View Full Version : Need some help from country folk and LEOs . . .
Roguish Lawyer
12-23-2004, 10:47
To kill, you must know your enemy, and in this case my enemy is a varmint......They're like the Viet Cong - Varmint Cong.
-- Carl Spackler
OK, I have a problem and I need some help.
Just spent a ton of money having my backyard totally relandscaped. Had a bunch of trees and old root systems removed so we could have a larger lawn area for my kids. Brand new expensive sod put down for the lawn.
This morning, I looked out back and saw that about 20% of the sod had been moved or rolled up. Looks like our local raccoons (or maybe some other varmint(s)) were looking for bugs underneath. I put it all back, but I am really pissed and I don't want my lawn ruined.
So, here is the question: how do I protect my lawn from further destruction while the sod takes? I live in an urban area and doubt that my neighbors or local LEOs would appreciate shotgun blasts in my backyard. Also, I have little kids and don't want to put anything back there that could poison or otherwise hurt them.
:munchin
Ambush Master
12-23-2004, 10:54
Do you have a .22 Long Gun ?? If so, get some Aguila Super Colibri Ammo !! All you hear is the hammer falling !! It makes WAY LESS noise than a Pellet Gun. They aree .22 Long Rifle Cartridges that only have a Primer (No Powder) !!
Roguish Lawyer
12-23-2004, 11:01
Do you have a .22 Long Gun ?? If so, get some Aguila Super Colibri Ammo !! All you hear is the hammer falling !! It makes WAY LESS noise than a Pellet Gun. They aree .22 Long Rifle Cartridges that only have a Primer (No Powder) !!
No, but I can get one!!! :D
Probably have to deal with a waiting period in my damn state, though . . .
So the primer generates enough velocity to take down a big raccoon? Some of them are pretty big . . .
Ambush Master
12-23-2004, 11:18
I've punched Armadillos with them. I shot 5-6 Raccoons out of a tree in my Dad's back yard, with the Winchecter equivalent of these, with kids standing at the schoolbus stop not 15-20 meters away. The only thing that got their attention was the sound of the coons breaking branches as they fell out of the tree !!!! :D
Your biggest problem will be staying awake long enough to catch them !!
Roguish Lawyer
12-23-2004, 11:23
My dealer says there is a 10-day waiting period for all firearms other than black powder. :mad:
Shark Bait
12-23-2004, 11:26
How bout a good quality pellet rifle?? Some can generate 1000 FPS. I'm pretty sure Cabelas carries some.
Roguish Lawyer
12-23-2004, 11:28
Good idea, SB.
Any ideas that do not require me stalking them all night? Traps? Scents that will scare them away?
NDD: Does the dog want a vacation? LMAO
Any thoughts on something like this?:
http://www.critter-repellent.com/raccoon/raccoon-repellant.php
I hear that critters are petrified by the scent of potential litigation.
Shark Bait
12-23-2004, 12:09
I hear that critters are petrified by the scent of potential litigation.
Yeah, sue the fur off the bastards!!!
Sounds like moles.
The MC2 listed below was reccommended in particular by a man that uses one for his backyard and one for the front. He advised it takes a few days for it's effect to start working on the moles. He said that the moles will get a little more active burrowing right before they leave because they are trying to get away from the sound this device makes.
30 day money back deal. 1 year warranty from the manufacturer.
http://www.ebugs.us/outdoor-pest.htm
Roguish Lawyer
12-23-2004, 12:32
Sounds like moles.
There was no burrowing. The squares of sod were lifted, moved, rolled over. Had to be a strong animal looking underneath for bugs or whatever.
Looking forward to Razor's comments on those devices. :D
Already got a nomination for best hijack...don't want to have to compete against myself. :)
Team Sergeant
12-23-2004, 13:03
I hear that critters are petrified by the scent of potential litigation.
LOL, and if that doesn't work, use the critter repllent you found if you think its coons. Then again very little scares big racoons so you may want a live trap.
If you decide on a live trap call me, I've trapped a few racoons via live traps.
(You can pick a live trap at Home Depot.)
TS
Bravo1-3
12-23-2004, 13:09
If you go with a live trap, make sure you check your local ordinances first. Someone from San Diego was recently on the news for trapping coyotes that were killing local pets that the city didn't want to do anything about.
Apparently in SD, only the city is authorized to use traps.
Ambush Master
12-23-2004, 13:11
Contact Animal Control, they usually have live traps that they will deliver and pickup with it's occupant !!
Jack Moroney (RIP)
12-23-2004, 15:07
Animal control should be able to help you out. I do not know what the rabies situation is like where you live but you definitely need to be a little careful about popping them and then handling them. Skunks will also tear up grass and sod looking for grubs.
If animal control won't help you can always drop a hint that someone is in your back yard rolling "grass". Maybe some of the competeing hoods will stake it out for you to see what the competition is.
Jack Moroney
If animal control won't help you can always drop a hint that someone is in your back yard rolling "grass". Maybe some of the competeing hoods will stake it out for you to see what the competition is.
Jack Moroney
LOL. Good tip, sir! RL ignites "turf war!" :D
The Reaper
12-23-2004, 16:11
No, but I can get one!!! :D
Probably have to deal with a waiting period in my damn state, though . . .
So the primer generates enough velocity to take down a big raccoon? Some of them are pretty big . . .
You have an AR-15 already, just order the Ceiner .22LR conversion kit.
Use the 30 round mag (or a pump or lever gun), cycle the rounds by hand, and keep shooting till he leaves. Rinse the blood trail down afterwards, BTW.
Get a video of it by setting up a surveillance camera, if you can. :munchin
TR
brewmonkey
12-23-2004, 16:16
Get a video of it by setting up a surveillance camera, if you can. :munchin
TR
LOL!
Roguish Lawyer
12-23-2004, 16:57
if you can
:lifter
RL - Thanks for finding and Avatar-worthy Pic of Bill Murray from Caddyshack.
About the rodents, if you have cats or dogs that you have to worry about, this is a bad Idea, otherwise; a shot of antifreeze in the bottom of a yoplait yogurt container (the cone shaped ones with the little peel off foil tops) left around the yard is perfect medicine for skunks and most other varmints. That is if unrestricted chemical warfare is the order of the day.
Crossbow could work too.
Probably illegal in PRK a Blow gun like the ones from Cold Steel (http://www.coldsteel.com/blowguns.html) would work like a champ too but once again, probably illegal in RL's world
Fair enough.
A think a slug (pellet) gun is probably the answer. Dirt cheap and silent. Metal tipped slugs should take 'em down.
NousDefionsDoc
12-23-2004, 23:17
Get a video of it by setting up a surveillance camera, if you can.
Have better luck getting the 'coons to take video of him. I hear it only takes about 6 months to train them for movies.
RL, living out there in the land of fruit and nuts, call animal control or one of those groups. Hell, they might even give you an award or something.
Fair enough.
A think a slug (pellet) gun is probably the answer. Dirt cheap and silent. Metal tipped slugs should take 'em down.
Good thoughts, but I beg to differ on the pellet gun
Any one powerful enough to kill a raccoon will be as loud as a .22
Loud as, yes, but the report would be different and wouldn't sound like a rifle being fired. In my experience.
Bravo1-3
12-24-2004, 01:19
Blowguns are (of course) illegal in California. Having seen one of the larger racoons absorb 4 rounds of .22LR (not head shots of course), I'd love to see someone try to take a racoon out with a blowgun.
I can see it now, RL with his Ghillie in a belly scratch hide site armed with a blowgun with an AN/PVS-14 and Aimpoint combination mounted on it, puffing little darts at it. Every time it gets hit, the racoon just kind of looks around like "HEY! What the hell is that!?"
City racoons, while smaller than the variety you find out in the sticks, are hard core, tough little bastards. My dad refers to them as "NVA". City racoons eat things that their country cousins couldn't handle, and while that makes baiting them easier, it makes using repellants a little less effective. There are only so many places they can go without running into dogs / drunks or other dangers, so as soon as the repellant is dissipated enough for them to be able to move through the area again, they will be back.
They're fairly smart little bastards too. Things like automatic lights scare them a bit at first, but when they don't see any other threat, they begin to ignore them.
Traps are the best option, followed by .22's. At least with the traps, you don't have to stay awake all night waiting for them to show up.
Smokin Joe
12-24-2004, 04:43
Canned Cat food mixed with D-Con. 1 can to about a quarter cup of D-Con.
Put it out after the kids go to bed, pick it up before the kids get up. Best part is the little bastards die somewhere other than your yard.
Worked where I grew up. It got ride of Skunks, Racoons, and any other Vermin that wanted a hit on dad's home brew.
Roguish Lawyer
01-06-2005, 18:30
Any thoughts on something like this?:
http://www.critter-repellent.com/raccoon/raccoon-repellant.php
This stuff does not work. At least not on these ^%$^%$&^%$ raccoons.
Now I'm really mad! :mad: LOL
Ambush Master
01-06-2005, 18:38
If you don't have any domestic animals around and pick up what is left the next day, mix a can of sardines with about a cup of anti-freeze (ethylene glycol, not propolene).
Sacamuelas
01-06-2005, 18:48
That works well, and it will kill the pest animals (antifreeze has a sweet taste they will like)....but if your neighbors cat or pet gets into the poison...you will be crucified for animal abuse I am sure out there in Kali.
Borrow the neighbors dog and let it run free in your backyard at night for a while. The other animals won't come into the yard with him in there. Unless your neighbor is Guy, then they would just get an extra snack after eating his ankle biters for an appetizer. :munchin LOL
Roguish Lawyer
01-06-2005, 18:51
Just got off the phone with animal control. They don't help people with raccoons anymore. AND, ^%$&^%$ &*^*&^%*&, it is against the law to harm raccoons in any way. Can't shoot 'em, can't poison 'em, can't do anything but trap and relocate.
TS:
I am going to do as you advised.
Blake:
I want that avatar back from you now, please.
Polar Bear
01-06-2005, 19:16
Roguish Lawyer, Any of these may work
1) you must treat for grubs try Milky Spore or Grub X
2) 1/2 cup of Murphy's Oil Soap
1/2 cup lemon scented liquid dish soap non anti bacterial
1/2 cup of urine
1/2 cup of castor oil
1/2 cup of lemon scented ammonia
1/2 cup of hot hot hot sauce
Combine in 20 gallon hose end sprayer and cover the areas effected
3) Sprinkle area with Blood Meal, Fox urine or Coyote urine (Can be bought at garden centers or mail)
4)Mothballs
The Lawn Nazi
Roguish Lawyer
01-08-2005, 21:55
Damn! No traps at Home Depot. Bought some pepper powder instead until I can find a trap at a local store.
I do not like raccoons one bit. And my shooting really needs work.
Damn! No traps at Home Depot. Bought some pepper powder instead until I can find a trap at a local store.
I do not like raccoons one bit. And my shooting really needs work.Order it online: http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=misc/searchResults.jsp&N=2984+5777&cm_ven=hd_goog&cm_cat=Search&cm_pla=HD&cm_ite=bid10130339-home_depot
Havahart
32 In. Medium Animal Cage Trap
Model 1089
Collapsible for easy transport and storage. Spring-loaded door. For raccoons, feral cats, woodchucks and similar-sized animals.
Internet/Catalog # 112445
NOTE: "This item cannot be gift boxed - Usually ships in 2-3 business days"
Sacamuelas
01-16-2005, 18:59
Update???? :munchin
BTW RL, picked these up at the gunshow today. THis is what you need. .22 super colibri (subsonic).
Roguish Lawyer
01-16-2005, 20:42
Traps have not worked. I believe they are too small for this animal, who I have seen. He is the size of a 5 gallon Sparkletts bottle.
Tried alternate powder made of pepper, and it seems to be working. I think the end of the torrential downpours may have had something to do with that.
Boy, I really thought I was going to get some comments on that target I posted. Oh well . . .
Roguish Lawyer
03-06-2005, 21:48
Update???? :munchin
BTW RL, picked these up at the gunshow today. THis is what you need. .22 super colibri (subsonic).
Hey, do me a favor, Saca. Shoot a little varmint with that stuff and tell me if it dies quickly or just gets REALLY mad. Thanks, buddy. :D
Bill Harsey
03-07-2005, 08:41
Update???? :munchin
BTW RL, picked these up at the gunshow today. THis is what you need. .22 super colibri (subsonic).
Loads like that are designed to entertain southern dentists with how well it didn't work out for California lawyers.
The other problem here is Saca expects you to hunt them like he does by grabbing the raccoon by the scruff of his neck and placing the round exactly at the base of its brain/spinal cord connection. I could be wrong, that technique might only be used on wild hogs.
12 gauge is best especially with moving target in low light. Your neighbors will just think it was a "drive by" and stay inside with the curtains closed.
The Reaper
03-07-2005, 09:38
Loads like that are designed to entertain southern dentists with how well it didn't work out for California lawyers.
The other problem here is Saca expects you to hunt them like he does by grabbing the raccoon by the scruff of his neck and placing the round exactly at the base of its brain/spinal cord connection. I could be wrong, that technique might only be used on wild hogs.
12 gauge is best especially with moving target in low light. Your neighbors will just think it was a "drive by" and stay inside with the curtains closed.
Trust him. He was a logger. He knows things.
Sounds to me like an insufficient number of rounds were applied to the proper places. Did you zero with that?
TR
Jack Moroney (RIP)
03-07-2005, 11:30
Trust him. He was a logger. He knows things.
Sounds to me like an insufficient number of rounds were applied to the proper places. Did you zero with that?
TR
Perhaps a bayonet to hold the target steady before you pull the trigger? :D
Jack Moroney