Raccoon Issues

[trainman]

I am now out of the chicken business thanks to several raccoons. I started with 30 chickens 4 months ago. They free range which I know is dangerous for them but it's how I run my flock. I have had between 20 & 40 chickens for 5 years now raised this way. I lock them in the coop at night and let them out in the morning. I can't spend my days and nights watching for predators unfortunately. I hadn't been able to determine what was getting them until a week ago when I decided to camp out and watch. That's when I saw a raccoon during the day.

I got my AR-15 and tried to shoot him only to have it jam on me. By the time I cleared it he was long gone. The next day the same thing happened.

Since it's hot out and I'm way in the country I keep my Judge on my side for snakes. The next day as I came around the coop to fed the girls there was the raccoon. Both of us were pretty surprised and I shot him with the Judge. I was using the .410 shotgun shells. I fired twice from about 5 feet and just barely slowed him down. I fired again and 2 more times before he was stopped. It seems 5 shots is a lot to stop a raccoon. The 5 shots didn't even kill the critter!

Two days later another one was chasing some of the few remaining hens and I used my 12 gauge shotgun from the house, about 45-50'. It hit him and he was wounded badly so I went to the area and it took 2 more shots to kill him.

The next day my last 2 hens were snatched by another raccoon (I assume!) which I didn't get.

My question is what kind of shells/shot should I use for small varmints like this? My gun knowledge is very limited so I just bought the only shells they had at the store.

Anyone have experience with getting rid of raccoons?

Thanks,
Trainman

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I am unsurprised that you had this experience. Coons are sort-of a social animal that lives in colonies but that forages alone. While it is true that eventually the coon population will return (think of it as recover) you have bought precious time to establish your flock before the coons try and take over again. A Duke Trap Co Dog Proof or DP trap or three will keep watch over your chickens while you are away.

I will assume that you are shooting a standard shotgun chambered for 2&3/4 inch shells. In which case #6 or #5 shot Hi Power shells will take the starch out of any raccoon of my acquance. The Magnum shotshell loads especially in a 3 inch chambering tend to kill at both the muzzle and at the butt plate for my taste. You can safely shoot a 2&3/4 shell in a 3 inch or 3&1/2 inch chambered shotgun but never never try to use a 3 inch or 3&1/2 inch shell in a scatter gun that only is supposed to fire 2&3/4 inch ammo.

 

[Doc7]

With a shotgun and AR I am hoping you have a 22. 22 in the head knocks tens of thousands of coons out of trees with a single shot every night all around the USA. That’s my recommendation.

Also, you need to unload that awful unreliable AR you have. You can get ones that will run 100% on cheap ammo all day long for $400 in this day and age so there is no reason to keep one that is “jamming” twice in two days on you. What was the exact malfunction?