chef#1

I AM 45 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN HUNTING SINCE I WAS 12. I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE IS A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING.

I WAS HUNTING LAST NIGHT. AS I HAVE POSTED EARLIER THERE ARE ALWAYS 6 TO 12 DOES AROUND ME ALL THE TIME. LAST NIGHT THERE WERE NONE. STRANGE I THOUGHT, UNTIL I SAW WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM. THERE WERE TWO FOXES HANGING AROUND THE CORN.

WELL THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEARD THIS BIG CRASH COMMING THROUGH THE TREES. HOLY @#$T. THERE STOOD THE BIGGEST BUCK THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN IN ALL MY YEARS HUNTING. HE WAS STANDING 5 FEET FROM ME(AS I WAS HUNTING IN A GROUND BLIND). HE WAS SLOWLY MAKING HIS WAY TO THE CORN. I WAS HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING CALM. I TRIED TO COUNT HIS RACK BUT WAS TOO NERVOUS. I THINK I STOPPED AT 12 , AND THERE WERE STILL MORE.

WELL AS I WAS TRYING TO PICK UP MY BOW WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED? OUT CAME A FOX. AND MR. BIG BOY WAS GONE IN A FLASH. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ME MAKING TO MUCH NOISE, BUT I NOTICED THAT THE BUCK NEVER LOOKED BACK AT ME. HE LOOKED TO THE SIDE THEN WAS GONE IN A SECOND.

HERES MY QUESTION - DO YOU THINK THAT THIS MATURE BUCK WAS RUN OFF BY THE FOX OR DO YOU THINK HE JUST NEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG? DO YOU BELEIVE THAT THE MATURE BUCK HAD A PERCEPTION THAT SOMETHING IS JUST NOT RIGHT. I DO NOT KNOW. AND THE BIG QUESTION IS - DO YOU THINK THAT HE WILL BE BACK?

THERE IS ONE THING THAT I LEARNED OUT OF THIS WHOLE SITUATION -- YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN SO ALWAYS BE READY. DO NOT BE STUPID LIKE ME AND NOT HAVE YOUR BOW IN HAND DURING THE CRITICAL TIME PERIODS. I COULD JUST KICK MYSELF.

OH WELL AHY THOUGHTS WOULD BE WELCOME

HUNT ON HUNT HARD AND EAT WELL

Tree climber

deer in my area will spook at a fox.I think they don't know if it is a fox or coyote. he will be back. another animal doesn't sacre them away like a hunter.
I had the same problem last year,fox and coons eating my feed.also on several hunts the fox would scare the deer.

so last year I started trapping. I removed somewhere around 15 fox,20 coons,14 possums,and 3 wild house cats.

I have a lots more feed for the deer now. you my want to trap some and move them or sell them if it is legal in your area. we can't sell the fox,so we move them.

I am not a hunter I am a whitetail population reduction specialest

remember keep your back to the sun, your knife sharp, and your powder dry.

Air Master

Chef,

I had a similiar experience about two weeks ago. I was watching deer for 3 weeks prior entering a field in the same spot at roughly the same time. This is everyday for three weeks? The evening I decided to hunt this entrance, I was surprised by a fox with about 30 minutes left of light? He came within three yards of my stand and sat down to lick himself! Guess what, didn't see the deer that night? In my opinion, these predators are in the same class as coyotes so "yes" they spook deer! Tough luck, catch that big fella during the rut!

Air Master in KY

Sean P. McNierney
Berea, KY

Paul L Mohr

I had the understanding that foxes did not bother deer at all. As a matter of fact I was told that deer liked it when foxes were around and it was common to see both. The thinking being that foxes are more weary than deer, so if there are foxes around everything must be alright to the deer. That is why Red Fox urine is so popular for cover scent. You would not want to cover scent with something that would scare deer away.

I am not stating anything as fact here, just what I was told by other hunters in Michigan where I live. This is only my second year hunting, I am for sure no expert on the subject.

Paul

titleist

That was my understanding on fox too. I heard that they pose no threat to deer. Good question.... why have cover scent of something deer are afraid?? #$%&* let's get this straight while I have my receipts handy...lol. what does everyone else think? And mr. big buck must feel pretty cozy to be wandering around that part of the woods where your ground blind is. He'll be back !!!

deerdust

Well, I have never used the fox urine as a cover scent, but you would think that it would not scare them off. I always use coon urine and I know that it does not scare them off or the foxes. Last year I had two foxes come within 6 ft of me in my cedar blind, they never new I was there(a human that is).
If Mr. Bucko feeds at the cornfield, he will be back. You just need to be sure and be there when he returns. (and be ready)<img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

The best of luck in all your hunting endeavors!!!

God Bless,
Dave

wimp

On a couple occasions I've seen deer and fox encounters. The deer pretty much kept an eye to the fox but never ran or was scared off. Good luck getting mr big boy.

Some things are true whether you believe them or not.

fletchdp

chef#1, I don't have the answer to your question but &quot;I'D BE PUMPED&quot;..

Good Luck All....Fletch

121553

I have never known foxes to hunt in packs such as coyotoes, wolves and feral wild dogs, but they are rather a solitary canine. A few years back I had a fox come by my treestand every evening like clock work, just as it left by my stand on this one occasion out comes 5 or 6 does and a descent 3x3. Bamb!!!! Go out there and hunt that bad boy and keep us posted. Chef#1, I have 4 yrs on you and have been bow hunting since 69', if you ever get them figured out, let me know and good luck.

propmahn

I've been trying to leave the bucks alone in our area as they outnumber the does by quite a margin, but if a 12+ pointer came along i might have to change my rules

propmahn
you can never have too many guns