Disposing of predators (coons)

[EeyoreD]

Coons have musk glands under front legs (armpits). Also one in back legs. Separate the muscle on ham and pull out or the meat will have gamey flavor. Also fur in summer is not prime and not much value.

I kinda figured that on the fur in summer. It's kinda gnarly. Thanks for the tip about the musk glands. I suspected they had that but couldn't find anything about where to look. Is it the stuff that looks kinda like super-soft, bubbly fat?

I have trapped 10 in the last 8 days. I have been over ran that is for sure.

I've trapped 10 in 3 days

I'm a little surprised I have any poultry left. The chickens have coops at night but the turkeys, geese and (formerly... scovies) all live outside 100% of the time. At first I thought maybe the female scovies were off nesting somewhere, but 10 coons in 3 days? Even if they had been doing that, they probably just got eaten on the nest.

you can always cook the meat and feed it to the chickens. That would add some irony to the situation!

Oh I love that idea! Bet my turkeys would appreciate it, too!

And yeah I totally wear gloves when handling those things or the traps.

Thanks all!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Something I like to do is to let the body cool off before I handle it. I'm probably just being paranoid, but I have visions of fleas leaving a cooling body (the raccoon, skunk, possum, whatever) for a warm body (mine).

In the winter a neighbor who is a taxidermist will usually take a furry body, but that is only in prime winter pelt.

Many decades ago when I was young, a friend shot a fox. He sold the fur to a sports store so they could use the fur to tie fishing flies.

 

[EeyoreD]

If anyone is curious, coon is actually exactly like short ribs but probably 5 times richer.

I'll let you know in a while if I die from eating it ( I braised for about 6 hours, I think I'm likely OK)

 

[EeyoreD]

Still alive, not scared of water yet. Still think it's tasty.

 

[TeamChaos]

Ha ha ha, good to know you're still kickin' EeyoreD! Bad news for the 'coons though

 

[patman75]

Still alive, not scared of water yet. Still think it's tasty.

Nice to see you made it.

 

[miss hen]

Thats funny, I was thinking if I trapped a coon it would be a waste not to eat it. I will eat anything that tastes good and I have heard coon is good as long as you cook it right. I hate the thought of killing any animal and letting it go to waste.