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Have fox squirrels become less common?

Posted on 1/26/16 at 10:48 pm
Posted by greenfin
Member since Dec 2015
123 posts
Posted on 1/26/16 at 10:48 pm
(no message)
Posted by ToulatownTiger
Louisiana
Member since Oct 2012
4597 posts
Posted on 1/26/16 at 10:57 pm to
Not at golf courses
Posted by GREENHEAD22
Member since Nov 2009
19589 posts
Posted on 1/26/16 at 11:31 pm to
Diffidently
Posted by Chuker
St George, Louisiana
Member since Nov 2015
7544 posts
Posted on 1/26/16 at 11:32 pm to
now that you mention it I haven't seen one in a while. Never had many around here in the first place though.
Posted by weisertiger
Lake Charles, LA
Member since Sep 2007
2480 posts
Posted on 1/26/16 at 11:46 pm to
Killed my first two fox squirrels ever Saturday. So no
Posted by Ppro
natchez
Member since Dec 2013
416 posts
Posted on 1/27/16 at 2:24 am to
Those Evangeline parish boys doing work.
Posted by 1234567k
Baton rouge
Member since Nov 2015
2067 posts
Posted on 1/27/16 at 4:15 am to
I think so. Rarely see them anymore
Posted by fishfighter
RIP
Member since Apr 2008
40026 posts
Posted on 1/27/16 at 4:16 am to
They are making a good come back on my place. Every morning I watch 7 that pass on a tree line in my yard. Just a couple days ago, I watched two of them getting it on making babies.

For those that want to target them, hunt the edge of the woods. They hang out there, not deep in the woods.
Posted by AthensTiger
Athens, GA
Member since Jul 2008
2977 posts
Posted on 1/27/16 at 4:36 am to
quote:

For those that want to target them, hunt the edge of the woods


Dis is for true.
Posted by kirbydawg
Dalton
Member since Dec 2015
1152 posts
Posted on 1/27/16 at 5:35 am to
They are always uncommon because they are selective on habitat. Beautiful animals, I used to take a few here and there in Georgia, but I always take it as a good sign when I see one now days and leave them alone.

They can ruin a bow hunt if the spot you in a tree because they will not shut up and let everything in the forest know you are there...
Posted by fishfighter
RIP
Member since Apr 2008
40026 posts
Posted on 1/27/16 at 5:49 am to
quote:

They can ruin a bow hunt if the spot you in a tree because they will not shut up and let everything in the forest know you are there...


They sure will stand there ground. One of my dogs chase them all the time in the yard and them suckers make some racket.
Posted by Fratigerguy
Member since Jan 2014
4743 posts
Posted on 1/27/16 at 6:47 am to
On our lease 20-25 years ago all we would kill was fox squirrels and black squirrels. Limits every day within 45 minutes or so. And all we have is deep woods, and nothing but fox squirrels. Since that time, the ratio of fox squirrels to cat squirrels has gotten way out of whack. We still kill 3-4 in a limit, but you'll have 3-4 cat squirrels too when you didn't have any years back. Black squirrels are about 1-2 every other hunt now.
Posted by REB BEER
Laffy Yet
Member since Dec 2010
16188 posts
Posted on 1/27/16 at 8:30 am to
Your woods have changed over time. Fox and cat squirrels will co-exist in the same habitat, but each has a preference. It's been a long time since I studied this in school (or even thought about it), but definitely as the habitat is altered, by maturing, logging, thinning, etc., the % of fox/cat squirrels can swing one way or the other.
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
81616 posts
Posted on 1/27/16 at 8:45 am to
quote:

Your woods have changed over time. Fox and cat squirrels will co-exist in the same habitat, but each has a preference. It's been a long time since I studied this in school (or even thought about it), but definitely as the habitat is altered, by maturing, logging, thinning, etc., the % of fox/cat squirrels can swing one way or the other.


Yup.

Cats require hollows, so in new timber, you're not going to see any. That's why Ellic had nothing but Fox squirrels for the vast majority of my life. I had never seen on there until about 12 years ago. Saw my first one at my office this year.

Cats tend to outcompete Foxes, so over time the ratio can become skewed.
Posted by Salmon
On the trails
Member since Feb 2008
83556 posts
Posted on 1/27/16 at 8:47 am to
Not on my parents property. I could kill nothing but fox squirrels if I wanted to
Posted by JoePepitone
Waffle House #1494
Member since Feb 2014
10567 posts
Posted on 1/27/16 at 8:51 am to
I see cat squirrels all the time but rarely see fox squirrels any more. It was the exact opposite when I was growing up.
Posted by Clyde Tipton
Planet Earth
Member since Dec 2007
38732 posts
Posted on 1/27/16 at 8:55 am to
Cat squirrels like bottoms, fox squirrels like big pines. That's why they are thick on golf courses.
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
81616 posts
Posted on 1/27/16 at 9:00 am to
quote:

Cat squirrels like bottoms, fox squirrels like big pines. That's why they are thick on golf courses.


You see that in uplands, but there are plenty of bottomland areas that are exclusive to Fox squirrels. Just depends on the age of the trees.
Posted by Teague
The Shoals, AL
Member since Aug 2007
21691 posts
Posted on 1/27/16 at 9:17 am to
I think my bird has caught 8 fox squirrels so far this year. It seems to depend very much on the habitat as to whether or not there are any fox squirrels.
Posted by Manchac Man
Member since Dec 2014
1508 posts
Posted on 1/27/16 at 10:22 am to
It depends on what type of fox squirrel you are talking about. There are a couple different sub species in Louisiana that are dissimilar. Some people seem to think they are all the same and it's quite the opposite.

If you are talking about the large Bachmans Fox then yes they are few and far between now due to habitat loss. Their habitat is usually old growth upland pine/hardwood mix.

If you are talking about Golden Bellied Fox then the numbers have gone down in some areas but they are still strong in areas of the delta that have hardwood timber to support them. I call this the swamp fox and one that most people relate to.

Then there is the Western Pine Woods Fox whose number have dwindled as well similar to the above mentioned Bachmans Fox. However they are still stronger in numbers compared to the Bachmans.

Overall I'd say its fair to say that fox squirrels species wide have declined. Mainly because of habitat change.
This post was edited on 1/27/16 at 10:28 am
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