Raccoons

[debinhollister]

I have three hens killed by raccoons this past week and have decided to buy a pellet gun. Does anyone have any experience with pellet guns and raccoons?

 

[ValerieJ]

A pellet gun isn't sufficient to take out a raccoon. Go to a gun shop and ask them which gun you need. At least a shot gun. Get a trap and trap them first so you don't just wound them. You'll want to have a clean kill, or at least I would.

So sorry about your hens.

 

[Ted_Harrell]

ValerieJ is right, a pellet gun is not enough, and a shotgun makes shooting a raccoon a lot easier. I am not advocating shooting anything other than the raccoon of course. If the coon is bold enough to come take a hen, then he is bold enough to have his butt shot in the process. Best of luck to you...

 

[Birdsong 82]

I'm guessing the pellet gun is to scare and not kill. I felt the same way but found quickly they will come back until they're dead. They are determined creatures and a sting in the rear isn't gonna keep them from a chicken dinner. So sorry for you loss

 

[cmom]

I use a .22 and a 410. They do the job. I also have live traps. Good luck...

 

[Howard E]

I have three hens killed by raccoons this past week and have decided to buy a pellet gun. Does anyone have any experience with pellet guns and raccoons?

Yes I do.....and both are powerful enough to kill a coon when shot in the head at point blank range. Shooting one in the head to kill it would be the ONLY use of a pellet gun as relates to a coon. Would I shoot one in the butt to harass or punish it? Not in a million years.

But perhaps a better question to ask is how did the coons manage to get close enough to your hens to kill one? Getting that fixed is far and away a better use of your time and money.

 

[50-45-1]

you should not be relying on only a gun, especially a run of the mill pellet gun for raccoon. it would just piss them off.
we have had great luck catching them with a 220 conibear rigged up in a notched 5 gallon plastic bucket. this is deadly and will kill almost instantly, house cats, dogs or anything that goes in it.
better yet just fix your coop so the racoons can not get in. spend your time securing the coop you have instead of staying up all night waiting for coons to come. really how long can you do that. you will never kill them all, and if coons can get in so can many other chicken eating critters.
good luck!

 

[sealer39]

The Dukes DP coon trap works very well. It was recommended to me by someone on this forum. You still need to shoot the raccoon after it is caught. I use either a .22 or a 9mm carbine loaded with rat shot to kill them. I bait the trap with chicken feed. I’ve got seven raccoons and one big rat so far. They make pellet guns these days that are powerful enough to kill a raccoon but it will probably be less expensive to buy a bolt action .22. I picked up a nice Savage .22 new for $99 a couple years ago.
And yes, from about 8 feet away, rat shot will definitely kill a raccoon.

 

[sorce]

Aye for prevention.

Sorce

 

[woodmort]

Pellet guns are fine for plunking tin cans but not killing coons. A shot gun will take one out but there will be some collateral damage. My suggestion would be live-trap them then use a .22 for a coup de grace. As far a prevention is concern, you need to be thorough because they will keep coming back looking for a way in. Coons are clever and very strong.