What is the best rifle for raccoon hunting?
It’s perfect for jumping in and out of trucks, has an accessory rail for mounting lights, and the accuracy to deliver consistent kills up to 60 yards. The Hatsan AT-44 QE and the Benjamin Marauder in .25 are both moderately powered, quiet, full-sized rifles that are attractively priced. I’ve taken many raccoons out with both of these guns.
Do you hunt raccoons with an airgun?
They're a go-to for small game, but airguns also are great for larger critters, like raccoons. It was about nine years ago when my eyes were opened to hunting raccoons. Up to that point I had only shot the animal opportunistically around grain bins, trash cans, or up in the trees. My approach toward raccoons had been in the context of pest control.
How to get rid of raccoons with pellet guns?
Raccoons can be such a nuisance sometimes having a pellet gun is one of the best ways to deal with them. These nocturnal creatures not only destroy your garden and crops, but they also create a mess of your trash can by scattering garbage all over as they look for food. These creatures are highly intelligent, so eliminating them becomes tricky.
What equipment do you need to hunt raccoons?
Raccoon Hunting Equipment In decades past, the raccoon hunter carried only two essentials: a carbide light on his head and a loaded.22 rifle in his hand. The headlamp lit the way through nighttime woods and illuminated the glowing eyes of raccoons treed high above the ground.
What is the best gun for raccoon hunting?
Airguns Are Perfect For Hunting Raccoons. Airguns provide power, accuracy and terminal performance. They're a go-to for small game, but airguns also are great for larger critters, like raccoons. By Jim Chapman.
Can you shoot coons in cold weather?
In the cold weather and dark shooting hours, when coons are often hunted, you don’t want to fumble for pellets with frozen fingers or when there’s not enough light to see what you’re doing. Additionally, raccoons will often come in two or more at a time and a fast follow-up shot can be a good thing to have.
Is it legal to use spotlights on raccoons?
Lamping is an effective means of hunting raccoons. I’ve often lamped on the large ranches in Texas where the use of spotlights is legal. Lamping falls into the category of pest control, but it is a more active approach than shooting pest animals off the trash heap.
Can you hunt raccoons at night?
You can hunt raccoons in daylight or at night, though hunting at night is far more productive if it’s allowed. However, I’ve had pretty good results early in the morning and later in the afternoon leading into dusk.
Factors to Consider when Choosing the Best Pellet Guns for Raccoons
Given the wide range of pellet guns to choose from, here are some of the important factors to put into consideration before making the final purchase.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this buying guide helps you choose the best pellet guns for raccoons. Whether you are buying your first air rifle, or you are looking for an upgrade, all of the products listed above are well-made to ensure long-lasting durability. Invest in any one of them and keep your yard free of raccoons and other pests.
Is Coon Hunting Still a Thing?
Coon hunting was once a widely accepted pastime, especially in rural America where entire families would hit the field in search of coons. These mammals were in high demand for their pelts, which were used for fur coats and hats.
Where to Hunt Raccoons?
Coon hunting is most common in the rural Midwest and the southern U.S. While raccoons are no stranger to urban areas, the best places to hunt for these animals are farmlands, wetlands, and woodlands. Areas with clear woods and remote pastures are best for safe and successful coon hunting.
Does Raccoon Hunting Affect Deer?
Coon hunting can affect deer in the sense that raccoons often bother and even scare deer. It’s not uncommon for raccoons to cause stress to a deer herd by acting aggressively, especially near bait locations.
Do Coon Hunters Eat Their Kill?
In the past, it was very common for coon hunters to eat their kill. For many in the 1700s and 1800s, coons were a main source of meat to feed the whole family.
Why Do People Hunt Raccoons?
There are several reasons why people coon hunt to this day, and it traces back to raccoon hunting history. In the 1800s and early 1900s, raccoons were hunted to make a living selling pelts. British and European settlers adopted this practice from the Native Americans who harvested raccoons for meat and fur.
What Do You Need For a Coon Hunt?
The fur boom saw a huge rise in coon trapping as well as dog hunting. Trapping has died down in recent years, although many states with large raccoon populations allow trapping on private property to eliminate pesty animals. It’s always best to check with the DNR on the legal requirements for coon hunting.
Best Coon Hunting Dogs
There are several dog breeds preferred for coon hunting, known as coonhounds. Hunting with dogs makes it much easier to catch raccoons, thanks to the canine’s amazing ability to pick up and follow the coon scent.
What is the best shotgun for a raccoon?
Both 22lr and 22 mag are more than adequate to dispatch a raccoon. The 22 Magnum having twice the power is preferred, but the 22 lr is by far the most common cartridge for trappers and varmint hunters to shoot a raccoon with. You have your answer, but there’s more.
What are the two spots to aim for in a raccoon?
There are two spots to aim for on a raccoon. You can aim for the brain, or you can aim for the upper chest cavity. These are the only two spots worth gunning for. The brain is about the size of a golf ball on a mature raccoon and smaller on a juvenile.
How to shoot a raccoon's brain?
That’s what I like. It you are a good enough shot, or the raccoon is close enough, go for the brain. To shoot the brain, put the bullet directly between the eyes from the front, or just on the back side of the ear canal, from the side.
Which is better, 22 magnum or 22 LR?
The 22 Magnum is a more powerful option, and a lot of raccoon hunters would like to have one, but most only have the 22 lr and make it work. Both will do the same on a head shot. The 22 Magnum will give you a better, quicker kill from a body shot.
Where are the lungs of a raccoon?
It will kill it, but it can take hours. Not cool. The lungs of a raccoon, and most animals, are right between the armpits.
When do you need a second shot on a raccoon?
The only time a second shot is required is when you don’t hit your mark, or you picked the wrong mark. most of the time, it’s clearly a bad shot. To be able to hit your mark on a raccoon, you need to be able to hit a sticky note with most all your shots. If you can’t, get closer or get better.
Do racoons need a bullet?
At the same time, raccoons are low power animals and don’t require a massive bullet to do the job. Still, it’s something that if you don’t do your part, it won’t go well. To sum up the effectiveness of the 22 for racoons, it can either work flawlessly every time, or not work well at all. I’ve heard both stories.