Raccoons, HavaHeart, 4th Gen Night Scope

[jpalamaro]

Ok, it's war. Have tried all of the usual and have given up.

Need help and/or confirm what I already plan to do.

I live inside city limits with woods and water. I am the sole house on the street, but about 700 feet down the road is a small 17 home community. Some people there think the masked devils are 'cute', feed them, and we are plagued by a growing raccoon population.



I have a HavaHeart trap but what the hell to do with the nasty devils after catching them. Don't like poisons. Thought of mounting my 4th gen night vision scope on my 10/22 and use some subsonic .22's, but shooting inside city limits tricky. Ok, how about getting a high-quality crossbow to dispatch the little devils. Garbage day always a challenge. Have doused the sealed garbage bags with Pinesol, ammonia, little or no success.



Any ideas?



This msg will be posted on other sites to make sure it get me maximum coverage.:)

[eljeffe]

John,

If racoons are territorial (like squirrels), you will need to transport the little buggers at least 20 miles away. My pest control guy told me that territorial rodents can travel 10-15 miles to get back to their territory. Heaven knows how they know which direction to go, but he seems to know what he's talking about.

Now, another thing to try is "fox urine". That actually worked on the squirrel issue I was having. You can find a kit that includes tossable daubers and the fox urine. You soak the daubers and throw them up in your attic or areas where the little varmints congregate (in your case, around the property). The smell makes them think a predator is in the area and they move on. You need to do this at least once a week, or the scent will go away.

The local feed store was the place that had fox urine, and it's the only place I have ever known where you can walk in, ask the hot girl behind the register, "do you have fox urine", and not get a strange look.

[jpalamaro]

Jeez Jeff, fox urine or raccoons? A tough decision. Feed store, WTF is there a feed store around here. Just teasing.

I hired a guy called the "Critter Gitter" and he charges 50 bucks per haul away. 1. I never saw him haul any away 2. If he did haul any away I think he dumped them across the street 3. Got a bill for $250 bucks, I asked for verification; we settled for $125 since he so vehemently professed his 'honesty' 4. He is/was a lot bigger than I 5. I still have coons!

Maybe I need a Florida Panther as a pet.

[ddavenport]

Same theory as the fox urine but will scare the coons, I don't think they are afraid of foxes. Google it, I bought mine online in powder form.

[Dick]

Man oh Man - this thread is ripe for one-liners galore!! :p If I wuzn't working on a win streak of Spyder Solitaire, I'd git at it!!! Fox urine!? Coyote urine!?!

WTF? Who collects this stuff?? :confused: And HOW??!! :eek: They ain't gittin' paid enough!! :cool:

[JPSpen]

The only way you'll get rid of them is through the "sniper" method..

It's gonna cost you a screen though...

Open your window. Sit well inside the house and shoot them through the screen.

The house is your silencer....

I've dispatched many a varmint this way...Cruel, maybe, but what they do is just as cruel to you.....

Survival of the fittest...

Good Luck

John

[Zotter]

It's time to take off the kid gloves. Go for the intimidation.

Trap one - anyone of 'em, makes no diff. Mash it's gord, then dis-embowel the thing, but leave it all attached.

Toss the bloody, stinky mess into the back yard.

After his buddies see what's waiting - they'll leave.



What? Terrorism don't work on vermin??

[jpalamaro]

Man oh Man - this thread is ripe for one-liners galore!! :p If I wuzn't working on a win streak of Spyder Solitaire, I'd git at it!!! Fox urine!? Coyote urine!?!

WTF? Who collects this stuff?? :confused: And HOW??!! :eek: They ain't gittin' paid enough!! :cool:

Just when I was gonna go out and trap a Florida panther and try to get some panther piss Dick!!!! :) Right, who the hell collects this stuff?

[grifscoots]

I thought it was panther semen? Though jacking one off is a might tricky.

Since city limits are involved, I suggest a good pellet rifle. Them beauties are like shooting a .22.

Another thought is to trap one and eject his ornery ass onto a busy freeway.

We just haul them up to the lake and let them go. Each one we've trapped has had a different personality: timid, playful, mean...

We had an armadillo problem for awhile. Tearing up beds, uprooting plants and third worlding the landscaping. You can't trap them boogers. I finally blew him away after stalking the bastige for a year. Have Snake Charmer, will travel. He was fat, about 20 lbs worth.

Hey Dick, I'm still addicted to Spyder meself. Hate me yet?

[C. Buckman]

:rolleyes: Ok, it's war. Have tried all of the usual and have given up.

Need help and/or confirm what I already plan to do.

I live inside city limits with woods and water. I am the sole house on the street, but about 700 feet down the road is a small 17 home community. Some people there think the masked devils are 'cute', feed them, and we are plagued by a growing raccoon population.



I have a HavaHeart trap but what the hell to do with the nasty devils after catching them. Don't like poisons. Thought of mounting my 4th gen night vision scope on my 10/22 and use some subsonic .22's, but shooting inside city limits tricky. Ok, how about getting a high-quality crossbow to dispatch the little devils. Garbage day always a challenge. Have doused the sealed garbage bags with Pinesol, ammonia, little or no success.



Any ideas?



This msg will be posted on other sites to make sure it get me maximum coverage.:)

:rolleyes: Class III Supressor This lil' unit fits on the H & K MP5, all you'll hear is the bolt slamming shut! http://www.scottsdalegunclub.com/classiii/classIIIpics/suppressors/raptor.jpg

[C. Buckman]

If them critters are far off, you might want to go this route, 7.62x51:D
http://www.gem-tech.com/Images/HVT-Winter.jpg

[humplatch]

22 caliber pellet gun rifle+lazer sights=dead coons. Don't trap em if you live near California. You can be arrested for transporting wild animals. Seems some officials are afraid of spreading diseases to other coon clans. Makes sense I guess. Personally, I hate the bastards and it is war when they come around my yard.

[DavidTaylor]

If your city has an animal control dept. then they should come by and pick up the trapped beasts. They may even loan you more traps to try and get several at once.

[gunny]

1. Wait till cooler weather. Gives them time to grow a good winter coat.

2. Kill the miserable critter, skin him/her, tan the hide and make a Davey Crockett hat. Let the rest of the clan see what's in store for them and they'll leave the county.

3. Poison works, won't get all of them but usually does a good job.

4. Trap and then kill them how ever way works for you.

5. Shut off their food supply.

6. Electrocution. Be careful with this as you may get yourself by accident. Insulate a metal screen from any contact with the ground, house, etc. Insulate a metal trash can same way, some good smelling food in the trash can. A 4:1 or 6:1 transformer with one output lead to the screen, the other to the trash can. Set it up so the critter has to get on the screen to get to the can. Plug it in. Be real careful to unplug it before touching it and think this one through real good before doing it. Again, be real careful with this one as you could kill yourself, a neighbor, friend, anyone or anything that gets between the can and the screen, accidental or otherwise.

[tmgs]

Jeez Jeff, fox urine or raccoons? A tough decision. Feed store, WTF is there a feed store around here. Just teasing.

I hired a guy called the "Critter Gitter" and he charges 50 bucks per haul away. 1. I never saw him haul any away 2. If he did haul any away I think he dumped them across the street 3. Got a bill for $250 bucks, I asked for verification; we settled for $125 since he so vehemently professed his 'honesty' 4. He is/was a lot bigger than I 5. I still have coons!

Maybe I need a Florida Panther as a pet.

you take care of my barking dog problem and I'll take care of your Coon issue!

I am a pretty good shot at moving targets, and I got me a fast cycling shotgun

<big grin>

[tmgs]

:rolleyes:

:rolleyes: Class III Supressor This lil' unit fits on the H & K MP5, all you'll hear is the bolt slamming shut! http://www.scottsdalegunclub.com/classiii/classIIIpics/suppressors/raptor.jpg


Oh yea, when ya headed this way !

[eljeffe]

If them critters are far off, you might want to go this route, 7.62x51:D
http://www.gem-tech.com/Images/HVT-Winter.jpg

"Reach out and touch someone" at its finest!

[tmgs]

1. Wait till cooler weather. Gives them time to grow a good winter coat.

2. Kill the miserable critter, skin him/her, tan the hide and make a Davey Crockett hat. Let the rest of the clan see what's in store for them and they'll leave the county.

3. Poison works, won't get all of them but usually does a good job.

4. Trap and then kill them how ever way works for you.

5. Shut off their food supply.

6. Electrocution. Be careful with this as you may get yourself by accident. Insulate a metal screen from any contact with the ground, house, etc. Insulate a metal trash can same way, some good smelling food in the trash can. A 4:1 or 6:1 transformer with one output lead to the screen, the other to the trash can. Set it up so the critter has to get on the screen to get to the can. Plug it in. Be real careful to unplug it before touching it and think this one through real good before doing it. Again, be real careful with this one as you could kill yourself, a neighbor, friend, anyone or anything that gets between the can and the screen, accidental or otherwise.




Oh gunny your friggen killing me here, do you realize what your tag line said!

"People who insist on perfect safety don't have the balls to live in the real world."

damnit man I'm still laughing my ass off!

[early1]

"Reach out and touch someone" at its finest!

Frankly I'd prefer sat driven ordinance dispensed from altitude myself

[hagar]

10/22 with subsonics will work fine. My RWS 48 pellet rifle is louder than that. You won't hear the shot 100 yards away, and makes for a quick humane kill if you only take head shots at stationary targets. Don't dump the bodies in your garbage, that's what supermarket dumpsters are for!

I still smile when I think of the "missing cat, reward" poster. That cat tormented me for 3 years, running around on my roof, screeching next to my window at 3 am, sitting on my fence hissing at my dogs, scratching up my car, and pooping all over my yard. The dogs cornered him in a bush one morning, and he met with "an unfortunate accident" via my 10/22. I don't advocate killing other people's pets, but this cat was the cat from hell, he even looked the part. Think "Pet semitary".

[UncleRock]

I got some mighty fine recipes but you boys can't be bruising the meat to much. :D
Rock

[cfell]

Option #1
Take a mayo jar, slice the lid with 3-4 lines intersecting at the center of the lid. Now, carefully push the points at the center down into the jar.. not all the way, just enough to make them "springy".

Now, if you want to "capture" the beast, tie the lid to something strong with some steel fishing leader.

Finally, put some rice in the bottom of the jar with some water overnight. Or, crunchy peanut butter with some pecans works faster due to the smell.

Set it in your back yard and watch.

What you'll see is the coon stick his paw in to get the goodies. When he tries to retract his grubby little paw with a fistfull of goodies the metal lid will snag his arm. At this point he'll become kinda agitated. Just walk over and club him... now, dump him in your local trash bin.

Option 2
use "havaheart" trap. Once caught put trap into a 55 gallon drum and seal the lid for 24 hours. If it is airtight, your "problem" will go away in about 4 hours, but 24 hours gets you past rior-mortis. Dispose as above.

Option 3
use "havaheart" trap. Once caught, take trap to a secluded lake with a couple beers. Tie rope to trap for "retrieval", place trap underwater. Open beer #1, drink, repeat. Lift trap from water to ensure occupant is sufficiently calmed. Empty trap in lake. Bring trap and beer bottles home. Repeat process.

[hschisler]

Option 3
use "havaheart" trap. Once caught, take trap to a secluded lake with a couple beers. Tie rope to trap for "retrieval", place trap underwater. Open beer #1, drink, repeat. Lift trap from water to ensure occupant is sufficiently calmed. Empty trap in lake. Bring trap and beer bottles home. Repeat process.Exactly. Since you can't or don't want to shoot within city limits, since other methods have failed, and since you are successfully trapping, drowning the thing is the best way to go. An 80-year-old grandmother in our church drowns the trapped raccoons on her properties in her pond, then feeds the carcass to the turkey vultures.

[UncleRock]

Option #1
Take a mayo jar, slice the lid with 3-4 lines intersecting at the center of the lid. Now, carefully push the points at the center down into the jar.. not all the way, just enough to make them "springy".

Now, if you want to "capture" the beast, tie the lid to something strong with some steel fishing leader.

Finally, put some rice in the bottom of the jar with some water overnight. Or, crunchy peanut butter with some pecans works faster due to the smell.

Set it in your back yard and watch.

What you'll see is the coon stick his paw in to get the goodies. When he tries to retract his grubby little paw with a fistfull of goodies the metal lid will snag his arm. At this point he'll become kinda agitated. Just walk over and club him... now, dump him in your local trash bin.

Option 2
use "havaheart" trap. Once caught put trap into a 55 gallon drum and seal the lid for 24 hours. If it is airtight, your "problem" will go away in about 4 hours, but 24 hours gets you past rior-mortis. Dispose as above.

Option 3
use "havaheart" trap. Once caught, take trap to a secluded lake with a couple beers. Tie rope to trap for "retrieval", place trap underwater. Open beer #1, drink, repeat. Lift trap from water to ensure occupant is sufficiently calmed. Empty trap in lake. Bring trap and beer bottles home. Repeat process.
Option #4 take the little critter in the box trap up to city hall LIVE, let him go in their trash cans. :D
Do that long enough they will want to do something about the local racoon problem.
Rock

[Lonewuff]

John,

I feel your pain. We have them all over our property. I made the mistake of hanging a bird feeder right outside our bedroom window. Being ex-leo you can't imaging how disturbing it is to have something tapping and hitting your bedroom window at 3:00 AM. Oh, and a bright flashlight doesn't scare them off :rolleyes:

My biggest problem is that my wife had them as pets as a child, so dispatching them the best way isn't an option, so I had to do the live traps and drive them WAY out in the forest....I mean WAY out.

I have a Gamo 1200fps pellet rifle with a scope that is better than my 10-22 and much more accurate than any of my class 3 suppressed stuff. The pellets travel faster and more accurate than a .22 round, and they are silent. You can get one from most sporting good stores or order it from Cabelles, etc. My neighbor has one of their 1000 fps and it works just as well for about a hundred less than mine. I think he paid about $150 for his and I paid $269 for mine.

The idea of leaving a dead one in the yard does not work. I didn't know that raccoons were carnivorous until I saw one dragging off the squirrels I had piled up. If you leave a dead one in your yard, you just put up a buffet sign for the others.

[hawg]

Man oh Man - this thread is ripe for one-liners galore!! :p If I wuzn't working on a win streak of Spyder Solitaire, I'd git at it!!! Fox urine!? Coyote urine!?!

WTF? Who collects this stuff?? :confused: And HOW??!! :eek: They ain't gittin' paid enough!! :cool:



http://users.pandora.be/eforum/emoticons4u/crazy/291.gif


:D:D:D:D

[ksailor]

Dig a big hole; fill it with ashes; open a can of peas. Line the rim of the hole with peas. When the coons come to take a pea, kick 'em in the... Oh never mind, that only works with elephants. :histerica

[jpalamaro]

Dig a big hole; fill it with ashes; open a can of peas. Line the rim of the hole with peas. When the coons come to take a pea, kick 'em in the... Oh never mind, that only works with elephants. :histerica

Add some potatoes, maybe some onions and carrots, a touch of merlot or just some old cooking wine, simmer slowly, a hell of a stew, huh?

[Ted]

Peanut butter has always worked for me. I also use the "shooting from inside he house" method, but luckily where my critters are I can usually open the door.
Use the sub-sonic .22's if you don't want to spring for a high-powered air rifle.

Place the peanut butter in a place where you can get a good shot from your blind. Afterwards, put 'em in a plastic bag and put that bag in the freezer until garbage day and throw 'em out with your regular trash (no smell that way, well, at least until they thaw, but by then they'll be with other stinky stuff). You get the idea...