varmint question

[mookster79]

I am not sure if this is the right forum for this question, but it seems that most of the people on here have at least one handi and get into some sort of varmint shooting.  I was wondering what the best way to lure in or call a fox is in these colder months?  How far out should I be etc. ?  I have a little problem with one that got my neighbors small dog and this fall I would bet it brought the end to a sort of pet goose I had at the house.  I would usually call them dinner but I had a lone canadian goose that just landed on the pond one day and never left.   He was good company while building my new barn and then one morning nothing but feathers on the bank and the left overs drug into the woods.    I have never really hunted fox before and was wondering the best tactics for seeking revenge.

[McLernon]

Call them in with a mouth call remembering that they will always circle up-wind on you. The trick is to see them before they see you or scent you.

Good huntin'

Mc

[FLNT4EVR]

Small dog, and a full grown goose ?  I think it may be a coyote ,rather than a fox. The hunting method should be the same tho.

[McLernon]

I agree, it sounds more like a coyote. A full grown Canada is a formidible opponent and I think it would take one or maybe even two song dogs to overcome it.

Mc

[quickdtoo]

This question would be best asked in the Predator and Varmint hunting forum.

Tim

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/board,14.0.html

[mookster79]

The only reason I say a fox is becuase the neighbor saw the dog get torn up in the late afternoon/ early evening.  It just injured it bad enough that it had to be put down.  Also I was not sure if there would be coyote in south eastern PA.  Thanks for the suggestion Quick.

[joshco84]

i would really doubt it being a fox, but i guess it could happen, they tend to be very tempermental.  And as far as the location, i thought coyotes were all over the U.S.   Are you sure you dont have them around there??

[cascadedad]

What caliber of Handi are you going to use on it?   

[Sourdough]

Don't doubt Cayotes being in Southeastern PA.  They are in DC.  I personally saw one almost every morning for a year as I bicycled to work inside the district in 1993-4.  I also saw several in the country side of eastern Maryland, that's east of the District.  So there fore I am sure they are in South Eastern Pa. by now.   

[joshco84]

yeah we see them in town and around the airport all the time so i was going to say just because you dont see them doesnt mean they are there just because of developement.

josh

[billy_56081]

I'm voting against the fox also. A coyote would seem the more likely culprit. Coyote are found about every where. They are very territorial about other canines in their territory. A fox killing a dog maybe, if it were a chiuaua or some toy breed. But a full grown canadian goose. That would be much less likely. I'm not saying that it couldn't happen, but coyotes are much more likely the culprit. Most people that live where there are coyotes never see one. They are pretty shy and elusive. But I'd say hunt where the fox has been seen. If he is working in close to your place hunt there. find you a good place to hide a bit, where u can get to undetected. Call with the wind at your face if possible for about 20 to 30 minutes. Then sit there for about 15 minutes longer to see if u have a sneeker. DO NOT SHOOT as long as the predator is moving toward you. I've learned by the school of hard knocks that part. Let him keep coming to give you as easy of shot as possible. Being over anxious will only educate predators when you miss them.   (sorry for the bad spelling)

[DLFLY2000]

Being an avid coyote hunter( I hunt most weekends and anytime I can get the time during the week)I would like to add a few tips as well.

 Foxes are very shy during the daylight hours and are mostly nocturnal. You may have better luck calling at night with a red light. They also like very high pitched, active or "busy" type calls such as a woodpecker in distress call. When the sun goes down, a foxes behavior changes, He no longer thinks he's so small, and becomes very bold in his behavior. I have had them come right up to the tailgate on my truck during night hunting. Some have even went under the truck to hide when they finally figured the gig was up.

Foxes aren't as scent cautious as a coyote is, but they will usually try to get downwindof you due to them trying to figure out what that great free snack is, and why it is making so much noise. Once you get them in close, say 100 yards, switch to a squeaker or coaxer type call. They have very good hearing and can hear a mouse squeak in distress for a very long ways.

Once you get the spotlight on him, don't  take it off. If you do, he will more than likely see you and be gone.

Best of luck with the fox and happy hunting!

[mookster79]

I have done a little research since the last post, and it looks like what they are calling the eastern coyote is very possible to be the culprit.  It used to be mostly northern half of PA and above, but like mentioned earlier is becoming a lot more widespread due to development.  The dog was a little terrier type lap dog, maybe 10 lbs. My cat is way bigger. 

I will be using more than likely my .223 handi with a burris fullfield II 4.5-14x42.  I have been shooting vmax 50gr. rounds with very good accuracy, dead on at 100 yds. I don't care about keeping the fur or anything else, just want it dead.  I can go bigger but I think this rifle and round will do the trick.

My place is 7 acres with 40 or 50 open surrounding it and consisting of about 5 or 6 other houses, mostly amish farms.  I have seen prints of all types in the patches of woods that border me on both sides.  There are a couple of spots that I can hide and call from and now just have to figure out which calls to buy and how to use them. Thanks for all the input.

 

[joshco84]

from the surroundings you described, i would definately say coyote, just sounds like somewhere they would hang out.  HAHAHAHA just kidding, but it probably it a coyote.

[FLNT4EVR]

Your .223 with the V-MAX should do just fine. Keep in mind that where ther's one ther are usualy more. You may have a few days of good varmint hunting ahead of you. Good luck and good shooting.