Depredation

[bil&sal]

I used a 17 cal.it take them out no question ask shot four racoon two fox one coyote having seen anything now for two mounth look like thy got message

 

[ShannonR]

ive never used a paintball gun to deter predators, but i can see how it could work if youre not trying to kill, just deter preds. My pellet gun does unfortunately use lead pellets and thats def a concern. ive only used it once (one shot) to deter the crows and it worked like a charm, as i said. but yes, id be concerned about copious amnts of lead around the birds where they could pick it up and eat it. Like someone else said, you can get pellets made out of non lead materials such as steel and copper (like BB guns). thats prob a better way forward, i may even look into that as well

I think the paintball gun idea has some real merit to it. That would easily identify the problem animals in the area for others as well as yourself. And the animals in question would learn from the experience.

The problem with this method is, animal rights activists. This could well be construed by some animal rights warrior as cruelty, or even torture because you are not shooting to kill. Darned if you do and darned if you don't these days, someone will always be outraged by anything you do. Especially in the case of dogs (who would do well with some bright paint on their hides for their chicken raiding efforts!!), you have to worry about how others will react. Sadly, the SSS method is probably preferable to dealing with all of this drama over educating an animal on coop raiding. Kind of pathetic, with what this world is coming to.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Slingshot.

I’d go with a hunting boomerang over a slingshot.

 

[TheBlueShepard]

Welcome to BYC!

That’s quite a photo

Thanks! Took it myself, I did.

 

[Shadrach]

I’d go with a hunting boomerang over a slingshot.

You need to be careful with those boomerangs in the US. They spin the other way in the Northern hemisphere.
I haven't hunted with a slingshot since I was kid trying to kill rats on a farm.