The ultimate airgun quarry in my backyard!!

[only1harry]

It was one of the coldest nights of the winter last night, -2F w/the windchill.  

It's 12:40am and the Ding Donger is going off like crazy, without stopping.  I 'm thinking that's weird, the last time the Ding Donger sounded like that without pausing was when I had 2 to 3 raccoons at the bait site last year.  I get out of bed and go to the other room where I had closed the window I snipe from only 1hr earlier!  The 25-30mph winds and the sub-freezing temps and the wife had forced me to shut it.  

With the moonlight reflecting off the snow covered ground I can make out an unusually large silhuette at the bait site 18yds out.  I shine the Mag Lite through the glass and it's a large animal with a very large head and pointy ears.  Could only be 1 out of animals!  The light got distorted going through the glass.  At first I thought it was a Coyote but I was able to identify the intruder as a very large red fox!  It was probably the one I caught a very quick glimse of last winter but was not sure, because it had just walked off the flood light's range when I looked outside and thought I saw a large bushy tail.  This now explains the dog-like tracks I saw in the snow a couple of weeks ago and last winter.  

I back off the window and go to the gun room.  I get the Condor .25 out and load a 31gr Kodiak.  I slowly enter the other room again and now comes the tasd of opening that noisy old window.  The fox is still there a minute later eating the dry cat food!  I start opening the window and there was some noise where the wooden frame had to make it past the wooden sill.  I froze.  Fox still there!  I now slowly push the window up from the side so the fox can't see me in case she looks up.  I stop half way up and she is still there.  I need more clearance for the big scope.  I push it almost all the way up but this took another 15secs or so. I put my "lucky" small pillow on the sill and get into position.  I click the button on the gun light and I think the fox heard the little "click"!  She just turns around and starts walking away casually!  Dang!  Normally I 'd put the gun light on in another room but forgot!  I was so careful I did not make any sounds at all and the flashlight switch probably blew my chances!  Usually I 'd have the window open with a pillow there and all I have to do is just rest the tun on it and my target is dead within 10secs of me entering the "sniper's room".  This time I wasted 2 whole minutes which proved to be too much for the overly nervous fox.  I was surprised at the size of this red fox.  It had very tall legs and an enormous head.  Beautiful tail too and a very nice reddish full coat.
 
I hope she doesn't wait another year to visit!  It looked like she knew her way around my property and I 'm sure she had been here before.  Tonight I 'm going to put out fried chicken, but some dog food this time, more cat food, and anything else I got in the house!    I want this fox really bad, and I want to get it mounted in my living room!  I see foxes crossing the road regularly about 0.5-1mi. from here but they didn't seem that big.  This one for some reason looked like the size of a coyote, probably because of the proximity and I 'm used to seeing cats and skunks at the bowl outside.  I hope I identified the predator properly because I only shined the Mag light on it for maybe 2secs. Didn't want to scare it.  As I watched it walk away under the moon light, it started looking more like coyote-sized to me but I 'm pretty sure it was a fox.  You can imagine my disappointment.  I was all ready in position with the .25cal 31gr Kodiak loaded that was ready to leave the muzzle at 1,050+fps from a very accurate PCP.  This predator did not stand a chance.
Needless to say I could not fall asleep for another hour or 2 twisting and turning thinking of that rare predator in my backyard that was almost in my sights and which I probably missed by a few seconds (or screwed up with the light switch sound) messing with the window.  I also almost caughed because I 'm recovering from a cold and delayed opening the window.  I held the caugh in (very hard to do btw, hehe) which took a few more precious seconds.  This was one lucky fox but the whole incident also gave me confidence that I am doing everything right and that I beat their super-hearing sense by getting that far.  The coons last year were no problem, but I thought this fox that I knew had been coming around, was invincible and could hear me getting out of bed or the Ding Donger going off (which is always muffled).  Tonight and until the end of the hunting season that window stays OPEN all night, regarldess of the heating bill!! hehehe.  Only thing left to do is find a way for the wife to stop giving me a hard time about leaving the dang window open which is in another room with the door closed, so I dont' see the problem..    

[dk1677]

Great story Harry! Next time you will get him!

[only1harry]

I 've been thinking about this encounter all day (hehe, came so close to harvesting that predator) and the more I think about it, the more I am trying to convince myself that it was not a Coyote.  

I regret putting the MAG flashlight on it for only 1-2secs in fear of scaring it or giving my position away.  This animal was about 2ft tall at the mouth and it seemed like at least 18" tall at its back, and cannot help but thinking if it were a young coyote.  I didn't think foxes got that big, but I it looked like it had a reddish head but a greyish/red body, and since it was facing me I did not see much of its body really or clearly, just the top of its back.  Only after my eyes got used to the dark and with the moon light, I watched it walk away for about 35-40ys (I turned the gun light off immediately after turning it on because I didn't want it to turn and look at my position), and used several points of reference like tree stumps in my backyard, fallen limbs, my patio, fence, etc . to estimate its dimensions.  It dwarfed any raccoon I have shot or seen in height and in length.  The tail looked full and fluffy in the dark.

It just seemed unusually tall for a fox and pretty long, but still not the size of an adult Coyote.  I have seen hundreds of foxes over the last 35 or so years, not only through a car's windshield but many of them while I am outside at work when I work late (which is very often for more than a decade).  The foxes will walk by about 40-45yds from me where I take a smoke break.  We also spot Coyotes running across the big well lit parking lot every couple of months or along the fence where the parking lot ends  120yds out.  My company is surrounded by a lot of woods and the railroad runs at the edge of the parking lot so it's all railroad property with no other buildings or structures.  Foxes will also run along the same fence to go in and out of the woods through the same opening in the fence that the coyotes use.  So what I have observed is that the Coyotes are about twice the size of the foxes.  This is why I thought this animal in my backyard was a little too big for a fox..  I guess I will visit Wekipidia to see if they list the height, length, etc.  Maybe it's just a big male fox.  Hopefully we 'll know soon enough when it's head is in the Condor's sights  

[jake]

that stinks you didnt get a shot at the fox, but man that must have been a cool sight! i think your condor would put that fox down instantly. good luck tonight!

[longislandhunter]

Whatever it was you certainly had an exciting encounter Harry  

If it found your food bowl once no reason it shouldn't fine it again....  If it really is a fox perhaps you might want to pick yourself up one of those "wounded rabbit squealer  calls' , that would even make it more exciting.... I've never used one before but supposedly they work... I'm sure one of the other members has used em before....

Keep us posted Harry,,,, this is exciting,,, I'd love you see you get a fox or a yote  

Jeff

[shadow]

Like any predator their always looking for a easy meal and he may visit you again buddy. Must of been a rub your eyes in disbelief look as you peered out your window and spotted him hehe.   Hope he visit's you again Harry, would make for a fine trophy. Ed

[longislandhunter]

Yeah Harry,,,,, if you nail a fox you HAVE to get a full body mount  

Jeff

[airiscool]

Harry,

Next time one trys to 'walk' away, try doing a lip squeek. Guy in my gun club who hunts them says it will freeze them and get them to turn their head back toward you for a head shot.

Window/gun port.
Try folding a thick blanket, or quilt the width of the window frame, then roll it up.

 Loosly close the window sash down onto the blanket roll so it just stays in the window frame, but at a height that clears the scope. It will keep the cold air out, the house noise in, and that much less window to be seen from when you crouch behind it  when a critter shows up.

When you need to shoot, the blanket can be silently moved aside to poke the gun out the window making a smaller, less visable to the critter, sized opening.

Paul.

[only1harry]

Thanks for the good luck wishes guys.

Paul, I have tried that many times with a large towel and blanket, but I always have to push the window up several more inches to clear the scope.  I have quieted down the window a lot the last couple of years but it still makes some noise, enough for a fox with excellent hearing to detect it.  But I was lucky the wind was howling last night and I don't think she heard it.  I think it was the clicking sound of the gun light switch (no pressure switch) or she just had enough to eat or felt she overstayed her welcome.  She was nervous raising her head and looking around every couple of secs.  I also have the tall mounts plus the tri-rail on the Condor which adds height.  They are a must on the Talon/Condor because the tank where your cheeck goes is kind of low and straight.  It's nothing like a raised cheeckpiece on a Springer with a wooden stock.  I will definitely go back to the blanket trick so that I don't have to push the window up the entire length.  I have to push it all the way up because I like to rest my hand on something soft like a small pillow instead of the outside aluminum window frame.  I then still only have about 2" of clearance from the top believe it or not, so the window must go all the way up.

I took a good lood at the tracks in the snow this morning before I went to work and sort of memorized them.  I 'll look them on the web just to discount that it was a yote.  They are the same ones I saw a month or so ago, and last winter '08-09, so this animal has been here before, just not too often.  I think my chances of seeing it sooner than later, is if the weather stays as is, very cold.  That's when it's harder for them to find "live" food.  Hopefully it will be consistent and keep the same pattern and come after midnight again cause I usually just turn off the Ding Donger after 1 or 2am.  Too tired to get out of bed, but you can bet I am going to think twice about turning over and going back to sleep now  I am also going to have the Condor loaded (but not cocked) like I did last season with the coons.  It saves me a few precious seconds looking for the pellet in the dark and loading it.  As far as the window goes, I think it's going to stay wide open all night from now on until end of Feb. no matter how much the wife complains!!  hehehe  

[airiscool]

Get a bigger quilt !  Work with me here, I'm tryin' to help ya !!!!

You can also use a bunch of push-pins to hold several layers of towel/blanket over the window opening. Put the pins in position so that removing just a few pins lets you put the gun out a narrower opening.

Or, if you realy want to do it up, make up a board to close the window on and put a drop-down door in the board with (oiled) hinges at the bottom of the door. Put a wooden  'turn button' at the top of the door to keep it closed against a piece of stop trim. And hardware store felt weather stripping around the edges of the board so it seals out drafts at the window frame.

Paint it and leave it in the window - you'll have a weather-proof gun slit.


Paul.

[atchman2]

I can't wait to see the fox mounted!  I'm not sure physically they are any harder to kill than a big raccoon.  The ones here are pretty small.  Wiki says that a big one is 17 pounds.  I know I've seen raccoons over 17 pounds before.  

There was one living in my yard for a long time!  It was a grey fox and it lived in a big bush.  It would flush when I mowed near it

[Furseeker]

Harry I'm sure you'll keep us all informed of your next encounter with this critter. Try this if you want to get his attention. Go to the pet store and buy one of those squeaky chew toys they sell for dogs. Tear it apart and get the squeaker out and use that to get it's attention. I've hunted coyotes and foxes for years and have one of these squeakers on all my varmit rifles. I have them taped to the fore arm of each rifle. When coyotes or foxes are coming to the call I hit it a few times with my thumb and they will usually check up and stand still for a second. When I hunt with a buddy he watches one direction and I face the other way, as soon as one of hears the squeaker the other one knows something is close. Foxes will often just sit down and stare in the direction of the noise. I've got hundreds of dollars tieed up in all kinds of varmit call, everything from electronic calls to mouth calls. But the cheap squeakers go with me everytime I'm in the field with a gun. Give it a try and let me know how it works for you. And good luck getting that critter.

[only1harry]

Paul, it sounds like I need to hire a carpenter or a construction crew for that job  Thanks for the suggestion!  That's quite innovating.  I still think my method is the easiest.  It worked last year for many raccoons and possums and a few possums this year.  I just leave the window wide open with a pillow on top.  All I have to do is walk into the room, rest the rifle on the pillow and shoot.  I want to shoot fast.  These critters don't hang around long.  The average time a racoon(s)  hung around last year was about 1min.  Same with possum.  I think the proximity to the house (usually the bait station is 17.5 to 22.5yds out) makes them nervous and they don't hang around long.  I don't want to have to open anything or remove anything.  Being able to walk into the room quietly and point the gun out the window and shoot has worked very well in the past.

Dave:
Thanks for the suggestion.  I will keep that in mind when I am hunting predators on state land.  I am not sure that will work in my situation though.  That may work well out in the "field" to draw them in.  With me, the fox is already here and eating.  The animal is very nervous and looks around after every mouthful while it's chewing.  At one point it looked like it was going to bolt, when there was a noise down the road coming from another house..  If I squeezed something or made a noise, I know it would take off, or at least look at my direction, at which point I have just given away my elevated/secret position.  They hardly look up to a 2nd floor window unless there is some kind of noise, and at that distance, it can pin point exactly where it came from.  I had a couple of raccoon look up straight at me when I hit the light switch.  Sometimes they take off, sometimes they just look straight into the light (and you CANNOT move during this) and go back to eating.  It's a crapshoot if you make a noise with the coons but 1 click of the gun light usually does not deter the coons from going back to feeding, but this fox has been very elusive and I know has better hearing than the coons.  It bolts at the slightest noise, as it did when I pushed the light switch in, which was a complete screw up on my end,  because I forgot to turn the light on in the other room.  I still insist the best method when a night critter is in your backyard, is to be absolutely QUIET and just squeeze the trigger.  When I get into this room, the light on the gun is already on, the gun is cocked & loaded, and the safety is off, and the A/O and magnification pre-set.  All I do is rest the gun on the window sill, acquire my target in the scope, then squeeze.. result: dead critter.  

This fox hung around for almost 2min.  She would have been dead 1min. 30secs before had I not closed the window earlier because it was -2 deg with the wind blowing.  It's a great location.  The window I use is always downwind and whenever I shoot I can always feel the wind hitting me in the face, so I know the critters can't smell me.  The way I see it, the last thing I need is to make noise or remove additional items or build things around the window that need "oiling".  I don't want to waste any time.  I want to get them on my crosshairs very quickly and shoot.  Many times a passing car scares them.  It's all about speed and how well you are prepared to shoot FAST.  Sometimes with steak, turkey, or chicken leftovers, they 'll hang for 20 secs. and then run off with a bone or 2 in their mouth or a large piece of skin, etc. usually by the time I get to the window with the gun.  It does take me about 30secs to load the gun in another room and get into position quietly.  I have gotten many night critters this way, so I 'm pretty sure I 'm doing it right.  If the fox returns, I am confident I can get her next time if I don't walk into anything or hit the window sill or something with the 45" long Condor.  It is quite dark in the room but I 've learned my way around it well and have cleared a large area from the door to the window.  Been doing this night pesting a couple of years guys, so trust me, if this fox returns and the window is UP, 95% it's one dead predator in my backyard.  5% for Murphy's law

[TheKnot]

It's cold and food is scarce so theres a good chance your ding dong will be busy good luck with the fox harry .had my ding dong blaring at 6:15 this AM it was still dark but sure enough a raccoon was on some old bread and gravy that was frozen . He ran off fast before i could bead him and shoot so tonight i have pasta out for him we will see .

[only1harry]

I 've had raccoons come as late as 5:15-5:30am but never 6am.  Good luck to you too with that coon.  I don't expect the fox back any time soon.  I think it comes once or twice a month, but I am running out of time.  Only 1 month left in the season!