Caught hunting on my property.

Well caught him red handed hunting on my property. Actually 4 of them. Well 3 now.

Attachment 38654

They got in once and somehow the chickens managed to defend themselves. I'm guessing they all scrambled into the coop and started flapping their wings and beat them away. The Guineas in the run probably made such a racket as well scaring them off. I re-enforced the bottom with 11 gauge mesh 1 inch holes 18 inches high. I have big rubber mats going along the wall inside to help prevent them from easily digging under to the inside. Around the outside are a bunch 4x4 and 6x6 making it difficult to dig close to the wall. Last week they first figured out how to open the doors, so I shoved the fork and shovel into the ground braced against the door, they figured that out last night. I noticed the had dug out the shovel something must have spooked them off as it was completely dug out all they needed to do was tip it over and push the lever down. I think the small coon got in under the small gap under the door as I saw one video where it appeared to go under the door, I fixed that now to. The door has a board going across it now to. I'm headed north on Wednesday I hope the chickens survive. I don't have a live trap. but I was thinking taking a large barrel filling it with water and putting a piece of Styrofoam on it sprinkled with dirt and then a can of tuna with a board running up to it.

They are persistent GW...I took out the first one, but they keep coming. I had killed one every night for 4 nights before they stopped.

I wish I could use my 22 but my property is to small. Crossbow is an option but only if I am pointed in the right direction.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

I wish I could use my 22 but my property is to small. Crossbow is an option but only if I am pointed in the right direction.

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You want to borrow an Air Rifle? .22 to the head and it's lights out.

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Originally Posted by Snowwalker

You want to borrow an Air Rifle? .22 to the head and it's lights out.

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Not with 22 shorts, let alone an air rifle. I've had them bounce off the coons head before and some still traveled a fair piece off the property. I only found what was left weeks later. Not saying a high powered .22 air rifle won't do the job but I wouldn't count on it.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

I wish I could use my 22 but my property is to small. Crossbow is an option but only if I am pointed in the right direction.

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Let alone if there's enough light to shoot. Check your pm, I have the answer for you.

Cheers

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Originally Posted by smitty55

Not with 22 shorts, let alone an air rifle. I've had them bounce off the coons head before and some still traveled a fair piece off the property. I only found what was left weeks later. Not saying a high powered .22 air rifle won't do the job but I wouldn't count on it.

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Just to be sure of what your saying here.
You have seen .22 shorts "bounce" off a raccoon's head with no effect?
.22 shorts will punch through things that are a lot tougher then a Raccoons head.

How it's done....

https://youtu.be/9JNt_CrI8k0


I can almost bet you have used or seen these types used.

https://youtu.be/6DU5u0nKeBM

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Originally Posted by smitty55

Not with 22 shorts, let alone an air rifle. I've had them bounce off the coons head before and some still traveled a fair piece off the property. I only found what was left weeks later. Not saying a high powered .22 air rifle won't do the job but I wouldn't count on it.

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I have shot this year 4 coons using .22 cb shorts [ 710 fps.] at between 40 and 50 yards, drop dead on the spot.
This was done in broad daylight, they were wandering around falling over, most likely had distemper.

My neighbor across the road has gotten 5 in and around their barn using the same quiet ammo.

Didn't have time tonight to do anything so at this point I have to hope for the best and look for breaks in the system.
Luckily nothing showed on the camera and nothing has been touched so they took a break. Hopefully my improvements will hold them off until I get back on, leaving Wednesday back Monday.

My wife will make sure they have water and they have a 7 day supply of food and she can always give them more, but she is not going to be able to stop the coons from finding weakness. I have 2 more spots to re-enforce tomorrow, somehow they missed them. Don't want to loose these chicks I have, spent the spring/summer raising heritage hens.

I have some good PM's of suggestions and I could always use Quiets but that's still illegal so I can't.

As long as they can survive 7 more days. Then I have some time to take care of things properly.

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Originally Posted by jaycee

I have shot this year 4 coons using .22 cb shorts [ 710 fps.] at between 40 and 50 yards, drop dead on the spot.
This was done in broad daylight, they were wandering around falling over, most likely had distemper.

My neighbor across the road has gotten 5 in and around their barn using the same quiet ammo.

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I have shot many myself with shorts so I can speak from experience. My comment was in response to snowwalker's "lights out" . Sure often they drop in their tracks or don't go too far, but they can also travel a fair piece before expiring. All were head shots, maybe my rounds were too old or maybe there was shooter error from having to rush a shot and it was a carom... don't matter, they still died.

Good shootin' btw. I'm not sure what that sickness is but I saw it up close last year when a bud up the road gave me a call one evening. He had one wandering around the house and garage area in the middle of the day barely even able to walk. It was in real bad shape when I went over, the short did it's work.

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Originally Posted by smitty55

I have shot many myself with shorts so I can speak from experience. My comment was in response to snowwalker's "lights out" . Sure often they drop in their tracks or don't go too far, but they can also travel a fair piece before expiring. All were head shots, maybe my rounds were too old or maybe there was shooter error from having to rush a shot and it was a carom... don't matter, they still died.

Good shootin' btw. I'm not sure what that sickness is but I saw it up close last year when a bud up the road gave me a call one evening. He had one wandering around the house and garage area in the middle of the day barely even able to walk. It was in real bad shape when I went over, the short did it's work.

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What coons have when they are acting that way, disoriented , stumbling and such, showing no signs of aggression, is canine/feline distemper.

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Originally Posted by jaycee

What coons have when they are acting that way, disoriented , stumbling and such, showing no signs of aggression, is canine distemper.

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Coons can also get Feline distemper, but signs are the same.

Raccoon Distemper
Next to humans, the second leading cause of death of raccoons is distemper. [B]Raccoons are susceptible to infection by both canine and feline distemper. Although they both can cause acute illness and death, they are caused by two completely different viruses. Canine Distemper is a a highly contagious disease of carnivores caused by a virus that affects animals in the families Canidae, Mustelidae and Procyonidae. Canine distemper is common when raccoon populations are large. The virus is widespread and mortality in juveniles is higher than in adults. Feline distemper, also called feline panleukopenia, catplague, cat fever, feline agranulocytosis, and feline infectious enteritis, is an acute, highly infectious viral disease affecting members of the Felidae, Mustelidae and Procyonidae.

Signs and Symptoms
Canine distemper in raccoons starts slowly, initially appearing as an upper respiratory infection, with a runny nose and watery eyes developing into conjunctivitis (the most visible symptoms). As time wears on, the raccoon can develop pneumonia. The raccoon may be thin and debilitated and diarrhea is a clear symptom. In the final stage of the disease, the raccoon may begin to wander aimlessly in a circle, disoriented and unaware of its surroundings, suffer paralysis or exhibit other bizarre behaviour as a result of brain damage. Many of these symptoms are indistinguishable from, and therefore often mistaken for, the signs of rabies which can only be determined by laboratory testing. Raccoon distemper is cyclical and can spread and wipe out entire colonies of raccoons. The disease is transmitted through airborne droplets, direct contact with body fluids, saliva or raccoon droppings. Feline distemper usually begins suddenly with a high fever, followed by depression, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, and a profound leukopenia. The course of the disease is short, rarely lasting over one week, but mortality may reach 100% in susceptible animals. Feline distemper virus is shed in all body secretions and excretions of affected animals. Fleas and other insects, especially flies, may play a role in transmission of the disease

Treatment
No treatment exists for canine or feline distemper (thereby increasing the need for prevention and control). Infected raccoons are usually euthanized. Control of distemper outbreaks includes the removal of dead animals' carcasses, vaccination of at-risk domestic species to decrease the number of susceptible hosts, and a reduction in wildlife populations which also reduces the number of potential hosts. The canine distemper virus is inactivated by heat, formalin,and Roccal R. Disinfection of premises with a dilution of 1.30 bleach will help to reduce spread.

Prevention
Unvaccinated dogs and cats that are allowed to wander unattended are at risk of infection from, as well as posing a risk of infection to, raccoons and other wildlife. Humans are not at risk from distemper as the disease cannot be passed on to people and presents no danger to humans. Dog and cat owners should make sure their pets have been vaccinated for the disease. Owners of pet ferrets should have their animals vaccinated against canine distemper which is fatal in ferrets. Wildlife rehabbers should quarantine any new rehabs until they get a clean bill of health and should have the animals vaccinated against both canine and feline distemper.

I got 2 this spring I figure were distemper. Couldn't tell you if humans can get it or not, but I sure won't touch one after it is dispatched.

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Originally Posted by sabmgb

I got 2 this spring I figure were distemper. Couldn't tell you if humans can get it or not, but I sure won't touch one after it is dispatched.

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Yes you can get infected with distemper, but you will not get sick you will be a carrier. If you have had measles or the Vaccine for measles, then you are vaccinated against both distemper and measles. Yes you can even protect a dog from distemper by giving it a "Human" Measles vaccine.

Well it seems they gave up having seen any new holes since I cam back on last Saturday. I just put the Trail cam out tonight. Got something really good to take care of them now.