Pennsylvania Game News - February 2021 - 37

D

EER SEASON had ended, and like
too many of us, I was becoming a
couch potato, having found it difficult to get " out there " when there weren't
deer to pursue. But something I'd seen on
one of my final deer hunts of the season
changed my thinking.
I'd taken out my flintlock, in search of a
deer to fill our freezer, and set up my folding turkey seat near where I'd seen a buck
bedded behind a log during rifle season. The
buck proved to be smarter than me that day,
simply slinking away after he finally stood
up. And as I waited my chance to perhaps
meet up with him again on this later date, I
heard frozen leaves rustling. To be honest,
I was expecting to see the buck. Then a red
fox came out, so close I could have reached
out and touched it. We both seemed startled,
and it took off faster than it arrived.
Thinking of foxes as generally nocturnal,
I was surprised to see one in mid-afternoon,
and my chances of seeing the fox in daylight
again didn't seem good.
But with deer season over, and fox season
still in, I decided to take my inline for a walk,
just the same.

making tracks
It was snowing and the wind was kicking
when I reached the game lands. I grabbed
my Thompson Center inline, pouring 100
grains of BlackHorn 209 powder down its
throat, then seating a 240-grain Hornady
bullet in a crushed sabot.
I hunt deer with my inline, even during
rifle season, and thought I might be a little
over-gunned for fox, but I was excited to
give it a go. I moved a little deeper into the
woods this time and sat behind a tree that
had fallen conveniently. From here I could
watch a deer trail that was grooved from
years of use.
I dusted off the log and sat there looking
at the beautiful landscape, now covered in
sparkling white. I remember being thankful
to be here. A day out here far outweighs
FEBRUARY 2021	

being cooped up in the house.
Knowing little about my chances seemed
to heighten my excitement, too, then I
caught movement out of the corner of my
eye.
There, coming up the trail, was the fox.
I was certain it was the same one I'd seen
weeks ago. I left it pass by, and waited until
it turned broadside.
The fox fell into the field of white
powder, as still as the world around me.
The adrenaline rushed through my body,
and I sat there just memorizing what had
happened, then finally pulled myself from
behind the tree and walked to the still form.
I brushed its coat and admired its long bushy
tail. I wiped the blood away with the snow
and, as I do with all animals I harvest, I sat
beside it, thankful that our paths crossed
again.
I finally, carefully, picked up the fox and
headed back to the parking lot. Mine was
the only vehicle there.
When I arrived home, I placed the fox on
our deck in the below-freezing temperature.
The taxidermist told me not to try skinning
him, just bring him in the way he was. He
was impressed with the animal when he first
saw it the next morning.
He asked if I wanted the fox's hide
tanned or a full body mount.
I pondered the question, wondering
where I'd put a full mount.
Apparently, he knew what I was thinking
and suggested, " Why don't I skin it and tan
it in a way that you can have a full mount a
later date if you ever want to. "
When he called to tell me the hide was
ready, I couldn't wait to see it. He did an
excellent job, and even left the claws intact.
Although I don't expect to hunt foxes very
often, it might be nice to have a gray-fox
hide to display alongside it. Since there are
far more reds than grays in my area, I might
need to travel to find one. But it would give
me a reason to take my rifle for a walk
through the winter woods.
37
Pennsylvania Game News - February 2021

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