The hunting world became a little quieter last month as legendary turkey hunter Fox Haas passed away at 95 at his home in southeast Mississippi, according to Field and Stream. Born in Mobile, Alabama, in 1930, Haas was hooked on hunting from boyhood — the kind of kid who would ride his bike 20 or 30 miles just to get into the woods. He killed his first turkey at 14 and went on to harvest one every year for 75 seasons, missing only two years while battling tuberculosis. Beyond his impressive streak, Haas played a meaningful role in wild turkey conservation during the 1970s, encouraging the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks to reintroduce turkeys near his home in West Point. Those birds flourished and later helped repopulate other parts of the state where numbers were still struggling.
Haas also passed his love for the outdoors on to his son, Toxey Haas, founder of Mossy Oak, eventually joining the company full-time after retirement. In 2023, Mossy Oak honored him with the limited-edition “Mr. Fox” turkey vest, with one auctioned at the National Wild Turkey Federation Convention for over $30,000 to benefit conservation efforts — a fitting tribute to a man who believed deeply in protecting what he loved. Remembered as both a passionate hunter and a dedicated conservationist, Haas leaves behind a legacy that will echo through spring woods for generations to come.
Photos via Mossy Oak
