Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Coyote, Small Game, Varmints => Topic started by: BuckCommanderCam on December 25, 2012, 08:31:28 PM

Title: Nightime Coons?
Post by: BuckCommanderCam on December 25, 2012, 08:31:28 PM: Hey ya'll i was wondering if anybody had any tips about coon hunting at night w/ out dogs. I think baiting would be good but whats the best? And if baitings good then what should i use? Bacon? Chicken? Dog food? Thanks.
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: TripleB on December 25, 2012, 08:40:20 PM: I usually walk around the lakes and ponds that are in the woods in my area see and shoot them all the time with a spot light well i use a light thats mounted on my gun sometimes a buddy will help with a spotlight. I havent tried no baits yet, to impatient. but id use tuna hot dogs work great for the backyard at least!
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: BuckCommanderCam on December 25, 2012, 08:42:20 PM: Thanks! Ill try that out soon
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: TripleB on December 25, 2012, 08:44:07 PM: Im sure if you had a pond or something like that and put the bait around the waters edge either waited or check every so often youd kill them, good luck post some pics!
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: lokidog on December 25, 2012, 08:48:19 PM: If you know they are nearby, try some calling.
Title: Nightime Coons?
Post by: sirmissalot on December 25, 2012, 08:54:27 PM: We used to go shining for coons along any rivers we could think of. Killed a lot, finally quit because we didn't do anything with them.
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: MadHatter on December 25, 2012, 08:59:13 PM: Also, if you have any apple trees in the area check around those... I killed 2 coons the other night eating fallen apples under the tree... I just hit it with a light, verified which were coons (there was also 3 opossums there too) and switched to my weapon light and put a round right between the eye shine... I use this trick a lot with lighting them, because if you are quick enough they will still be there staring at you trying to figure out what the hell just happened... My spot light is 850 lumens, my rifle light is like 150, but lights their eyes up really well.

On a side note...
Its kinda fun to run up and grab an opossums as they try to lumber away at a snails pace... Although the thing was hissing mad and kept trying to bite me, if you hold them at the shoulders they can't get ya... It is NOT funny to run back to the house with the pissed off and hissing opossum, knock on the door and scare your wife or significant other with it... And calling it a Christmas present doesn't work either...This is just a little extra advise, in case you run into opossums as well... :tup:
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: TripleB on December 25, 2012, 09:04:15 PM: Quote from: MadHatter on December 25, 2012, 08:59:13 PM
Also, if you have any apple trees in the area check around those... I killed 2 coons the other night eating fallen apples under the tree... I just hit it with a light, verified which were coons (there was also 3 opossums there too) and switched to my weapon light and put a round right between the eye shine... I use this trick a lot with lighting them, because if you are quick enough they will still be there staring at you trying to figure out what the hell just happened... My spot light is 850 lumens, my rifle light is like 150, but lights their eyes up really well.

On a side note...
Its kinda fun to run up and grab an opossums as they try to lumber away at a snails pace... Although the thing was hissing mad and kept trying to bite me, if you hold them at the shoulders they can't get ya... It is NOT funny to run back to the house with the pissed off and hissing opossum, knock on the door and scare your wife or significant other with it... And calling it a Christmas present doesn't work either...This is just a little extra advise, in case you run into opossums as well... :tup:

I remember my first time grabbing a opossum scared the piss outta me never thought iid grab another nasty critter like that but it seems like now i cant keep my hands off them
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: MadHatter on December 25, 2012, 09:15:59 PM: Yeah, I catch them quite often if there is nothing else to hunt, I don't really kill them unless they are a problem... Always seems to freak my wife out when I run off into the darkness with a flashlight and all she hears is cussing and an angry opossum...
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: bare.hunter on December 25, 2012, 09:29:31 PM: try a coon squaller.
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: Machias on December 26, 2012, 05:05:59 AM: Check out youtube and search coon calling, the neat thing is it's very effective, even during the day.
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: BiggLuke on January 07, 2013, 10:40:30 AM: you can find them just by driving around at night. I might know of a guy who blasted a few during high school driving around town at night. When he saw one, they would usually dive for a ditch, then get shot in the head at only a few feet.
The same principle works well on lakes and rivers. Down south at least. I saw some videos of some guys canoeing around the edges of a large lake that was surounded by swamps and wet lands. They would just paddle around the lake about 40-50 yards from shore going quietly along with a spot light. Almost like shining for frogs. When they spotted eyes, they'd just shoot between 'em.
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: Elkrunner on January 07, 2013, 11:08:27 AM: I had no idea it was legal at night. My in-laws have a ton of them at there place. My mother in law wants them gone. I may just have to do some night hunting!
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: BiggLuke on January 07, 2013, 12:28:43 PM: if racoon hunting wasn't legal at night.... when would you be able to hunt them?
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on January 07, 2013, 12:35:10 PM: Cat food. They love it. :tup:
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: Elkrunner on January 07, 2013, 02:03:16 PM: Quote from: BiggLuke on January 07, 2013, 12:28:43 PM
if racoon hunting wasn't legal at night.... when would you be able to hunt them?

I was always told it wasn't legal to kill them. I guess I never even thought about checking the regs...I may have to get rid of a few.
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: BiggLuke on January 07, 2013, 02:14:13 PM: check out page 68 in the big game hunting regs.
No limit on coons. You need a small game permit. You can hunt them at night. No daily or bag limits.

"Hunting at night:
• Bobcat and raccoon may be hunted
at night during established bobcat
and raccoon seasons, EXCEPT it is
unlawful to hunt bobcat and raccoon
at night during the months of
September, October, or November
in any area open to a centerfire rifle
deer or elk season.
• Coyote may be hunted at night
year round, EXCEPT it is unlawful
to hunt coyote at night during the
months of September, October,
or November in any area open to a
centerfire rifle deer or elk season." Excerpt from page 68.
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: Fishaholic on January 08, 2013, 09:48:32 PM: one i dumped over usinng catfood covered in bacon greese. bread works good fryed trout leftovers work even better. put the bait in a place you can see it about 20 feet from you and wait or you could feed them catfood for a few weeks and get them in close and murder them up close. all ways will work.
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on January 08, 2013, 10:30:00 PM: nice ... now the only part of killing coons is skinning those little stinky SOBs ...when I was in high school I would average anywhere from 5 to 10 a week running a trap line and to come home from school and skin that many coons was not fun ...I did not mind it back then but now ....they can live :chuckle: :tup:
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: Fishaholic on January 08, 2013, 11:15:55 PM: yeah i know how that is i skinned out my first one when i was 16 and it was a big female and i about puked my guts out. coons are dumb. i dont care what people say i have shot them knifed them( true story) killed them with traps made spears and speared them shot them with a bow i even tryed using a slongshot( didnt work well) but if youu have a coon problem cover catfood with baccon grease ( has to be warm) and set it out. you will have a coon to shoot there that night.
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: Elkrunner on January 09, 2013, 10:27:36 AM: Are you guys eating them? Something about that just doesnt seem right to me...
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: Fishaholic on January 09, 2013, 11:09:50 AM: no sir hahaha but raccoon is full of protein just like bever but i wouldnt eat one. I guess alot of people do.
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: Machias on January 09, 2013, 12:00:08 PM: Quote from: Elkrunner on January 09, 2013, 10:27:36 AM
Are you guys eating them? Something about that just doesnt seem right to me...

What? Killing furbearers for their fur? Lots of animals are trapped/shot for their furs, mink, muskrats, beaver, coons, martins, fisher, opossums, fox, bobcats, yotes......
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: Fishaholic on January 09, 2013, 12:24:55 PM: Quote from: Elkrunner on January 09, 2013, 10:27:36 AM
Are you guys eating them? Something about that just doesnt seem right to me...
my question to you is would you eat a mouse or rat?? coons carry all sorts of diseases like tularemia tubeculosis listeriosis and leptospirosis. and parasites like tape worms round worms ticks fleas and lice. all of this information came from the WDFW TRAPPER EDUCATION HAND BOOK. you can go to wdfw.com and look at and or print it off.
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: jackmaster on January 09, 2013, 12:28:54 PM: my son uses a big bag of cheap dog food that we get from the feed store, he sets his trail cam up and when the little masked bandits are comin in thick he goes and gets in his ladderstand and waits for the noise, he flicks on the light and whacks them with his .22 he is 17 and has killed 6 so far. he only goes down there once inawhile but he sure seems to have fun
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: C-Money on January 09, 2013, 12:45:33 PM: I just call Billy or the Turtle man. Problem solved.

:chuckle:
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: lokidog on January 09, 2013, 05:43:22 PM: Quote from: ddjj1991 on January 09, 2013, 12:24:55 PM
Quote from: Elkrunner on January 09, 2013, 10:27:36 AM
Are you guys eating them? Something about that just doesnt seem right to me...
my question to you is would you eat a mouse or rat?? coons carry all sorts of diseases like tularemia tubeculosis listeriosis and leptospirosis. and parasites like tape worms round worms ticks fleas and lice. all of this information came from the WDFW TRAPPER EDUCATION HAND BOOK. you can go to wdfw.com and look at and or print it off.

Sorry, but BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.... Racoon tastes good, I've eaten them for 20+ years and never gotten sick - oh yeah, I don't eat them raw either. :dunno: Better not pet your dog, because dogs can have a lot of that stuff as well.
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on January 09, 2013, 06:55:02 PM: I've never eaten one myself, but I heard they are good. Years ago my uncle and I got one with our archery hunting equipment, and gave it to an old guy that ate everything. He said it was good! :dunno:
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: Fishaholic on January 09, 2013, 07:50:00 PM: Quote from: lokidog on January 09, 2013, 05:43:22 PM
Quote from: ddjj1991 on January 09, 2013, 12:24:55 PM
Quote from: Elkrunner on January 09, 2013, 10:27:36 AM
Are you guys eating them? Something about that just doesnt seem right to me...
my question to you is would you eat a mouse or rat?? coons carry all sorts of diseases like tularemia tubeculosis listeriosis and leptospirosis. and parasites like tape worms round worms ticks fleas and lice. all of this information came from the WDFW TRAPPER EDUCATION HAND BOOK. you can go to wdfw.com and look at and or print it off.

Sorry, but BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.... Racoon tastes good, I've eaten them for 20+ years and never gotten sick - oh yeah, I don't eat them raw either. :dunno: Better not pet your dog, because dogs can have a lot of that stuff as well.
as i stated it came from wdfw handbook. not all have them but some do. i killed one and the game department came and got it and they tested it and it had rabies.
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: lokidog on January 09, 2013, 08:37:35 PM: Well, you didn't mention rabies in your list. OK, so don't eat the ones foaming at the mouth. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on January 09, 2013, 08:58:53 PM: :EAT: :tdown: :tdown: :DOH: :yike:
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: Fishaholic on January 09, 2013, 09:33:45 PM: there alot more then the ones i listed. i would try one from a mountan but not from were i live i know what they eat. i had one come into my house after my cat.
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: lokidog on January 09, 2013, 09:52:29 PM: I wouldn't eat a city pigeon but would eat one from on a farm or under a country bridge anytime.
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: Swannytheswan on January 09, 2013, 10:11:22 PM: how would one cook a raccoon? I've killed plenty and have always been curious but never tried one. :cue:
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on January 09, 2013, 10:37:39 PM: Quote from: Swannytheswan on January 09, 2013, 10:11:22 PM
how would one cook a raccoon? I've killed plenty and have always been curious but never tried one. :cue:

Never tried to cook one myself, but being a rather stringy meat, I suspect they are best slow-cooked. I don't know if they have the gland-kernels in the hind legs that must be removed for cooking or not. Some small mammals have them, and if not removed they give the meat a bad taste.
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: Fishaholic on January 09, 2013, 10:57:12 PM: you can cook coon how ever you want i just did some research and they make it just like beef. bbqed fryed baked broiled raccoon meatloaf raccoon pie ect

hear is a coon on a bbq googled it
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: jackmaster on January 10, 2013, 07:16:11 AM: i learned how to hunt with hounds from an old timer from Georgia, well him and his brothers would hunt coon at night for meat for the family his dad had passed away, well he said that coon was a great meal but possum was even better, he was a true man from the south and a great man. has anyone ever ate possum?
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: BiggLuke on January 10, 2013, 07:46:35 AM: Chop it up and make beef stew with it. You'll be surprised how tasty the stew is.... even though it's not beef meat in the stew.
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: lokidog on January 10, 2013, 08:05:47 AM: As far as cooking coon, I have usually quartered it and then in crock pot with veggies or whatever. The last three, smaller ones, I crockpotted and then deboned and shredded it later making sloppy joes with it. I was going to do the joes for the catfish trip but was not able to make it. Years ago, I had a non-hunting family over for dinner. I let the dad know I was making coon stew but he decided not to tell his family. They tried it, and after being told what it was, all asked for seconds.

One trick to reducing any strongness to the taste is to remove absolutely as much fat as possible.
Title: Re: Nightime Coons?
Post by: Fishaholic on January 10, 2013, 10:46:53 AM: thats trickry!!!!! haha but funny im still not liking the idea of eating coon