My first Fox Squirrel

[slugshooter]

Well, I went deer hunting this morning and ended up taking my first fox squirrel. I didn't bother taking the tree stand today because I got a late start (slept in) so I figured I would walk around an area that I am used to. Before I left I told Kari that if I didn't see any deer I was going to try and take a fox squirrel that I knew inhabited a certain area. I took my IC choke and some 12ga game load shells so I could switch out my rifled choke and slugs if need be. At about 11am I figured I'd give up on the deer and go after that fox squirrel. I grabbed the stuff I needed and figured I would wait to switch out in case I came up on a deer. About halfway where I needed to be I saw the squirrel scampering on the ground to get up a tree. I switched the choke and loaded up the game loads and went to where I saw him and rested up against a tree. After about 10 minutes I got up and he was about 40 feet up the next tree trying to get away. After a couple shots he was on the ground. I am going to have it stuffed, because it is rare you see one around here. His tail was 16 inches and overall he was 26 inches.

[buckee]

Thats pretty cool Marc. I've never seen one of those Fox squirrels in the wild before.
2 shots eh ....Hmmmmm

He'll make a great mount

[lilbuckmaster]

Congrats on your first fox squirrel.
But I must say I haven't seen one either.

[Gator]

Marc, is that the same as the gray/red fox squirrels you may see occasionally in Florida?

[Tominator]

We have tons of fox squirrel around here. I must say, I've never seen one that color before. The tail looks like a fox, but the rest looks kind of a like a gray.

Either way, congrats.

[slugshooter]

Marc, is that the same as the gray/red fox squirrels you may see occasionally in Florida?

I'm not sure. I had never heard of them until I started hunting up here. May be from the same species or family.

[slugshooter]

We have tons of fox squirrel around here. I must say, I've never seen one that color before. The tail looks like a fox, but the rest looks kind of a like a gray.

Either way, congrats.

I was doing some research on them here in this area, because previously I had only seem a pair a few years ago that were mostly black with whit faces. They also come in the gray color like mine is. The taxidermist who is from Michigan had never seen them before coming here. He is currently working a mostly black one as mentioned earlier. He liked mine better though. The taxidermist I found is cool though, he works out of his garage as a side job but gets a lot of work. I found out when I dropped off that most of the mounts in the new Gander Mtn. here are his work. Here's his website. www.outdoorpassionstaxidermy.com If we were staying here permanently I would use him for everything.

[Deb]

Beautiful squirrel! Saw a couple like that in GA, but was carrying the 30-06. In Ohio, they are a rusty brown color.

[The Kid]

are fox squirrle are red in michigan, i wished they looked like that though

[arrow32]

Congrats on the squirrel!!


Round here them things are red and there tons.

[Leo]

Where I used to hunt them in Alabama there were all three color phases. Red, Black and "Salt and Pepper" gray (like yours).

They absolutely prefer mature growth pine woods the most. They are primarily pine cone eaters and will leave piles of "cone cobs" where they are feasting.

They are a lot of fun to hunt with a scoped 22. They are pattern able like whitetails and good sized targets. Small game with a big game mentality. You gotta love them.

Some states they are protected. So check your regs before you hunt them.

[PA_Spike_King]

Thats a cool looking tree rat you have there slugshooter. The fox squirrels we have here in PA are red though. And are much bigger than their cousin the gray. Congrats.

[MallardPrincess]

Way to go!!!

[Hardwood_HD]

nice job on the squirrel! i shot one with a 15" tail last year and mounted it myself

[Bachflock]

Beautiful squirrel! I've never seen a gray phase of the fox. All red phases locally. When I went to school at Michigan State (GO GREEN!) we had black phase foxes there. They were all black with chestnut faces - pretty cool.