September, 1943 Brown & YEAGER: 
ing with that for all other fur animals, 
with control based on more _ intensive 
hunting and trapping in season, offers the 
simplest plan of management, and one 
fair to hunters and trappers alike. An 
unprotected status of the species in the 
northern and central zones may be justi- 
fied in periods of a decidedly upward trend 
in red fox populations. ‘he period for dog 
training should coincide with that recom- 
mended for coon dogs, Sept. 15 through 
Jam. 31, and for the same reason. 
Gray Fox 
The gray fox is essentially a timberland 
species, and in Illinois in the two seasons 
of the survey was found in greatest density 
in the River Bluffs and Bottoms Region, 
fig. 27, Here the calculated catch aver- 
aged 0.35 pelt per square mile in 1938-39 
and 0.42 per square mile in 1939-40, table 
14. The Northwest Hills ranked second 
in catch density, with an average of 0.29 
and 0.20 pelt per square mile in 1938-39 
and 1939-40, respectively. “The North- 
western Sand Prairie and the Glacial 
Lakes, with trace yields averaging 0.03 
and 0.01 pelt per square mile, respective- 
SURVEY OF Fur ReEsourRcE 
485 
ly, were represented only in 1938-39. The 
survey indicated that the species appeared 
in the catch only in these four regions. 
In 1938-39, the calculated catch of gray 
foxes was 4,328, worth $7,574.00; in 
1939-40, 4,889, worth $8,555.75, table 
14. Gray foxes ranked eighth in the catch 
for these two seasons, table 20. The aver- 
age price for these years of $1.75 per pelt, 
table 5, may be considered lower than 
normal. 
Popularity.—The gray fox is gener- 
ally unpopular. It lacks the sporting qual- 
ities of the red fox, and in the public mind 
it Is a serious predator on poultry and 
game. Fur-takers are indifferent because 
of the low pelt value. Of the total of 142 
opinions expressed by trappers and hunt- 
ers, 92 favored more and 50 fewer ani- 
mals. hus, the gray fox, along with the 
opossum and coyote, ranks very low in the 
estimation of Illinois fur-takers. 
Damage and Control.—The remarks 
made under this heading for the red fox 
are generally applicable to the gray fox. 
Some persons regard the gray fox more 
destructive to game, particularly forest 
game, than the red fox. 
Populations.—Vhe data at hand indi- 
Fig. 27.—The gray fox is typically a forest-inhabiting species. The foothill and river bluff 
types of Union County offer excellent range for this fox. 
