Coyotes and Foxes - Thoughts? Opinions?

[West28]

Yesterday evening while on stand I had a good size fox come out within 10 yards of me and the thought crossed my mind to put a broad head in him. Instead, I sat there for 15 minutes watching him and thinking to myself what a good looking animal, he would look great in my game room. Then I realized that I don't need two animals at the taxidermist this year. It's funny, when it comes to coyotes I gladly pull the release or the trigger with out a second thought, as I've personally seen first hand what they can do to a fawn and a deer herd in general. But when it came to this fox I couldn't find a good reason to take its life.


So, I'm wondering what all of your thoughts are on the matter, I guess I'm looking for opinions or even some knowledge on the subject. Clearly I believe most of us feel that same way when it comes to coyotes but what's your opinion on foxes, good or bad, right or wrong?

I'm obviously entering that phase in my hunting life where harvesting an animal of any sort has a different meaning to me than in years past. Not too long ago I would harvest the first deer that came into my shooting lane and put them in my freezer and for the past several years I've chosen to just sit and watch the fawns and focus putting mature does and bucks in the freezer instead. Also, in years past, I would've been dropping a fox off at the taxidermist today and creating another taxidermy bill lol.

[GS1]

Foxes put a hurting on small game, but they are not nearly as populated as coyotes. I used to do a lot of fox calling and it never bothered me to shoot a couple each trip. Although I now know where several hang out, I still haven't gotten the urge to go shoot some more of them.

Bobcats are another one to put in that group. Most hunters don't say a word when someone mentions shooting coyotes, but mention killing a bobcat and a lot of hunters loose their minds. Bobcats are probably more destructive to small game than any other predator that is not solely a nest raider. Personally I can't wait to fill the freezer with them.

[raymar]

I have no trouble catching a Coyote but am too guilty of giving a fox a pass. I caught two last year but was only able to release one and will release ones I catch if possible. There are several around but due to the mange spread by coyotes there population is much less here. Skunks,possums and coon are all hard on nest as well.

[Deleted]

I have killed a fox, but probably won't again. I've let two pass this year.

[clovein123]

I posted this under a thread/poll on the deer hunting forum, concerning problems with deer populations. I chose predation and added the following:

Surprised to see that predation is not higher on the list. I truly don't think that hunters understand how many deer, especially fawns are killed by predators (mainly coyotes) every year. Not to mention the amount of turkeys killed yearly by predation. Here are some numbers that should make one think.

Texas A&M = On 5,000 acres with 1 year of trapping they had 70% more fawns. During the previous years they avg. a 23% survival rate for fawns.
University of Georgia = On 1,800 acres with 1 year of trapping they had 149% more fawns. During the previous years they avg. a 17% survival rate for fawns.
South Carolina = They radio collared numerous does, 70% were killed by predators.
South Carolina = They radio collared numerous bobcats. One bobcat killed 30+ does.
University of Oxford = 80% of turkeys were killed by predation, especially during the early stages of life (egg to juvenile).

I know this because I have lived it. I use to think it was cool to hear the coyotes fire up at night fall till I started seeing my local deer herd decrease year after year. I went from seeing 5 to 20 deer per hunt or when driving around to seeing 3 or 4 per hunt. I have learned that trapping (not coyote hunting) is critical to good heard management. There is a reason Outfitters pay professional trappers good money to carry out trapping campaigns. (Something you don't see or they don't discuss because 180" deer sell more product and ad space then a mangey coyote in a trap.)

[clovein123]

As you could imagine, I pull the trigger and/or draw back every time. A dead coyote is the best kind of coyote in my book. Same thing goes for every hunting friend of mine. We do not give them a pass. Fox on the other get a pass, especially when fur prices increase.

[bullseye69]

I shot two in Montana deer hunting last week "NONE SHALL PASS" for me. Shot one with a 308 and the other with a 358 Hooiser. LOL what a huge hole!
But a fox..... well .....they get a pass. They have a hard enough time dealing the coyote's them selves.

[76chevy]

same here!

Nov 3, 2015 1:53:55 GMT -5 bullseye69 said:

fox..... well .....they get a pass. They have a hard enough time dealing the coyote's them selves.

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[featherduster]

I wouldn't give it a second thought about shooting a coyote or a raccoon, a fox would get a free pass.

[sakorifle]

greetings
No coyotes here although we do keep the fox population down a bit
I dont shoot foxes if i am stalking deer though.

I was looking at your coyotes in Indiana and they have a season, i dont understand, if they are such a problem why one is not allowed to kill them all year round, unless on private property?
What tools are you allowed to use on them.
I fancy shooting coyotes, lol
regards
Billy

[Deleted]

Nov 3, 2015 11:29:30 GMT -5 sakorifle said:

greetings
No coyotes here although we do keep the fox population down a bit
I dont shoot foxes if i am stalking deer though.

I was looking at your coyotes in Indiana and they have a season, i dont understand, if they are such a problem why one is not allowed to kill them all year round, unless on private property?
What tools are you allowed to use on them.
I fancy shooting coyotes, lol
regards
Billy

You can shoot coyotes all year in Indiana if you are the landowner or if you have permission from the landowner.

[clovein123]

I really wish they had open season year round on them. With the landowner permission and ADC laws if only makes sense to me to have a year round season. Not many guys will sit in 90 degrees to kill a yote but I sure would. Anything to help out the deer population.

[throbak]

I think They are like people good and bad dont stereotype the whole population because of the bad habits of a few I honestly believe if coyotes killed all the deer some believe with the Herd being in a reduction phase the DNR would CLOSE the season ,there's too many deer around for them to be much of a problem IMO

[darinfry]

I see several foxes around my house while deer hunting. My wife even got video one night of one bold enough to come up on our back deck eating out of the cats' food bowl. I've hunted/trapped foxes in the past but while deer hunting I give them a pass.

[esshup]

Billy, you can use more tools to shoot coyotes than you can use to shoot deer. They can also be trapped. Coyotes will displace some of the fox in the area when they move in.

[parrothead]

I have a red fox that I see every weekend. I wont shoot him. He is a beautiful animal.

[sakorifle]

oh that is strange, more choice of tools, been looking it up it does not seem any problem getting a bow into the USA
but the 308 is a different story, but i am still researching it.
thanks
regards
Billy

[bullseye69]

Nov 4, 2015 12:49:02 GMT -5 sakorifle said:

oh that is strange, more choice of tools, been looking it up it does not seem any problem getting a bow into the USA
but the 308 is a different story, but i am still researching it.
thanks
regards
Billy

Just rent one when you get here!
That or borrow one from some one here already.

[trapperdave]

You can use anything you want on coyotes. From a rock to .50 BMG and beyond.

[esshup]

Billy, if you come over here I'm sure there is someone that will let you use their rifle. I don't think you would be able to use your moderator over here.