alternative weapons that will kill a coyote/racoon/opossum...?

[sweeterdeeter42]

Are there any alternative weapons that will kill a coyote/raccoon/opossum,etc? I mean like pellet gun, anything besides your normal firearms, since I have a young child and dont want to bring any of those home. I feel that I need something just in case. There was a coyote in the trees at the edge of the yard one day, and something has started pooping right in front of the coop, like it is marking its territory. If I didnt have kids, I would already have a .22 or something, without hesitation.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i'm not an expert, but perhaps a pellet gun with a CO2 cartridge? We have a daisy pellet rifle with a pump action thing on it. When i bought it the guy said if you pump it 7 times you won't kill a raccoon but will injure it pretty bad. Problem with that gun is that it's a single shot thing, and takes a long time to reload and repump. Then i bought a snazzy pellet gun with a CO2 cartridge that holds a lot of pellets and you can shoot quite a few without reloading. i just haven't sat down to read the instructions and learn how to use it. It has a scope and a flashlight and all kinds of hoo ha's.

Maybe someone with more experience can chime in on if something like that would kill a coyote or just injure it. The only thing i've used that daisy rifle on is rats, and it works pretty well on them.

 

[yotetrapper]

They make very good trigger locks now that you could use to lock the trigger of your gun, that no kid would be able to get into. With a trigger lock and locked up ammo I doubt you'd have a problem. Id not shoot a coyote with a pellet gun.

 

[Wisher1000]

Go ahead and get a .22, sounds like you need one. Coyotes can attack people (children) and you need to be able to protect your family as well as your animals. Keep the gun and ammo in separate, locked cotainers and teach your children gun safety starting as soon as you bring it into your home. There are hundreds of thousands of homes with both safe guns and safe children in the US.

 

[sweeterdeeter42]

Guns make me so nervous though. Does the gun lock come with the gun or is it purchased separately? Would a single shot .22 suffice? I see that they make ammo specially for "varmints." I dont know anything about guns.

I do see that I should be able to get my firearms card no problem.

 

[Mahonri]

Cross-bow?

 

[Wisher1000]

I would not get a single shot, too hard to reload quickly. First, find someone who loves guns. Ask around and you may be surprised who all you know that has them. Look for collectors or military or even police officers. Get them to show you how to handle a .22 rifle safely, shoot theirs, and shoot it alot. It may take a while, but you will get used to it and feel comfortable with experience. Don't buy one until you are completely comfortable. You may find that you really enjoy shooting just for fun. Then, practice, practice, practice! When you need to shoot is not the time to have to think about how it's done!

 

[treekatie]

Every new gun I've bought in the last 10 years has come with a trigger lock included. If you buy a gun second hand that doesn't have one you can get one for little to nothing. And I agree with yotetrapper: pellet gun + coyote = mad coyote, unless it's a PERFECT shot up close, in the head. And then it's likely not to kill it quickly. Probably won't kill a coon, either. I don't yote hunt but I do coon hunt and they are tough, tough, tough. Have a ton of fight still left in them if you don't shoot them in the head. That's what I always try to do, to keep my dogs from getting hurt.

Store ammo separately, both locked up and you'll be fine. I've had guns in my home for my entire life, and I've raised 2 kids, 21 and 16. Now I've got grands, same deal. God Bless America!

 

[Wisher1000]

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[no1hilbily]

any alternative weapon that would be able to kill a coyote would still be something that you would have to make sure you practice safety with as much as a gun because if it will kill a coyote it will harm or kill people. but i agree a cross bow would be your best bet would be hard to for a child to cock it but would be slow for you if you need a fast shot the best safety is common sense and teaching your kids about guns not just bring one in the house and trying to hide it .