Judd still craves the challenge after six decades plus of pursuing red fox

"Red fox are much easier to call at night when they no doubt feel their chances of escaping trouble are better in the dark."

-  Judd Cooney

Never had a red fox test my patience like the pair I was glassing now. I first spotted them as they emerged from a big chunk of soil bank where they had probably been hunting. They moved to the top of an adjacent ridge and bedded down. Had they bedded together on the backside of the slope, I could have walked up a creek bottom with a slight breeze in my favor, stalked to the top of the ridge slightly above them and taken my shot. Instead, one bedded 30 yards down the slope overlooking the weed patch and the larger of the pair, obviously the male, moved to the top of the ridge and bedded facing down the slope overlooking that potential approach path.

After the first hour, I made up my mind that I was going to out wait them and maybe outsmart them in the process. Breeding season had just gotten underway, and I figured if I stayed put and patient, the male might just move down and join the female. If the female moved up with him, that might blow my chances altogether.

Two and a half hours passed before the female got up, stretched and peed. It was enough to catch the male's attention and he moved down with her. A few minutes later they were bedded close together, both facing downhill. The breeze was perfect for a different stalk, and I was on my way.

I made it to a small rocky outcrop slightly above them. Both fox were apparently sound asleep by then. I lay there for 10 minutes watching through the scope, thoroughly enjoying being that close. I shot the female where she lay, figuring the male wouldn't take off quite as quickly as he did. At the crack of the rifle, he bounced up and bolted down the slope. He made the fatal mistake of stopping after 50 yards for a last look back.