Is anyone aware of grey fox here in the UP? I live near iron mountain as far as location goes. I’m in real wet, wooded areas, with tons of deadfall and thick brush. From what I’ve read this appears to be perfect habitat, but wondering if any know of actual populations. Unfortunately I have not been able to do extensive scouting, so I haven’t seen much actual sign. I would love to know if they’re around, even if I don’t catch any.

You never know we have a pocket of them here right on the edge of town, seen 2 road killed ones in the last 30 years one was a female that had pupped.

when I targeted fox back a few years now , I got 57 reds and 56 grays , that year . So yes there was grays in the U P , now I have not got any in a few years

Back in the '70" s,contrary to what the DNR now says,we never had any here.I remember the big news that a grey had been caught in the eastern end of the U.P. And it turned out to be a silver fox.That was in the early '80's.Asa Lenon once told me his dad,who had been a govt trapper and a life long trapper in the U.P. Never caught one.In the early '90's they started showing up here in the southern U.P.I've seen them as far north as Munising.They made a big splash when they arrived and then disappeared,I haven't seen one here now in years.Their track is more rounded and smaller than a red,they resemble a large house cat.Because your in perfect habitat doesn't mean you'll have any.I've always found it puzzling how they came out of nowhere,seemed to be everywhere,then disappeared .You're best bet is to wait for the first snow next fall and then start walking the habitat looking for tracks.

I live in The Eastern U.P. ( Mackinac County) and we saw our first one last summer. It was in our yard and we saw it several times.

Okay. I’ll scout more extensively this season, I have about 200 acres I can trap on as of now. I know that “good” habitat doesn’t mean that there are actual populations. Thank you for your time and your input.

Ours here in my area, near Houghton Lake, appeared in a short time, being unheard of forever, to thicker than Reds in about 5 years time. We still have a slight few, but they are not anywhere near the numbers we had 15-18 years ago. There were none here at all until the about the late 80's or so. When I was a kid trapping fox during the late 60's-early 70's, there were a very few in the areas along Ohio and Indiana, but non even as far north as Montcalm County or the Mt. Pleasant area. In the mid 90's I was turkey hunting in Menominee Co. with a friend. He had one run across the road in front of him near Dagget. We told the local DNR officer and he responded "Oh yeah, we have all colors here, red, cross, black......" I remember thinking at the time that he didn't realize I was talking about the species Gray, and not the color. I have known several officers that were not real wildlife/woodsman savvy.

Kinda makes me wonder what qualifications for becoming a conservation officer are...because some of them seem to have no idea what they’re talking about. Perhaps in the future I’ll look into it, Lord knows the DNR could use more people with at least some experience with how things work

Bet it would be a tough road for them up there with all the predators they have... wolves, coyotes cats and Fishers. Somebody trying to get you every time you turn the corner...Lol

^^^^^^^For trapping UP Pretty ignorant statement, how many do you know personally? I know a couple real well and they are a wealth of information and dang fine outdoorsmen themselves.

Have seen a few grays in the last couple of years, not as many as 7- or 8 years ago though.



Gonna have to agree with Midlander, the COs I've had contact with have been pretty well informed, easy to talk to, and have given me several tips, on beaver locations, and where they have seen yotes crossing roads and 2 tracks.

I apologize. You’re correct, I don’t know them all. I should have better knowledge before making a remark about the entirety. A portion of the CO’s I have talked to and heard tell of do fit, but I did not intend to include all CO’s in my comment.

I retract my statement, and I hope that this doesn’t become an issue.

It's been along time since I have caught a Grey here. But not to many miles from me there were quite a few caught this past season.

Ive heard the term "calico fox" more than once up here.I also found them more aggressive than reds,one time I had one on a drag that leaped at me and grabbed the barrel of my pistol in its mouth

I’ve heard that they are far more aggressive than reds, just more incentive for me to not be stupid