How to attract the fox in subfreezing temps?

[Bear Foot Farm]

It's hard to get a fox to go into a live trap unless it's large enough so they can just walk right in.
The bird being frozen won't keep him from smelling it.

If you are seeing it on a regular basis, set up a backstop and bait it to an area where it's safe to shoot

 

[swampcat]

Come to find out the neighbor diagonally across the road said the fox has a den under his shed. He won't shoot it unless it has one of his chickens in its mouth. I want to stake out the area, but I can't shoot across the road. I'm thinking of getting a distressed rabbit call and try to lure him in my yard so I can dispatch him. The only thing I caught with the sardines and the carcass was my cat

 

[aprophet]

A gland type lure will work, my favorite is Minnesota Trapline Products "gusto". It's a strong, skunky lure generally designed for fisher and marten trapping but I've found it really gets a canine's attention also. Use very sparingly, a tiny dab goes a long ways. Great for mean spirited practical jokes, DONT get any on you!

A bigger problem you might be having is that canines have a natural aversion to entering enclosed spaces other than natural burrows. Even those they are pretty skittish about. They can be trapped in box traps but it's much more difficult than a dirt hole or flat set with a double staked # 1 1/2 or 2 coilspring foothold.

I'd just use a shotgun with #4 shot. When fired at ground level that won't carry more than 100yards max. Plenty of power to dump a fox.

For your box trap I'd set it along a wall or brushpile or some natural edge where the fox is already moving. Camouflage the trap with loose grass, brush or something. Be careful not to get any of your scent on it. Wear rubber boots and gloves.

X2 google red fox cage trap drift fencing the top coupla links have some good info A fellow named Russ Carmen makes a lure called "canine call " it is my go to lure in colder weather another fellow named Asa Lennons makes good lure as well steel traps are much easier and quicker to capture a red fox greys are trapped in cages fairly easy I just caught one about 2 weeks ago in a subdivision