Calling Raccoons... What Guns do You Prefer?

Hey fellas, not trying to stir the pot. I was simply re-stating what a local furbuyer told me three years ago. He said he didn't mind a couple shotgun killed coon here and there but when a large number of the coon he's seeing now are "called", it worried him that too many coon were going to come through the door full of #6's. Shooting a coyote or cat with #4 buck at 30 yds isn't anything like shootin a coon with #2's at 15 yds. Two holes vs. twenty. Furthermore, he stated that he was almost done buying coon on the carcass due to this fact. Guys weren't up front with him about shotgunning them and he had bought too many the previous season that were hammered and he hadn't noticed this until skinning.

A friend of mine uses a combo gun with great success, 12 ga. over .223 with downloaded rounds. Its the best of both worlds. Its too bad they quit importing them. Baikal I think is the brand name. He uses #4 buck.
 
Originally Posted By: Kentucky_Windage

Just out of curiosity, any of you regular raccoon callers wear a backup pistola? Seems like a good idea to me. Don't want one of those furballs with teeth climbing in my lap...



I might carry a .22lr pistol to finish off critters when I carry the shotgun but never when carrying a rimfire. You don't have to worry about a crazed raccoon jumping in your lap and starting to chew on you. I've had raccoons within 1 foot of me. Some were PO'd, some were scared, but none were stupid or brave enough to attack me and bolted the second they figured out what I was. Even if you did have an issue you're gonna use the gun in your hand not the one on your belt.

CB
 
I use and prefer my henery 22 mag lever action enough power with little to no fur damage, fast backup shots and plenty of them. When calling coons a decoy is huge. I have had my mojo attacked several times. one big bore attacked the decoy was shot from 10 yards with a .223 kept on stand for the occasional coyote, had a hole that a baseball could fit through (not ideal for fur value)and came back to attack the decoy agin before finally dying. huge addition to calling coons. The decoy helps bring them all the way out of the tree.
 
17hmr for me. I have never lost a coon with this gun. I do carry a 22lr pistol on my hip occassionally. Only had to use it once because my buddy made a bad shot with his 22mag.
 
Originally Posted By: mhammer17hmr for me.

+1. Georgia limits us to rimfires or shotguns with #2 or smaller, but I'd probably use the .17 HMR even if we weren't limited.
 
Now boys, don't go poking holes in my thin justification for acquiring a new 22 pistola... I actually DON'T plan on holding the Foxpro in my lap, but any rationale beats no rationale... 223 at 10 yards? Yep, that could get messy -- especially when I shoot 75 grain out of mine -- hence my rationale for the new .22 Mag. I'll definitely keep the decoy in mind. Can't believe one attacked that decoy a second time with a big hole punched in him.

One thing that's going to be interesting around here is the fact that a lot of places don't have obvious denning trees. I've heard some call them "pear 'coons," because they believe they den in thick prickly pear. They certainly hammer feeders hard if they can get to them, so I'm thinking that's a great place to start calling. Of course, it also means they could come in from any direction. Could be entertaining.
 
Kentucky,

It would be interesting, on a morning following a rain, to follow their tracks from a feeder to see exactly where they are holding up. I don't suppose you get alot of snow, LOL, but thats a great way for us to isolate which den trees their in. We've tracked them to brush piles and abandoned buildings as well. Set up close downwind and watch out!
 
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