I've got this sly red fox here at the ranch that has been playing the mayhem guy from TV for several months now. The first time I witnessed the skills of this guy, it was simply amazing.
The wife an I were sitting on the back porch when he came from the chicken coop with a chicken half his size, gripped in his teeth. My wife said "look at that coyote" I looked up and said that's a fox. He ran very quickly north to the corner of a loafing pen about fifty yards from the coop, dug a hole his full body length in what seemed like ten seconds, then stuffed that chicken into the hole. I hurried inside, grabbed my 6.5x47 and set it up on the corner rail to try to get a shot at him. By the time I set up, he had already ran back to the chicken coop and snagged another one. He repeated the same procedure three more times using a different spot to burry the chickens each time. Man was this guy fast! With two fences, a riding arena, Magnolia tree and about 150 yards between the two of us, I just couldn't get him in my crosshairs. He visited the coop for the fifth time, grabbed the fifth chicken, then ran south over a ridge and no doubt feasted on the fruits of his labor somewhere far away. All this took place in about five minutes.
A little while later, the wife and I took a ride in the Ez-Go to take a look. Sure enough, there was a chicken stuffed deep in each hole, far enough so the buzzards couldn't find them. We decided to leave them in there, knowing that the fox would be back later to get them. This strategy may just save a few more chickens.
I have seen him three more times since then and each time, unable to get a good shot off. The last was this morning, 300 yards out running left to right across the back pastures. By the time I got my rifle, he was 450 yards out and still running. I took a shot hoping to get lucky. Well needless to say, I was not successful or there would be a nice picture accompanying this post.
Some may say, why don't you just put out a trap? Well I could but we have small dogs and besides, I do admire the skill and cunning of this sly little fox and will make this the fare kill that he deserves. I call it he but in actuality, it's probably a female as I have read that the males usually don't kill more than they can eat at one time.
The wife an I were sitting on the back porch when he came from the chicken coop with a chicken half his size, gripped in his teeth. My wife said "look at that coyote" I looked up and said that's a fox. He ran very quickly north to the corner of a loafing pen about fifty yards from the coop, dug a hole his full body length in what seemed like ten seconds, then stuffed that chicken into the hole. I hurried inside, grabbed my 6.5x47 and set it up on the corner rail to try to get a shot at him. By the time I set up, he had already ran back to the chicken coop and snagged another one. He repeated the same procedure three more times using a different spot to burry the chickens each time. Man was this guy fast! With two fences, a riding arena, Magnolia tree and about 150 yards between the two of us, I just couldn't get him in my crosshairs. He visited the coop for the fifth time, grabbed the fifth chicken, then ran south over a ridge and no doubt feasted on the fruits of his labor somewhere far away. All this took place in about five minutes.
A little while later, the wife and I took a ride in the Ez-Go to take a look. Sure enough, there was a chicken stuffed deep in each hole, far enough so the buzzards couldn't find them. We decided to leave them in there, knowing that the fox would be back later to get them. This strategy may just save a few more chickens.
I have seen him three more times since then and each time, unable to get a good shot off. The last was this morning, 300 yards out running left to right across the back pastures. By the time I got my rifle, he was 450 yards out and still running. I took a shot hoping to get lucky. Well needless to say, I was not successful or there would be a nice picture accompanying this post.
Some may say, why don't you just put out a trap? Well I could but we have small dogs and besides, I do admire the skill and cunning of this sly little fox and will make this the fare kill that he deserves. I call it he but in actuality, it's probably a female as I have read that the males usually don't kill more than they can eat at one time.
