What to do with a 'coon?

Bait them in.... cat food works well, and as some have suggested, tuna probably will as well. Make some fun out of it, sit in a blind with a little ambient light and a good pellet gun (just to make it sporting) and pretend that you are in a leopard blind.... you know the rest....
 
A live trap is the way to go, non targets can be released if necessary.

Poisoning is illegal and a bad way to go, leg traps are illegal to target raccoons with as well since the new humane trapping regulations came into effect a few years ago.
 
canadaman30 said:
A live trap and a drive down the road to let them go. I'm a hunter but see no reason to kill them just for being a coon.
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My father in law gets them and an assortment of small wildlife in his wood shed and livetraps them baited with cat food. Releases them a few miles away across a river. There is little to no chance of it coming back so why kill it. Besides, it makes no difference because his friends are still out there, lurking, waiting. He finally took a long, hard look at his wood shed and made it coon proof. No more coons. Guess maybe not practical with something as big as a barn.
 
Use a good live trap. Have a Heart is a good brand. Then kill it. You won't want to put your fingers anywhere near the release catches with a pissed off raccoon inside!
 
Most have answered with what to do once they have been trapped.
First thing to do is find out the entrance from which they enter.

Professional trappers(residential trappers that is) locate the entrance and build a one way
swing door that allows them to leave and not get back the same way.
they then set up several live traps for the pests.

I would also suggest you keep a sharp eye out for new ways in cause they are notorious( we already know)
how determined they are wanting to get back into the den.
When caught, teach them how to swim...that or the SSS.

Also be prepared to catch a few stray cats...not sure about populations in WH, but in the GVRD they are as popular as coyotes and raccoons in some areas.

With the onset of winter the pelts might make a good hat or coat too.
Good Hunting...err eradicating I mean.
Rob
 
Rob........no coons in WH I spend my winters now in south central BC, which is why I'm new to coons............There is no door on the hay barn so I know how they get in but remodeling isn't practical at this point. For those out there that are concerned about the neighbors cats, I'm here to tell you if I catch one it will suffer the same fate as the coon. I hate cats and if the neighbors cats are frequenting my property they deserve the same fate!! I value song birds way higher than cats and if the neighbors love their cats and want to keep them around then I suggest they control them as I must with my dog, and keep them off my property. These are one of my favorite SSS animals !!!!
 
If you ever have a skunk problem, you can live trap them also. Tuna works best. They will come out of their new home ( under your house etc.) late at night to eat. Once you have the animal in the trap, approach the trap holding a bed sheet out in front of you. so the animal can't see you. When you reach the trap, cover the trap with the sheet. Now you can put the trap in the back of the pickup and go for a long ride. To release, use a long string with a hook to open the door. Just a note: If you have a skunk making a home in one of your buildings in the fall, there will be more than one. A male will have 2 or 3 girl friends with him for the winter. NICE! Good Luck!

Also, if you release a coon, give them a long ride, or they will be back in a few days.
 
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I have trapped hundreds over the years...I traditionally used a conibear 220...But now they make a Racoon Specific leg trap...it's dog and cat proof. Called a little Grizz...1 1/2" steel tube, the release has to be pulled to close trap. Put a marshmallow in back of tube, set, fasten swivel chain to solid object.These are Excellent for coon, available at trapper Supply stores. Google is your friend
 
Douglas, live trap them, then dispose of them permanently either in the trap with a .22 or my preference as they exit with a 12ga. If your going to do the deed in the trap make sure you can get the barrel of the gun through the trap wire mesh before you let fly or the coon may get the last laugh when if the bullet fragments into your leg.
I agree with you if you get the neighbours cat give them the S.S.S treatment, "shoot, shovel, shut up". None of them will be happy little campers so if you decide to use the 12 ga. be ready as when they exit the trap it is usually be at warp 6. Yell "pull" as you release the trap door as it's more sporting that way...!! "Oh" and don't be surprised if you catch several. I got four around my chicken coup in as many nights. Father-in-law got 23 out of his sweet corn patch a few years ago, and each one was shot as he exited the trap so there was no repeat customers.
Great fun, enjoy, especially when you get a cat or two.
 
Negative Looky, went to town today and availed myself of a brand new raccoon size Havahart live (temporarily) trap.........it is set as I type this in the hay barn with a slightly opened can of sardines. I am beginning to think wife and kid are seeing things..........fresh snow and no tracks anywhere..........guess we'll see in the am. I'm thinking I'll just set the trap with the coon in it out about 600 yds and practice my long range shooting with a 22, well OK I'll use the 22 mag........Oh wait that's a different thread, actually though I was really going to set it at 25 yds and poke him in the bean with the 17 HMR, first line-of-sight crossing and should be able to thread it through the 1" squares and bean him. I just hate those teeth scratches all over the muzzle of my new 17 T-bolt.
 
Be patient, sometimes it takes a few days for them to make their rounds. If they've been there they will be back, once a coon has a set it's route they don't usually stray from it and they will teach it to the kids as well.
 
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