.22LR on Raccoons

[Elmo]

I read a lot of postings on-line debating between whether .22LR is enough to humanely take down larger small games such as raccoons, oppossums, foxes, etc.  I plan to do a bit of raccoon hunting this coming season.  Just wanted to hear some extra opinions.

[ny hunter]

A 22 well do the job on a coon no problem.Just be sure it is legal where you are hunting.Some places in NY it is not to hunt with a rimfire. Read the regs.

[pistolp71]

.22 LR is just fine for coons. When I coon hunted with dogs we used a .22 w/stingers. Of course head shots are the quickest.

[Pygmy]

22LR works well on coon...Steer away from the solids, and shoot the hollow points...

As the previous poster said, CCI Stingers work well,  but regular .22 LR hollow points work well also...  Head shots are always preferred, but body shots will work also..Some of the most perfect mushrooms I have ever seen were Win HV hollow points that were recovered from under the off side skin of coons taken with body shots..

[Doc]

.22 LR is a great choice, especially if you are trying to save the fur.

[Elmo]

Great.  That's what I got for the most part when I googled people's opinions but there were a few who felt you need a 22WMR or 17HMR at minimum.  This means I don't need to invest in a new rifle.  Thanks, all.

[RobC]

always good to have a reason to invest in a new rifle though isn't it? lol

[ny hunter]

I was thinking the same thing!!!!

[Elmo]

always good to have a reason to invest in a new rifle though isn't it? lol

Ha...yeah.  I was thinking of something in a .223 to fit between my two currrent rifles (.22LR and .308).  Or maybe a Henry Golden Boy Repeater in .22 magnum as a "fun" rifle.  Unfortunately, my wallet thinks I should wait another year or so.  :-[

[ny hunter]

You have been biten by the bug my friend,You soon well have more guns then you need.But well always want more...............

[Elmo]

You have been biten by the bug my friend,You soon well have more guns then you need.But well always want more...............

Bug is "dug in like an Alabama Tick".  Took my hunter's ed course 9 months ago.  Bought my first firearm 8 months ago.  Went on my first attempt at hunting 7 months ago.  I've already bought a 22LR, 308, and a 12 gauge.  I'm eyeing more.  Spend my work day in the office daydreaming of hunting.  I say it is well bitten.

[ny hunter]

It is a great feeling..........

[RobC]

instead of a .22 mag just my opinion but if you've already got a .22 I don't think you'd gain much. My personel opinion is go with a .17hmr. I bought one and I love it. I haven't shot my .22 since. I've used it for squirrel and woodchuck. I shot a red squirrel from 100 yards away. As my son as my witness. I'd try it on coyote but i'm in love with my ar-15 and I have to justify buying it to the misses. You'd be surprised what you can do with a .17

[jusputtn]

Toruk-Makto,

How do you plan on hunting coon?  I hunted corn fields at night to try scaring them up a tree a few times when I was a kid with no luck.  Didn't have a dog.

Most common way is to tree them at night with hounds, shine a light up there and aim in between the the two shiny spots.  Shot is close, .22 is plenty of gun; particularly since they're usually hunted for their fur.

The only ones I've seen during the daytime were when the rabies wave moved through my part of the state back in the mid '90's.  Also saw a few sleeping in the crotches of trees; that was when they were very plentiful right before the rabies wave moved through.

There are people into hounding in the northeast.  You could search for some forums on the subject and see what's up.

[Elmo]

Toruk-Makto,

How do you plan on hunting coon?  I hunted corn fields at night to try scaring them up a tree a few times when I was a kid with no luck.  Didn't have a dog.

Most common way is to tree them at night with hounds, shine a light up there and aim in between the the two shiny spots.  Shot is close, .22 is plenty of gun; particularly since they're usually hunted for their fur.

The only ones I've seen during the daytime were when the rabies wave moved through my part of the state back in the mid '90's.  Also saw a few sleeping in the crotches of trees; that was when they were very plentiful right before the rabies wave moved through.

There are people into hounding in the northeast.  You could search for some forums on the subject and see what's up.

Jusputtn,

I don't really know.  Last winter I tried night stalking by hiding in an area where I found tons of coon tracks but I forgot to GPS mark the spot so I couldn't find the spot in the middle of the night.  We ended up walking around in the woods in the middle of the night shining out spot lights around hoping to spot something.

I don't have a dog either (Well, technically I do.  It's a tiny Maltese so she doesn't count.  Long story on how I ended up with a Maltese if anyone cares to hear it).

I watched the "Crumblin Coons" DVD by Minaska Outdoors and they proved that it is possible to call raccoons in even during the day.  I figure I'll give calling them in a try this fall (night and day).

[jusputtn]

  I hadn't heard of calling them like that. 

Coon can be nasty.  Make sure they're dead before handling.

A buddy of mine has had issues the last few years with coons killing his ducks and chickens.  Seems they like bird meat.  Took a bit to figure out what was getting them as he had a decent fence around his coop.  Now the fence has a decent top too and he took a couple out with traps.

[airedale]

A 22 with high velocity ammo is all you need to take out Coons, I hunted them hard with Airedales and Hounds for many years and took a lot of them. When I was by myself I would use my S&W model 17 revolver, when I had a partner I would carry a Remington magazine fed nylon 66 rifle. The key is same as hunting any other game "good shot placement".

Al