My Raccoon is Back :)

[longislandhunter]

Well, my local raccoon, the one that loves to rip apart my garbage bags and throw garbage all over the yard as he eats is back...  but this time I'm smiling..

Yesterday in the mail I received the wireless "driveway alarm" from Harbor Freight that Harry recommended.  This thing is great !!  I popped in the batteries and set it, placing the heat detector unit in several different locations to test out the range and overall effectiveness,  and it works fantastic.  We've been getting a lot of wet weather lately and since the unit instructions advise you to keep the unit protected from direct rain, snow, etc,, I'm going to construct a simple device, something like an open wooden box with a roof to keep water out and then mount this onto a wooden stake.  This will proved the unit protection from the rain and allow me to place it anywhere in my yard I want.  

This thing is great Harry,,,,, thank you so much for posting the link for this thing.....   I have more logistics to work out,,,,, gun, pellet, bait,, location in yard for optimum shooting solutions, etc,,, but this raccoons days are numbered......     :)

Jeff

[Bhawanna]

take dry dog food and wrap in screen wire and hang it about 12 inches off the ground so the koon will have to stand up to get to it......dry cat food works well too.....all the koons i've taken have been using preditors.....GO 'EM JEFF!!!

[glyconny]

I've made a contraption for rats that you can make larger to adapt to coons.  Basically, I placed my sensor on the inside side of a 18" x 18" box with peanut butter spread on the back of the box.  Face your box towards your shooting position and wait for the DING of your sensor.  This is great because it supplies you with a ready backstop, protects your sensor from the elements, and if you use white boards or paint it white it allows you to see your quarry a little more clearly in  low light (red light), and if  you dont kill em w the first shot they usually retire into a corner in the box instead of running out.  Good luck, and I'm looking forward to the updates!

[only1harry]

You 'll get him for sure with this sensor Jeff, it's just a matter of time.  Be prepared and don't let him hear you.  Also think about the noise factor in the middle of the night.. The Talon may not be the right gun..  The 350 should put him down though.  

Just don't do what I did..   I misplaced the screws and never found them.  So I just put the sensor up on a small log about 9-10" off the ground.  When I hear the chime and wake up to look out the window, I see the racoon holding the sensor in its hands!!  Luckily he dropped it right after his buddy came over to sniff it and then ran off because they ate the hot dog in <10secs.  So now I have the sensor taped around a log with duct tape.  I just pick up the log and move it where I want.

I don't recall reading to protect it from the rain or snow but mine 's been out there for almost a month in the rain and snow and so far so good.. but if rain is not good for it then I 'll have to build a protective device for it too.  
Its still works because last night another (large & unusually long) possom came at 1:30am this morning!  It was mostly grey in color with some white on the head, instead of mostly white throughout.  It was very skiddish and apprehensive and was approaching slowly.  I could have shot it because it was moving so slow..  I think it was very cautious because it could smell the skunk and thought there was a skunk around.  I 'm sure he 's had a few run-in's with skunks.  He picked up a turkey leg bone that he found on the lawn about 3ft from the real bait, and started chewing on it.  He was facing away from me somewhat so I was getting ready for shot from behind and to the side of head, when it starts raining!  I saw the first drop of rain hit its nose through the scope, and it took off running!  It must have thought a skunk was spraying him, or maybe they just hate the rain?  It disappeared into the dark hill very fast but I think he had the bone in its mouth!  He was also not used to the bright spot light I think.  He probably thought it was car lights.  It's understandble I guess since it was his first visit :-)  I hope he doesn't forget where he got that little bone, and return to put some excitement in my life, hehehe

[longislandhunter]

Thanks for the suggestions guys,,,,, I'm psyched about nailing this raccoon.  I"ll keep ya up to date on my mission progress......

Jeff

[shadow]

We'll be expecting a big ol Raccoon  hunt post from you Jeff, that alarm will probably drive you nut's lol. Ed

[JOHNNY QUEST]

JEFF MINE IS STILL IN SHIPPING FOR SOME REASON.. i ORDERED IT 10 DAYS AGO.

 I will be watchin for the report...

[longislandhunter]

Mine took awhile to be shipped also, guess they're just busy with the holiday season.  Mine was shipped USPS so I'm sure that added a bit of time also.  The day before I got it I went to the Harbor Freight website and checked on the status using the internet order # they gave me,,,, but every time I checked it just said "order number not found".  I was gettin worried and was gonna call them on the phone but then the next day I got the package  :)

As for my raccoon,,,, I think I'm gonna use the 350 magnum.  It's shootin Predators like a laser and has more than enough power to get the job done.  It's raining tonight and since I didn't get to build the little covered shelter for the sensor unit I'm not gonna put it out tonight.  I'm gonna try and get the shelter constructed tomorrow or Friday, but I probably won't get to use it until Monday cause  Friday night I have to drive down to Maryland to visit my dad whose having some serious medical problems and isn't doing well.  I'll be heading back to NY on Sunday morning so hopefully I'll be all set and loaded up for Monday night.   I can't wait to nail this raccoon......

Jeff

[shadow]

We'll be sending PRAYERS out for your Dad Jeff. :) Ed

[longislandhunter]

Thanks Ed,, it would be much appreciated...

Jeff

[GoodOlRWS45]

Me too Jeff, I hope all goes well for your Dad.  There'll be prayers coming from my direction.  I hate to hear that my extended family is suffering.

[davee1]

Oh man, this is good!!! I'm excited for you :-)

I use a similar type of detector, and have caught a few racoons doin their stuff. Got tired of the "false alarms" and turned out to be owls that were doing it. So I repositioned the detectors out of the owls paths, and the false alarms have been mostly eliminated. One racoon has been dispatched and buried. Another took a .22 Whisper headshot between the eye and ear, but ran off. Lost the blood trail quickly when it ran. Shoulda used my 350M. Havent seen him back, so maybe he's dead. There's still at least one more though. My detector is on every nite, waiting. The full moon in the past has brough them out, so I'm hoping for some luck in the next few days.

My built-in baitstationis the ponds that I have. They wash their dirty little hands in them and eat the watersnails. They also try to get my turtles, but they no longer can spend enough time doing that because I'm on em within 30 seconds, less if I'm downstairs already. They are bold little bastards too. The sliding glass door makes a slight sound, but they don't spook from it. Coon huntin/waitin is my most lovedsport, much better thanskunk hunts. Skunks is real dumb.

[longislandhunter]

Now you've really got me stoked to get after this coon......

I'm gonna use my 350 .22 with Predators,,, should do the job.  

This coming Monday night I start my night hunts  :)    can't wait  :)

Jeff

[shadow]

Get em buddy, I love those night hunt's.:) Ed

[JOHNNY QUEST]

Cool Jeff... My varmit detector came in today... Yippeeee!!!!  I'm ready for the weekend now...