i hate coons

[Malibufarmer]

well last night 7 of my 13 chickens were eaten my a pack of racoons. me and my dad and goting to get a gun to shoot them. we are thinking of getting either 12 gauge shoot gun or a .22. which one is best for coons,varmits and cayotes

 

[seedcorn]

12 gauge, don't have to be exact and 22 travels farther if you miss....

 

[Judymae]

I agree. 12 gauge. My hubby always leaves me with a 12 gauge. He says your aim doesn't have to be good. Just point and shot. Possoms are smart though. You may need to trap them. They can smell and hear you and won't come around.

 

[chickenwoods]

I am a very avid hunter,beyond 30 yards or so a 12 gauge just isnt going to kill a coon all the time...escpesially if you dont get a good clean shot..Even if you did use a 12 gauge,you would have to be close(most likely you wont be able to get 50 yards maybee)and you would have to have a full choke, and heavier loads,(turkey,duck, or buckshot loads)
bird shot would just wound the coon,and the coon will most likely come back after a few weeks.

A .22 LR is the BEST way to go for coons.
It will kill a coon at 70 yards or better,if a good head shot is present.

Take safety precautions ALWAYS while shooting rifles..and shot guns, though rifles have longer range damage.
If your aiming at a downward angle(shoulder height- to a coons ground level,if you miss, your bullet will get submurged in the dirt.
If you live out in the country and are shooting up in a tree,ALWAYS make sure your shooting in a safe direction
.22 LR can travel a mile or so, if shot up into a tree.


So, if you want to really take care of the coons, a .22 is your best bet... SAFETY FIRST...

 

[PurpleChicken]

Trap the bastards. Don't kill em. They're just doing what's natural. I know that's easy to say and if they were my chickens I'd be out there lookin to shoot them too.

 

[Poison Ivy]

I trap them & then drown them. I drop the cage in a extra large trash can filled with water its alot cleaner then shooting them. We use to shoot them but it was so messy and having to hose the cages off. Then if my husband was working I'd have to wait for my dad to come shoot them.