Need advice on shotgun loads

[JackAubrey]

Hello all, I am having a problem with raccoons on my property. I have a shotgun,a 12 gauge. What would a proper load be to eradicate these pests? I think 7 1/2's would be too small. I have some 7 1/2's, some #4's and some 00 buckshot and a few slugs. Best regards,JA

[Daywalker]

At close range the 71/2s would cut him in half. Farther it make him think twice about coming back.

[DETH_LIVES]

At close range the 71/2s would cut him in half. Farther it make him think twice about coming back.

  will work...But 22lr is cheaper

[Fred8328]

Why go cheaper with the 22LR, I say break out the shotgun shells and have some raccoon fun & stew out of it...

[JackAubrey]

There are two. One is the smaller,it is about the size of a opossum , the other is quite large, I'm not good at judging weights, but were I to guess, I would imagine it to be pushing 20-25 pounds. Would the 7 1/2 work on one that large? Best regards,JA

[FightN4Freedom]

why kill them at all? They are obviously hungry (I'm assuming they are hitting your garbage and stuff), why not trap them? Or you could lure them away by placing a small plate of any cheap dry cat food on the edge of your property near where they are approaching. Every night you move the plate further away till they forget about you because they are looking for the easy meal elsewhere. If you decide to trap and release, you could go homemade (tricky and not as likely to work on both) or use a humane trap. You could rig a nifty noise maker with some bungy cords and pots and pans that they will trip when going for whatever it is they are going for, put enough of a scare into them and they won't come back. You definately don't want to eat them as they are usually full of worms and other nasties that you don't want to ingest. I'm sorry but I don't believe in killing anything I don't intend to eat.

[floridaguncollectors]

I would use the double oo if you are going to out past 25 yards or so. Then number #4 If you are close. 7 and 1/2's are to small in my opinion. I have shoot small game birds and squirrels and watched them run after a good hit with multiple 7 and 1/2's with a raccoon go big or go home. They can be tough and they will scream like hell if you wound them and the scream really makes you feel like poopy...... Kill em quick and fast, then stew em up!

[JackAubrey]

I built a box trap a little while back. I was able to trap the smaller of the two raccoons and it all but wrecked the trap! The trap was made from 1/4 inch thick plywood and the little cocker CHEWED a hole in the side large enough to escape. The trip mechanism was broken. I didn't realise how tenacious raccoons could be. My daughter has a cat we keep outside, and these racoons are coming up onto the front porch and eating the cats' food. They have lost all fear of my daughter and wife, especially the large one. My daughter tells me of opening the front porch to find a large raccoon eating her cats' food. When it sees her it rises up on its' hindquarters and sits there daring her to do something! She and my wife are quit frightened of being bitten. I would prefer to trap them but the trap would have to be made of wire. I was looking at some recently and they are about $ 55.00. I might end up going that route. They are clearly nocturnal and it is difficult to hold a torch and a shotgun at the same time. I do plan on putting in chickens this spring and I do not want raccoons killing off the chickens. I was thinking it a question of economics. A $55.00 vs. a .20cent shotgun shell. I have no intention of eating them though,lol! Best regards, JA

[g.willik]

We had problems with those crafty critters, also.
All it took to get them to leave was to make sure there was nothing to attract them.
Securing the garbage cans and cleaning the area, convinced them to try more productive opportunities elsewhere.
Spraying insecticide, or other nasty smells around where they might come, also helped.
Haven't seen them in a long time.
And no bloody mess to clean up, either.
 

[IDTANDY]

Had problems with raccoons.They ate 20 coy from my pond in one sitting.
Took a can of dog food,opened the can but left the top so it could be pushed in,removed half the dog food pushed the lid in .The raccoons paw got caught caught in the can and went clanking off never to be seen again.Out of sight out of mind.Shot the other one.If you can best to rid yourself of it.They can be nasty.

[Kill em All]

If you have a harbor freight near you, they have traps for about $20.

[JackAubrey]

Oh! That dog food tin is hilarious! If I ever see a raccoon clanking about ,I'll know why! As a matter of fact, there is a harbour freight nearby. I will most definitely go in! Thanks Kill em all ! Best regards,JA

[JackAubrey]

Bought a very nice wire raccoon trap at Harbour Freight tonight... $23.17 all told. Thanks Kill em all ! Best regards,JA

[JackAubrey]

Hah! I caught the little bugger in my trap I purchased at harbour freight! He was not in a pleasant mood!LOL! I spent some time looking at him and he seemed ...well,cute. I put my hand up to the cage,making sure it was not in a position where the raccoon could reach it, so he could sniff my hand... like one would do with a dog. Wow! He got close, acting all peaceful then tried to bite through the cage! He was snarling and growling, making an awful noise. So much for cute! I took him about 4 miles away and turned him loose. Thanks for all the helpful advice ,my friends. Best regards,JA

[goinpostal]

Good deal!!!I always preffer seeing wild critters put back in the wild unless they're needed for food.  It's a good thing you were not bitten though.Those shots are painfull.At least they were when I got them as a kid.26 of them in the stomach,after getting nailed by a baby coon I had rescued from drowning.He nailed my hand right through a thick leather welding glove.Matt