Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

All species

Beautiful fur and delicate footwork — a refined quarry for the finesse trapper.

Typical Size

8 – 15 lb

Prime Season

Dec – Feb

Overview

Red fox produce some of the most beautiful fur a trapper can take. They're wary but far more likely to investigate a set than a coyote, rewarding clean, well-located dirt-hole and flat sets on the edges of open ground.

Identification

8-15 lb slender frame with rusty-red coat
Black legs and ears with a white-tipped tail
Delicate, narrow track with a chevron in the heel pad
Prefers open, edge habitat

Habitat

Farmland, pasture edges, brushy fencerows, and the transition zones between open fields and cover. They avoid heavy coyote-dominated timber.

Field Sign

Small neat scat on elevated spots, delicate direct-register tracks, and dug-out mousing holes in field edges.

Behavior

Curious and edge-oriented, fox hunt field lines and fencerows for rodents. They investigate scent and visual attractors, making dirt-hole and flat sets deadly.

Best Sets

Dirt Hole Set

When: On field edges, fencerows, and mowed trails

Trap: #1.75 or #2 coilspring foothold with a fox gland lure

View full set instructions →

Flat Set

When: At natural scent posts like clumps and rocks

Trap: Foothold bedded beside a visual attractor

View full set instructions →

Urine Post Set

When: Along travelways

Trap: Foothold at a fresh urine-marked post

View full set instructions →

Bait & Lure

Fox gland lure and red fox urine work beautifully at a clean dirt hole. A small bit of bait plus a feather or wing for visual attraction seals the deal.

Fur Handling

Skin cased, flesh carefully (thin skin), and stretch. Comb the fur out — prime red fox fur is bright, full, and highly marketable.

Ready to run a line for red fox?

Mark your sets and trap line on the map and track every check.

Maps