This weekends hunt

bigben · November 16, 2009, 07:39:11 AM

This weekend was a hunt for the PA predator hunters association. Hunters from across the state showed to both a luncheon which was held on Saturday at a local hotel/restaurant in Renovo,pa and checkin which was south a few miles of the town of Renovo,pa. This small town is located in the middle of north central PA and has a lot of public hunting land surrounding it. Predator species include Coyote, Bobcat, Grey Fox, and Raccoon.

Here are some pictures from the event.

group pic

your 2009 northcentral hunt winner.

The lone coyote that was entered

Checkin location.

The killed critters for this years hunt.

I personally met a goal that I had set prior to this season. I have allways done decent around home calling. But I wanted to take a predator in the north central part of the state. I have had a few chances prior to this last weekend, but I finally pulled the trigger so to speak. I nailed the grey fox below on saturday night. I did have some help from some fellow ppha members that allowed me to tag along with them.

KySongDog · November 16, 2009, 08:30:29 AM

Congratulations on the fox, Ben!

Looks like you guys had a great hunt and get together.

bigben · November 16, 2009, 08:34:56 AM

thanks semp.

and I know its just a fox and some of ya might be able to kill a whole herd of em but many people have hunted in that area all weekend during this hunt and past hunts and not see anything. so I take it as a good accomplishment. anyone that can get outside their core hunting area and kill critters in a new enviroment in areas you do not have much time to scout has done good in my book.

and the pose is for foxpros online contest. but in a testament to foxpro that fx-5's horn speaker was broke and it still called in a grey fox. sounded pretty odd after I dropped it. I figured batts were dying. turns out the dang thing broke.

GunDog · November 16, 2009, 10:00:05 AM

Congrats on the Grey Ben! Looks like you fellers had a big time. How did ya break your horn? ...........

............ Really, I'm curious ..............

Yotehntr · November 16, 2009, 10:42:23 AM

Great job on the fox Ben! I've never called one in (and seen it anyway) I know their around here I've seen 'em at night but we can't night hunt here.

golfertrout · November 16, 2009, 11:08:14 AM

good job Ben

coyote101 · November 16, 2009, 11:32:19 AM

Quote from: bigben on November 16, 2009, 08:34:56 AM
..... and I know its just a fox and some of ya might be able to kill a whole herd of em .....

I wish that were so, but it isn't that way here. I've never seen one while hunting, although I did call one last year while playing around with a call at a state park. Congrats on the fox and thanks for the pictures. Looks like you guys had a great time.

Pat

alscalls · November 16, 2009, 12:11:34 PM

WTG Ben!

bigben · November 16, 2009, 12:52:24 PM

Quote from: GunDog on November 16, 2009, 10:00:05 AM
Congrats on the Grey Ben! Looks like you fellers had a big time. How did ya break your horn? ........... ............ Really, I'm curious ..............

well I am rough on my equipment. at night while walking you trip stumble and drop things ever now and then. We were walking down the road to a stand. I had my fx-5 in one of those yoters den bags and while I was re adjusting my firearm on my one shoulder my fx-5 slid off my other shoulder. which has happened a lot over the years I have owned it. It was a fx-3 in a prior life. I just picked it up and continued hunting with it. when the batts get dead on certian sounds it taxes the amplifier and starts to cutting out it seems like. so normally I just bring it back a bit and then it will stop. well I figured the batts were dead when in fact the center part of the horn speaker was broke.

HaMeR · November 16, 2009, 02:07:38 PM

Nice grey Ben. Congrats on a fine critter & the good time you all had.

FinsnFur · November 16, 2009, 05:08:43 PM

Yeah looks like a good time. Looks like fairly decent weather too with some of them walking around in short sleeves.
Thanks for sharing the pics.

bigben · November 16, 2009, 05:30:45 PM

it was absolutly perfect weather for this weekend for hunting and just being outside in general. friday afternoon I was making stands in a long sleeve shirt and a pair of jeans. saturday mornin was a bit chilly but when the sun peaked all ya needed was a long sleeve shirt again. saturday night I wore a sweatshirt the majority of the time. I think the temp when we turned in for the night was 40 deg. sunday morning I spent most of the morning on a buddies couch after hunting all day and night I did not feel like hunting anymore. sunday was 70 deg when we went through town. alot of bikes out riding. it was pretty darn hard to beat this weekend. probably one of the best weekends I have had for calling in a while let alone the knowledge that was shared during the luncheon and the checkin location. this is what a state predator hunting association is about in my book. a group of like minded individuals that just like to hunt.

bigben · November 16, 2009, 05:40:01 PM

greys are fairly simple to call in yothntr. ya just got to scout. forget about them coyotes and just call for grey fox.

I have good luck calling brushy field edges that have a small stream running through them. or calling loggin roads that cut into good area. the best sound hands down is the johnny stewert grey fox pup in distres. I have not found another sound that works better. play it higher then you would a normal animal distress call. stay ready and arm yourself with a shotgun loaded down with buckshot or BB. don't go any smaller then 5 shot if ya need too. they are pretty critters and are a blast to call. but like any predator they need to be there for you to call them.

CCP · November 16, 2009, 06:31:36 PM

Looks like a great time Ben wish I could get up there sometime. Thanks for sharing

iahntr · November 16, 2009, 07:13:12 PM

Sounds like a good time Ben.

Congratulations on the fox !

Thanks for sharin it with us.

timbertoes · November 16, 2009, 08:23:30 PM

A Texas YEEHAW! for you, Ben!

I can share your fun, I got my first fox (gray) last Sun. night.

GunDog · November 16, 2009, 10:06:08 PM

Quotewell I am rough on my equipment. at night while walking you trip stumble and drop things ever now and then

Hey Ben I understand about the stumbling buddy. When ya get in my condition it's more shake rattle and rolling man. I mainly just go ahead an fall nowadays, grin. I was curious cause I'm hunting with the same caller as you are. Thanks for the info and congrats again to ya on the grey .....