Just thought I would get a fox talk thing going on in here. Anyone want to share their information or tactics/pics that would be cool. Let us know what you use for calls, lights, or if you call in the day or night. Also, what are your setups like and how long. Favorite calls, electronic or hand held, is another thing that would be helpful. Thanks alot.
lets talk fox
- Thread starter colesy64
- Start date
I primarily use an electronic call, actually a boom box in a camoflauge duffel bag. Anyways, I use grey fox pup in distress tape. It seems to work fairly well. I call for anywhere between 5-15 minutes and then pack up and move on. I haven't shot a ton , but have not hunted as much as I would like to. (never will hunt as much as I want to I guess)Anyways, thats my 2 cents for now.
fox rule! they are such beatiful animals. bird sounds and rodent squeaks for me. sceery ap-1 and lohman circe coaxer squealer. 25-30 mins. fox fighting sounds with my dan thompson pc-2 and others haven't worked. maybe it frightens them. i don't have an e-caller, but have a few j stewart tapes that i've never used.
outdoorsjoe222
New member
Most of the fox I call in are with my Dan Thompson PC-2 sounding like a cottontail, they usually come in within 10 minutes and they come in running. I have a FoxPro which I have never called in an animal with, so it stays home. I tend to be much more successful calling at night also.
I have heard alot of different opinions on the subject of lens colors. Some people say that they only use red lenses at night, but others contend amber is just as good. I was just wondering what you all thought about the subject. Alot of guys here in allegany county ny don't believe in using the red lenses and use the amber ones. They contend that fox don't see the amber and you can see alot farther with it. Respect your opinions from all the knowledge I have gained so far, so thought I would see what you guys believed. Thanks for your thoughts in advance.
Goosehunter
New member
colesy64,
I scan with the red lense and if in shotgun range, use that for the shot also, If I am going to take a longer shot with the rifle, I switch to the amber just before the shot. You can see alot farther to identify the critter with the amber.
As far as sounds, I start with what i think our foxes hear the most of,, a rabbit distress sound. then switch to a fox pup distress or a fox fight call if nothing comes in. usally 20 to 25 minutes max on stand. I feel that gives them time to come in from a long distance if hearing conditions are right.
Bob
I scan with the red lense and if in shotgun range, use that for the shot also, If I am going to take a longer shot with the rifle, I switch to the amber just before the shot. You can see alot farther to identify the critter with the amber.
As far as sounds, I start with what i think our foxes hear the most of,, a rabbit distress sound. then switch to a fox pup distress or a fox fight call if nothing comes in. usally 20 to 25 minutes max on stand. I feel that gives them time to come in from a long distance if hearing conditions are right.
Bob
which rabbit in distress do you guys use. do you use a hand call or e-caller.
also, i was wondering if there is any way to share calls via the internet, like people do with cd's. if so i don't know if it is legal or not. i don't see why it wouldnt be legal. why couldn't we set it up to get sounds in this manner.
also, i was wondering if there is any way to share calls via the internet, like people do with cd's. if so i don't know if it is legal or not. i don't see why it wouldnt be legal. why couldn't we set it up to get sounds in this manner.
Goosehunter
New member
I have a JS Preymaster. I like the juvenile cottontail sound the best out of the 3 or 4 rabbit sounds i have for it. We also use custom made closed and open reed calls. All depends on what we are in the mood for that night.
Im really thinking that I am going to go finish a few calls tonight, and then head out for some fox action later.
Its looking like a nice night for it here in Pa. and I havent shot one for awhile.
Bob
Im really thinking that I am going to go finish a few calls tonight, and then head out for some fox action later.
Its looking like a nice night for it here in Pa. and I havent shot one for awhile.
Bob
Pruson
New member
Calls used are the FoxPro, rabbit distress 1,2, aggressive jackrabbit,DSG,Woodpecker and other bird sounds. Favorite mouthcall,the Sceery AP6, and a Lipsqueak.I have used FP's Gray Fox Pup on grays that have arrived on the scene and got suspicious and left or hung up out there. This sound sort of provokes them to throw caution to the wind and charge back in there.I've called back grays that had already been shot at once.
Gun is a Browning A Bolt 22 Hornet, with a Leupold 4.5x14x50 VX-III
I like to hunt the first and last possible light. If night hunting, red lenses on miner type head light for scanning and red lenses on 1 Million CP Spots for the shot. 100% ID required.
Both Reds and Grays
Hunt pine cutovers, thickets etc.
Gun is a Browning A Bolt 22 Hornet, with a Leupold 4.5x14x50 VX-III
I like to hunt the first and last possible light. If night hunting, red lenses on miner type head light for scanning and red lenses on 1 Million CP Spots for the shot. 100% ID required.
Both Reds and Grays
Hunt pine cutovers, thickets etc.
Last edited:
son_of_rocky
New member
Head lights and all close in shotgun shooting. JS cotton tail distress, Critter call, switch to fox pup distress if hang ups or no action.
My brother opened his garage door friday morning at 5:45 and it must of ticked off a gray cause he started barking about 30 yards out. Brother lipsqueaked and the little bugger came right up to the door and took a look inside. There Brother stood in his shirt and tie and no gun. He was working on his squeaky garage door Sunday night and after opening and closing it a couple of times the gray was barking at him again. This time he grabbed his shotgun a head light and his open reed call and sat under a tree in his yard but couldn't bring him out. He went back to the garage a got out his JS tape caller and a gray fox pup distress and this time the bugger circled out of range and got within ten feet of him right behind him. Long story shorter: he took a over the sholder shot and missed.
We'll see if he can call that one in again
My brother opened his garage door friday morning at 5:45 and it must of ticked off a gray cause he started barking about 30 yards out. Brother lipsqueaked and the little bugger came right up to the door and took a look inside. There Brother stood in his shirt and tie and no gun. He was working on his squeaky garage door Sunday night and after opening and closing it a couple of times the gray was barking at him again. This time he grabbed his shotgun a head light and his open reed call and sat under a tree in his yard but couldn't bring him out. He went back to the garage a got out his JS tape caller and a gray fox pup distress and this time the bugger circled out of range and got within ten feet of him right behind him. Long story shorter: he took a over the sholder shot and missed.
We'll see if he can call that one in again
son_of_rocky
New member
Head lights and all close in shotgun shooting. Lasers on the shotguns /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif. JS cotton tail distress, Critter call, switch to fox pup distress if hang ups or no action.
My brother opened his garage door friday morning at 5:45 and it must of ticked off a gray 'cause it started barking about 30 yards out. Brother lipsqueaked and the little bugger came right up to the door and took a look inside. There Brother stood in his shirt and tie and no gun. He was working on his squeaky garage door Sunday night and after opening and closing it a couple of times the gray was barking at him again. This time he grabbed his shotgun a head light and his open reed call and sat under a tree in his yard but couldn't bring him out. He went back to the garage a got out his JS tape caller and a gray fox pup distress and this time the bugger circled out of range and got within ten feet of him right behind him. Long story shorter: he took a over the sholder shot and missed. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
We'll see if he can call that one in again /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
My brother opened his garage door friday morning at 5:45 and it must of ticked off a gray 'cause it started barking about 30 yards out. Brother lipsqueaked and the little bugger came right up to the door and took a look inside. There Brother stood in his shirt and tie and no gun. He was working on his squeaky garage door Sunday night and after opening and closing it a couple of times the gray was barking at him again. This time he grabbed his shotgun a head light and his open reed call and sat under a tree in his yard but couldn't bring him out. He went back to the garage a got out his JS tape caller and a gray fox pup distress and this time the bugger circled out of range and got within ten feet of him right behind him. Long story shorter: he took a over the sholder shot and missed. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
We'll see if he can call that one in again /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Last edited:
Justin M
New member
i will get super indepth with this tomorrow its midnight now. Usually use the preymaster with foxpup, lately have beeen using custom handcalls, my own and people from this board. Last night called a red in for my buddy, high pitched raspy call. Like i said, i can talk about for for hours, but until tomorrow, cause im beat.
PredatorSniper37
New member
I use a shotgun for close work, 22 mag and 222.
I call day and night, use hand held calls
and a JS cassette caller. I have been thinking
of getting a FX3. I have been using a mini Q beam
at night and a maglite both with red lens. Depending
on area and time of year, I use bird sounds, rodent in
distress, rabbit in distress, fox pup in distress and
fox territorial mating call. I call anywhere from 10 minutes too 30 minutes per stand. I use hand held calls
more during the day. I usually start off with a rabbit
in distress call. I prefer to set up about 50 yards from
cover at night in the open, and during the day in cover.
mainekiller
New member
Favorite call is Dan thompson PC-2, but haved called them in with many different hand calls all rabbit distress. I get very aggressive and loud on the pc-2 at times and really put some emotion into it. If you have ever been bunny hunting over beagles you have probably heard a wounded bunny getting munched by the dogs, I try to imitate that. We only have red foxes and snowshoe hares but the cottontail sounds work. All of my calling is done durring the day (we can't shoot fox at night)with first and last light being best. Days when the wind is out of the SE and the pressure is dropping due to an incoming storm are the magic days! You can have succcess all day.
I have tried the red fox fighting sound on a foxpro and have had no success. I used to use a 22-250 (way too much gun) and now have a .17rem and it is much better but shot placement counts. Many shots are too far for a shotgun or small rimfire. The last fox I shot this winter was around 300 yards away but the one before that was at 25 yards.
I don't stay more than 20 minutes at stands and love to hunt fence lines and islands close to larger cover. Most of the foxes cross a large area of open field to get to you. Those winter reds are the prettiest things and they skin so much easier then those stinky coyotes!
I have tried the red fox fighting sound on a foxpro and have had no success. I used to use a 22-250 (way too much gun) and now have a .17rem and it is much better but shot placement counts. Many shots are too far for a shotgun or small rimfire. The last fox I shot this winter was around 300 yards away but the one before that was at 25 yards.
I don't stay more than 20 minutes at stands and love to hunt fence lines and islands close to larger cover. Most of the foxes cross a large area of open field to get to you. Those winter reds are the prettiest things and they skin so much easier then those stinky coyotes!
Pruson
New member
Mainekiller
You stated you like islands near heavy cover. Is this simply for you to breakup your outline by setting up in or on the island of cover and calling them out of the larger pieces of cover? As well as affording you better visibility while watching the edge of the larger cover? This is my opinion, but I was wondering if it was the reason.
You stated you like islands near heavy cover. Is this simply for you to breakup your outline by setting up in or on the island of cover and calling them out of the larger pieces of cover? As well as affording you better visibility while watching the edge of the larger cover? This is my opinion, but I was wondering if it was the reason.
redeyeddawg
New member
Wizard II hand held w/red lense for shots to 100yrds with 17hmr. 870 express 3" #4 Hevi shot and hevi shot choke tube out to 50yrds. Mouse squeakers are DEATH on reds and greys. Will lip squeak when they hang up. Circe open reed for big fields or if nothing comes to the squeaker after 10 minutes. Put some emotion into your rabbit in distress calls. The first time I took the Mrs. out for fox she said she wanted to cry after hearing my "rabbit" getting evicerated. Reds love to use field islands for hunting and as approach routes when you set up near them. Now go nail some fur!!!