois in the winter and all you'll see for miles is plowed fields, not a fence line , tree line just dirt. Nothing can live out there.
 
Answered a call about coyotes howling at a farm killed a pair. Didnt see any foxes [beeep] i knew a few were around. Used distress sounds. 3 weekes later, owner hadnt heard any coyotes. I set up again, used distress again. Called in 4 reds. Could see 3 at one time. I dont think yoties and fox are in a high level of competition. Lots of cover, plenty of food. In illinois, iowa, indiana where ive hunted, less cover, less food, high level of competition. Coyotes are less tolerant of thei smaller cousins. Greys are typically more agressive, i think much of their decline is due to habitat loss. Yotes and reds seem to be more adaptable.
 


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