How to increase Fox population
#6899760
06/14/20 09:41 PM
06/14/20 09:41 PM
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 280 New York
Short Track
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 280
New York
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If I only take Males, will that increase the Fox population? I like having them around... they eat all the horse barn rats. I like trapping them too. I know they mate for life, if I take a male, will another mail replace it ??
Just a weekend trapper...
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Re: How to increase Fox population
[Re: Short Track]
#6899954
06/15/20 06:26 AM
06/15/20 06:26 AM
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 7,213 W NY
Turtledale
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 7,213
W NY
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Wet dog hit the nail on the head for me. I took as many fox as I could the last two years on my line ( I have a good craft maker outlet for them) and I've seen more pups and the biggest litters than I've ever seen before. What is up in the air though is the question. Will the coyotes just have an easy feast of yearling fox?
NYSTA, NTA, FTA, life member Erie county trappers assn.,life member Catt.county trappers
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Re: How to increase Fox population
[Re: Short Track]
#6900195
06/15/20 01:28 PM
06/15/20 01:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 280 New York
Short Track
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 280
New York
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We don't have Coyote's... In fact, my Fox population has no predator's.. They are top of the food chain around here. I'd just like to see more of them...
Just a weekend trapper...
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Re: How to increase Fox population
[Re: Short Track]
#6900249
06/15/20 02:53 PM
06/15/20 02:53 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,738 Iowa
coydog2
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,738
Iowa
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We don't have Coyote's... In fact, my Fox population has no predator's.. They are top of the food chain around here. I'd just like to see more of them... Just manage them then . around me the coyotes do a job on the fox when I was able to manage the coyotes year ago I was able to have the red fox show up more.
Life member of DAV,NTA,NRA,ITA.Also member of FTA,CBA
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Re: How to increase Fox population
[Re: Short Track]
#6901314
06/16/20 06:04 PM
06/16/20 06:04 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,717 Maine
Mac
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,717
Maine
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We don't have Coyote's... In fact, my Fox population has no predator's.. They are top of the food chain around here. I'd just like to see more of them... Most guys never ever think about farming their line. During prices like this, one can easily watch over their line. Try backing off your catch if your really interested in having more fox. Our fox have started to come back. Coyotes about ruined the fox trapping. Two seasons ago there was a farm I was on that had a litter of reds. Probably could have taken 4, 5 or 6. I stopped at two. Not every body has PB golden fox country where they just keep coming. Just like with fisher, use a bit of restraint. It may mean not trapping the entire season in an area but only five days. Spend some effort in the winter putting out some feed where you have some foxes. Help them out. You cannot help them out if you take everyone. Just a couple ideas. Mac
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Re: How to increase Fox population
[Re: Short Track]
#6901402
06/16/20 07:40 PM
06/16/20 07:40 PM
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Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 829 NE NE
Wife
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 829
NE NE
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Food, Cover and Water. Repeat--- Food, Cover and Water. That is the basis for all wildlife populations to survive and continue. Your (Everyone's) local fox population yearly densities (#'s per acre, per mile, per county etc.) were the highest about 8 weeks ago as the litters were being born. Now they (#'s) are slowly being reduced daily by the struggle to survive. That is Bio. 101..................... How do you keep that harvest # higher for for a fall/winter removal???? Kind of tough with so many factors playing against the "fox crop" but here is the way science looks at it. If you want the potential for more animals you need to focus on the one or more of those 3 parameters that is limiting your production. Assuming you can positively influence one or all 3 with what you have you then can fine tune your focus on reducing predators (removing coyotes) and possibly (I said possibly) limiting harvest. The best example is ----- If you want more pheasants you increase the the nesting COVER so more babes get born. Maybe you can or can't increase denning sites for the fox in your area (I'm talking county wide now not just the few farms most folks trap on)...... So -------------- you search for another "helpful" avenue (I am old enough to have bountied fox) to increase those #'s . An animal with the roaming instinct and range that a fox has (as shown through research) will have no trouble emigrating (out) of high pop. areas and immigrating (in) to areas of suitable/good HABITAT. The K factor (Carrying Capacity) will be solely dependent on that quality of F,C, and Water. But your yearly harvestable "Crop" will be based on the yearly environmental exposures. So K's and populations don't always jive. Those pop. #'s can be way above or below the K. Yearly fluctuations are bettered buffered by the Higher Quality of the K though....... Floods, droughts, winter stress, hail, diseases, predation, land use etc. all factor into that yearly "Crop".... Here in NE our fox will "pup" alongside highways, by cemeteries, edge of towns, golf courses etc. anywhere the coyotes don't like to hang out. We have a high enough badger population (the den makers) and food base to have a lot larger fox K and higher yearly pop. but the inter-specific competition with the coyote limits the actual yearly #'s. So when coyote prices go to 6.00 for a gorgeous fully prime North Dakota/Montana pale, and we get over-run with yotes, remember that competition thing if you want to "help" the fox #'s................... the mike
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