racoons with a .177 airgun?

D

Ducksoup

New member
I have a problem in my neighborhood with racoons, they get into our garbage and they've become so bold that you can't even scare them off. I have a .177 springer airgun that shoots a 9.3 grain round nosed pellet at just over 900 fps. It will completely shoot thru a 3/4" board and stick into another board placed behind it. I'd like to get rid of these pests but I want to make sure I can kill them cleanly. I can't use a firearm because I'm just barely inside the city limits. Will the .177 work? Body shots or head shots only? Max distance is only about 30 feet. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
I am thinking that the best bet might be a live trap. If I wasn't worried about the neighbors cats or kids and if it is legal I would set a conibear trap. Coons are tough little boogers and I am thinking that 9.3 grains at 900 fps isn't enough.

Just my thoughts
 
Not even close to enough gun.

Also, many locales have "no projectiles in the city limits" ordinances that make shooting a pellet rifle in town illegal, just in case you didn't know.
 
What wyoman said...Ive seen coons take alot of lead from a .22 before they fall out of the tree and on top of that whip a coon hound or 2 before finally giving up...Use live traps or I tell you what get you some of those .22CB'S that CCI makes...Those bullets are no louder than a pellet rifle...You could make a head shot with one of those and it will do the trick...Chad /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Never mind about the CB'S... I didnt see the part about being in city limits....Use live traps.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Yea there's now way any air rifle would be sufficient to kill a coon, they are pretty tough. I've seen them shot with bows with a shot that would knock down a whitetail and those little suckers will still put up a heck of a fight. I wouldn't even say a .22 would be enough but that's just me. Live trap would be the only way to go in your circumstance. good luck!
 
Live trap works great. Marshmallows are great bait. Cats don't like them, so you usually don't catch them, or skunks with the marshmallows. But, if you release them outside town,, they will be back. A friend of mine is a DNR officer, and they did a study, and they travelled up to 20 miles a day to get back "home"! If you don't believe me, as my father-in-law didn't, spray paint their back, and see if you catch them again. My father-in-law caught the same one twice, marked with John Deere green paint! That one only travelled about 5 miles.

kelvars
 
Surely a 17 or 22 cal air rifle is too underpowered. However, a 50 cal air rifle is more than adequate. Even a 410 air shotgun shooting slugs will work well.

Jack
 
Use a paintball gun to "condition" them. They are very smart and will leave your trash alone after a few coats of paint. They will still get into the neighbors trash though.

peace.
unloaded
 
I too live in the City Limits & have Killed Coon with a 17
Cal. air rifle made by Gamo & shoots 1000 FTS, was using the Pointed hunting point with a good shot placement behind the front shoulder. I also make live traps & have very good luck with Peanut Butter & Marshmellows for Bait. I take the Coon across the Missouri River to a wooded area approx. 5 Miles from my home & have had no trouble with them Returning. Good luck.
 
Live trap them and then dispatch them in a remote area. Pellet gun is likely not enough for anything other than point blank between the eyes.
 
Thanks for the info. It turns out that a buddy has some live traps I can borrow. Than I'll take them outside the city and dispatch them with a .22. The little buggers are not afraid of humans at all!! I have grand kids and I don't want any possible confrontation.
 
when it rains i dont like to take my .22 on the trap line so i take a gamo .177 cal it will drop them if you hit right in the side of head at a fairly close range
 
Quote:
they've become so bold that you can't even scare them off.



I guarantee if you run out there swinging a baseball bat and screaming,
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angry-smiley-055.gif they'll run away. Primitive, but it worked for early man.
 
Quote:
I was thinking bow and arrow. Silent and they wont get far. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif



Unless they are head shot Coons will scream bloody murder when shot by an arrow. I can tell you from tons of Coon arrowing experience that every neighbor within blocks will hear the drama.
 
A friend of mine has dispatched hundreds of rock chucks with his spring cocker .177. He head shoots them from 15 to around 40 yards and rarely loses one. He has also taken a few feral cats and other such sized pest with it as well. I am pretty sure a coon or two has fallen with it.

Place that little bullet in the right spot, and in this case the brain is the only spot, and it will do the job.
 
use the live trap, then stick the barrel of the 177 right above his head. at 4 inches away a shot into the top of his skull should do it. it may take a while to get the shot they tend to pace around when your standing over them like that.
 
I started to go after one with a shovel the other day and he just stood there and looked at me! I got within about 20 feet before I decided that was close enough. I yelled at it and it finally just turned around and walked away. No running , just walked. I didn't really want to do hand to hand combat with a wild raccoon. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
I don't think that hand to hand with a coon is a good idea either . I have seen them whip a couple good hounds and come after the hunter ( me ) a few times . Pound for pound a coon is one of the meanest we have in these parts . To answer the question IMO no a .177 cal air rifle is too light of a gun for coon not saying that it wont kill um but why take a chance of a wounded coon in city limits that could be NASTY !!
 


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