[black bear]

My house is next to a piece of woods and calling the police is a waste of time, they come after the fact with all lights and sirens blaring and any crook can hear they coming a mile away, and retreat.

My dog was barking bloody murder recently, I can tell by the way he barks when an animal or a person is lurking in the woods near the house.

My procedure is exit the house by the farther exit, (in this case the garage door) and circle around quietly until I am in position to evaluate the situation.

The dog also appreciates the moral support of my presence.

I wear dark clothes and a dark watch cap just for those intrusions.
My gun is a 1911 with Laser Grips and extra magazines loaded with Federal's Hydra-Shocks 230 grains. I have a cell phone and a radio to communicate with the house to let then know what is going on.

My flashlight is one of my modifications, the MAG 951 II (1050 "real" lumens)
Thirty times more powerful than a regular Maglite 3 D on which is based, even more powerful than the 1 million candlepower spotlight.

Unfortunately two of the culprits were going away with the price when I switched on the light, they were already 35 or 40 yards into the woods and started running when I put the light on them, two others guys were close and half blinded they tangled in the bushes and thorns in escaping, a couple shots from my pistol slamming in the tree near by, hasting they departure.

The price was my raccoon feeder with 5 pounds of corn (don't laugh, made by my hands it was a masterpiece) in exchange I got a nice 18 volts Ryobi drill-screwdriver and pliers.

Neighbors are far away enough than shooting even the entire night will not bother them, calling police for a stolen feeder will serve only for something to joke around in the squad room.
I guess the raccoons will go hungry this winter.

black bear

[Gun Wielding Maniac]

Who the hell would steal a raccoon feeder? They deserve to be shot for being that damn stupid.

[Camp David]

...The price was my raccoon feeder with 5 pounds of corn...

black bear=> Sorry to hear of your loss! I would check out the local craft stores/second-hand shops/or pawn shops for the item to see if thieves try to pawn your feeder.... I can't understand why they would steal it otherwise! if you have a picture of raccoon feeder post it in local newspaper!

Reminds me of my own near loss a while ago... we do frequent CW reenactments here in VA over the summer and a buddy in artillery asked me to babysit his 12lb Napolean recreation over the summer, since he was in the middle of a job transfer... cannon & carriage is fairly large so I put in my backyard near the shed and forgot about it... until late one evening in June... a couple of kids were trying to move it out during the night...they didn't know, however, that long dog leash that was attached at one end to cannon was attached at the other end to our pet doberman... man those kids got quite a surprise seeing that dog come around the corner of the house... must have been classic!

[hkmp5g17]

Who the hell would steal a raccoon feeder? They deserve to be shot for being that damn stupid.


Maybe they had the munchees?:evil:

Anthony

[V4Vendetta]

I'm sorry for your loss. I live in the woods too. I haven't had any prowlers yet except the critter kind. Maybe you could do what a friend of mine did. He was a welder. Some kids came by & smashed his mailbox to pieces. Twice. The third time he took a piece of railroad iron & welded it into a mailbox. For those of you who don't know, railroad iron is VERY TOUGH. Well some kids came by & decided to drive their new car into the mailbox. Smashed the car up good. My friend didn't have to pay them any money because the mailbox was away from the street just enough. It didn't kill the kids if your interested.

I mention this because maybe you could weld your new feeder into pole that's concreted into the ground. Just a thought.

[hso]

Kids?

[V4Vendetta]

If you are refering to my story, they were in their 20's. I consider that kids.

[brufener]

Sorry to hear about your loss. No one likes a thief.

I was a little surprised by your response:

a couple shots from my pistol slamming in the tree near by

Were you aiming for them, or just trying to scare them (seems like a bad idea to shoot near someone just to warn)? If you had hit them, it seems (based on your brief description) that it wouldn't be a justifiable shooting.

Why did you decide to shoot?

Bryce

[Biker]

I recently turned 50. If you're under thirty, you're a kid.:evil:
Biker

[Henry Bowman]

I have two racoon feeders that I (used to) set out at the curb on Tuesdays nights. Now I either use tight and strong bungy cords over the lids or wait and set them out early Wednesday morning before the men in the big truck come and empty the "racoon feed" out of them. :D Got tired of picking up the racoon feed that was left strewn (sp?) all over my yard by the little varmits. :cuss:

[jobu07]

Sorry to hear about your loss. No one likes a thief.

I was a little surprised by your response:



Were you aiming for them, or just trying to scare them (seems like a bad idea to shoot near someone just to warn)? If you had hit them, it seems (based on your brief description) that it wouldn't be a justifiable shooting.

Why did you decide to shoot?

Bryce
Yeah, it definatly wouldn't have been kosher with a L.I. DA, but eh, sounds like an appropriate enough response. Looters and thieves get no quarter. No one got hurt or killed, and they probably won't come back to your property ever again after having those .45's thump into some tree's near by.

[Zundfolge]

The price was my raccoon feeder with 5 pounds of corn (don't laugh, made by my hands it was a masterpiece) in exchange I got a nice 18 volts Ryobi drill-screwdriver and pliers.

So run an ad in the local paper:

Will trade, your Ryobi drill-screwdriver and pliers for Raccoon feeder you stole on 12/6/05. No questions asked.


If they show up to get their drill back you snap a Polaroid of them and start passing copies around town.

Shame is a great motivator (especially in a semi-rural/small town kinda place).

[Biker]

So run an ad in the local paper:

Will trade, your Ryobi drill-screwdriver and pliers for Raccoon feeder you stole on 12/6/05. No questions asked.


If they show up to get their drill back you snap a Polaroid of them and start passing copies around town.

Shame is a great motivator (especially in a semi-rural/small town kinda place).
Now *that* is a helluva good idea!
Biker

[Technosavant]

So run an ad in the local paper:

Will trade, your Ryobi drill-screwdriver and pliers for Raccoon feeder you stole on 12/6/05. No questions asked.


If they show up to get their drill back you snap a Polaroid of them and start passing copies around town.

Shame is a great motivator (especially in a semi-rural/small town kinda place).

I'll also say that would be great. It would also be a shame if somehow a couple wires inside that tool were clipped so as to make it nonfunctional.

My guess is that the punks were college kids screwing around, and they are probably pretty worried about what Daddy will say when he misses his cordless drill.

[Camp David]

Were you aiming for them, or just trying to scare them (seems like a bad idea to shoot near someone just to warn)? If you had hit them, it seems (based on your brief description) that it wouldn't be a justifiable shooting.

Why did you decide to shoot?

Bryce

Perhaps it would have been good if he hit one... and besides... if you decide to steal out of someone's back yard, don't complain about response! Last I checked stealing is illegal... who cares if a few thieves get buried?

[Bad Words]

I'm sorry for being picky here, but just wanted to let you know that what they did was burglarize, as opposed to rob. When I read the thread title I was expecting something a bit more exciting...

Also if the shots were just to scare them or something, they probably should have hit the ground nearby you, instead of a tree near where the people were. I hope you weren't trying to shoot them just for trespassing and stealing a raccoon feeder.

[hillbilly]

It certainly would not have been legal or ethical to shoot these sorry sacks of rat crap for stealing your raccoon feeder.

But it sure might have been satisfying.......not legal.....not ethical....but might have been very satisfying.......

hillbilly

[Master Blaster]

Sounds like harassment to me, the feeder had no value to theives, its not instantly saleable for cash to buy drugs.

My guess is that they were harassing you specifically, and you know them or have recently chased them off your property so they were getting even.

Anyone like that come to mind????

[jbear6]

They must have been doing some early Christmas shopping (stealing). That's pretty sad, stealing a raccoon feeder. I'll bet you see your handiwork hanging in someones yard close to your neighborhood after the Holidays :(

Jbear6

[auschip]

I would think harassment would be bringing more racoons and/or refilling the feeders. :neener:

Kidding ... a little bit. :evil:

[brufener]

who cares if a few thieves get buried?

The local prosecutor?

I'm not trying to defend the theives - what they did was wrong. Just wondering why Black bear would risk prison (for an unjustifiable shoot) by shooting at theives who were running away.

[MD_Willington]

Couple "bird bangers" from a shot gun would probably suffice to have the perpetrators empty their bowels in their pants...

MD

[AirForceShooter]

The racoons didn't do anything wrong. Why should they suffer?
Make a new feeder, It's the right thing to do.

AFS

[MAURICE]

V4Vendetta,
A similar thing happened here. A man was having problems with people running his mailbox over, so he built one out of iron.
I tell you that to tell you this. One day while on patrol, a cop friend of mine recieved a call to respond to a gas station about a half mile from the tank mailbox house. A 19 year old pacific islander male who was hopped up on something (meth, IIRC) was freaking out in the store, threatening to kill and hitting people. When my buddy showed up the guy exited the store and tried to run him over. He drew his duty weapon and quickly decided he would not shoot due to bystanders. He had a somewhat clear shot, but somewhat is not enough. The subject then hauled butt out of there and down the road with my friend in pursuit. Subject was driving a v8, bud was driving a v6 Impala loaded down with hundreds of pounds of police gear so the subject was a ways ahead of him. The subject swerved, struck the curb, ran into the mailbox. At this point the subject was DRT. A piece of the mailbox came through the windshield and killed him. He continued down the road about another half a mile (he was doing approx 80-90 mph when he struck) and struck a massive oak tree.)

Other than being knocked over and missing a leg, the mailbox suffered surprisingly little damage. More importantly, my friend made it out alright, too.

[georgeduz]

shooting at a bunch of kids is not a good idea.kids are always doing dumb ???? like that,a good ass beating would have been better.

[black bear]

I was a little surprised by your response:

Were you aiming for them, or just trying to scare them (seems like a bad idea to shoot near someone just to warn)? If you had hit them, it seems (based on your brief description) that it wouldn't be a justifiable shooting.

Why did you decide to shoot?

Bryce[/QUOTE]

Bryce,
I understand your concern. Where I come from, it is called "a show of force," and it is what most crooks understand.
Now, you recall I mention "evaluating the situation;" that is what I did, and it seemed safe to shoot at the tree near them (I have a Laser Grips in my pistol and I know where I am shooting). Moreover, I wanted the bullets to hit the tree where I can find them again if I want to prove where I shoot, NOT the ground, not the air, but where I can retrieve them.

In my town, we can get away to do some John Wayne things, especially when we are in our own property.

I know the local law enforcement officers (I have sold several MAG 951's to them) and I was expecting trouble so I was ready to do some shooting.


In the summer when I returned from my camping trip I found my dog (a Rottweiler) badly beaten and unable to stand on her legs. It looks like they used a tire iron on her, a tool that they carry to force open doors or windows. (I have an alarm system and a big dog, it’s just you don't get any respect these days).

Not long ago I found an arrow buried to the feathers in the back yard, no doubt aimed and shot from the woods toward my dog, as it was near her dog house.

More recently they tried to break thru the garage door (it is bolted from the inside).
Even more recently at 2 am one guy run thru my property chased by my dog, he collided in the dark with my wooden shooting bench (I shoot adult air guns called Field Target, 1200 fps with Kodiak 12 grains) and limped out (I saw him) after jumping my fence.

I had a similar situation with two guys "casing the joint" from the woods a few years ago when I still worked as a watchmaker. The same case, with my dog barking bloody murder. I sneaked on them and put a strong light in their faces, also I took a couple shots to help then win the race down the airstrip we used to have.

Now, this case was probably different, guys doing this for a dare, (they confront a barking dog) or for doing mischievous things, people doing the same things to annoy the residents, stealing garbage cans and throwing them in the woods, blowing mailboxes near the 4th of July at Halloween and near New Year. (I just buy the cheap ones, now) stealing hanging flower pots, giving the nice folks flat tires, shooting paint balls at doors and windows in car-pass shootings, burning a tool shed once in a while, breaking into the newspaper stand and stealing cigarettes and candies. (They are half men half children)
Calling the Pizza man with an order and giving him flat tires.

Walking in the woods I find places where they congregate, the litter they left behind is composed of beer cans, porno magazines, marijuana joints, wine bottles, condoms, and sexy underwear.

Twice they almost burned the woods nearby. I don't know what kind of parents those kids have but I don't think they are going to be missed if by mistake I hit one or two of them :D jk!

Show of force works. I am mostly left alone in comparison to what they do to my neighbors.
Still, when you go out there you don't know what you are going to find, it is not ill advice to go prepared to confront the guy that beat my dog or the one that tried to break into the house.

black bear

[Teufelhunden]

in exchange I got a nice 18 volts Ryobi drill-screwdriver and pliers.

Keep the tools. Use them to build a new, better, raccoon feeder.

-Teuf

[johnnymenudo]

Who the hell would steal a raccoon feeder? They deserve to be shot for being that damn stupid.

Who the hell would actually make a raccoon feeder???? ;)

JM

[Cosmoline]

Kids?

They brought a power tool with them, which rules out this being a drunken "smash the mailbox" crime. They obviously planned it, which is really bizarre. Is there a black market for raccoon feeders? I remember shooting coons, but never FEEDING them. Odd. I guess in Long Island they feed the raccoons and shoot the people :D

[MechAg94]

I don't think it would be unethical or immoral to shoot the thieves, but it would be illegal. I guess everyone has their own thoughts on that. :)

[Mr_Moore]

Kids?

That was my thought.

No career criminal is going to do that.

[spacemanspiff]

i keep waiting for the punchline...where is it?

[TrekkieFromHell]

Why you aren't allowed to shoot people who are not only tresspassing on your property, but stealing as well is beyond me....

[QuickDraw]

Who the hell would actually make a raccoon
feeder????
+2
Oh I get it.Make a raccoon feeder then shoot 'em
while they dine.:evil:
I'd rather feed rats... oh wait same thing.:D

QuickDraw

[1 old 0311]

Sounds like the woods are the problem. Set up a few suprises up OFF your property.:evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:


Kevin

[Cosmoline]

Are you sure it wasn't these guys, dressed up in human clothes?

http://www.pvplc.org/photocontest/photo02/photos/racoons.jpg

[bogie]

I'd just like to know _where_ on Lawn Guyland is it that a person can get away with popping a few caps at trespassers...

[MICHAEL T]

I think you did a fine job. Out here where I live I also been known to let a couple fly in middle of night. People don't come out here at O dark early to look at the leaves. Their out for trouble. Law needs to be changed to make fair game. When people die others loose interest in doing same. Except the really dumb ones, and They need Darwin Award anyway.

[Atticus]

Not to change the subject...but do you really feed the raccoons?
I'll bet someone's dad is gonna be ticked when he tries to find his drill lol.

[Car Knocker]

V4Vendetta ,

What in tarnation is "railroad iron"? Ya talking about a piece of rail, axle, coupler, what?

[Gunpacker]

Well, since you didn't hit anyone, you are lucky. As for charges on using your gun, I don't think you will have a problem. No one is going to the cops to tell them that they were shot at while stealing a raccoon feeder.

[brufener]

Where I come from, it is called "a show of force," and it is what most crooks understand.

Now your actions make sense to me. It's too bad you have to deal with so many low-lifes. I agree with your actions - if people, especially young people, think you are crazy they will leave you alone. I can just hear them: "Some crazy old man was shooting at us for messing with his racoon feeder." You bet the word will get around.

Now, if I could only understand these young people. Why in the world would they steal a racoon feeder? Don't they have something better to do? :confused: I don't understand them - and I'm only in my mid-20s.

Hope they leave you alone.

Bryce

[carebear]

I have two racoon feeders that I (used to) set out at the curb on Tuesdays nights. Now I either use tight and strong bungy cords over the lids or wait and set them out early Wednesday morning before the men in the big truck come and empty the "racoon feed" out of them. :D Got tired of picking up the racoon feed that was left strewn (sp?) all over my yard by the little varmits. :cuss:

Glad I wasn't the only to visualize the traditional feeder. :D

[pete f]

I would install motion detector lights. WAY up high. also install cams good ones are not that expensive anymore


maybe a strand or two of barb wire.

get one of those night vision deer cameras. nice to have pics of kids in the act.

I am always partial to non harmful but painful set works. friend had someone sneaking in his barn and drinking beer and leaving a mess. he place two good sized mace cans tape to a pole. rigged a pull string and a tripper waited till the punks were in his barns lower level then pulled the string....gassed them pretty good.

I had problems with kids jumping my fence in back and then leaving front gate open. put on plastic gloves and smeared nice smelly doggie poop all over top rail of fence. kids went over fence and got a belly full and hands full of doggie poop.

find where they are playing and free plant a lot of brambles or poison ivy.

I had someone stealing beer from the garage fridge, bought a six of a dark beer and added syrup of ipecac. took all the rest into the house. neighbor kids were laughing about some kids who went to party and got so
sick they barfed all over daddies new car.

PS call ryobi and ask if the drill was ever warrantee registered, more than likely it was daddies and he sent in the warrantee card.....

[jtward01]

It is not a good idea to attract raccoons to your property. They are one of the major rabies carriers in the US. I'm sure your dog is properly vaccinated, but even so, if he/she were to be bitten by one of the 'coons it could be rather unpleasant for you as he/she would have to go into quarantine, etc.

As for mailboxes, here in my subdivision we sometimes have problems with kids from the nearby high school hot rodding down the street and bashing the mailboxes with baseball bats. I friend of mine had three boxes destroyed before he went to welding shop and had one built out of 3/8" cold rolled steel, welded to a post which he anchored into the ground with a concrete footer. The next kid who came down the street bashing boxes with a baseball bat ended up in the emergency room with two broken wrists. Of course, his parents sued my friend but the jury ruled against them so they and their attorney got nothing.

[williamlayton]

For you folks bounded by neighbors you just do not appreciate the situation.
Folks who live in rural areas have need of more force than cityfied folks.
Check this out. You can, in Texas, by God shoot the heck out of a person who invades your property, day or night, for the purpose of stealing.
There are reasons for this and that is why the law is there.
Protection of property is akin to protection of self.
If those KIDS are there too steal they are taking a risk they do not understand. I would help them understand to stay off my property, leave my dogs alone.
I have no sympathy for people who do not respect the rights of a homeoner. Drop one and the word will get around.
Blessings

[V4Vendetta]

Railroad iron is a piece of iron that trains run on.

[BigFatKen]

Now this was over 30 years ago, but:
My roomate's dad had a house on US 2 in upper MI. The snowplows would mow down his mailbox each year. He used a fence post. Here in America we have all kinds of leases. He offered to rent his land for "snowfall drop area". If the county had rented the land for the $1/yr offered all would have been fine. But they did not want to start a president. Fearing "adverse possesion", he had to stop the trucks at the legal R/W.

One summer, after a welding job, he had a 20' length of boom tubing. In 100+ foot cranes, it is tubing. To me, a rolled steel tube with 4" OD and 2" ID is one stiff mother. That summer he measured back from the Center line of US 2 and had a well drill go down 17'. He put in the tube with mailbox on top. Packed and set all summer. He told the County he was enforcing his rights and to be wary of his mailbox. I'm sure the plowman had orders to push the early snow back so there is room for later snow. The tube proved to be the "unmovable object". The 20 ton plow truck was less than the force needed. The resulting crash about totaled the truck. No one bad hurt.
My roomate didn't tell me of lawsuits, but I'm sure lawsuits were threatened.

Result: land and mailbox protected

[magyvor]

Some of you people are crazy. "Why thats Illegal...What if you Shot them.....The DA will have something to say....BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH" :banghead:

I read the post, enjoyed the story, and agree 100% with what Black Bear did. I will also assume that he knew what he was doing, instead of thinking about what I would have done.

1. Laser grips
2. Kick Azz flash light
3. in a rural area

Those alone tell me the response to the thieving Feeder steelers was PERFECT!

So heres my "What IF"...........What If by shooting towards them you scared them so much that they NEVER again do something so stupid. What If because of what happened they learned a valuable lesson. What If those kids actually grow up to become responsible law abiding citizens and teach their own kids some day that the RTKBA is essentail to keep our freedoms, do to a close call they had that made them realize THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN DECISIONS.

I live in a neighborhood. I could never respond like Black Bear did. I envy him :rolleyes:

But, instead of a racoon feeder, I do leave a bucket at the curb with my leftover McDonalds for the homeless guys....Does that count?

Thanks Black Bear...great story.

[AnthonyRSS]

I probably would have shot at them too. If they will steal your raccoon feeder, who knows what they will steal next?

Losers.

[Charlie Oldphart]

Talking about mailboxes.

I had a son-in-law (now an ex-son-inlaw) that was so lazy you couldn't find a shovel to fit his hand anywhere. He wouln't work so he took up stealing.

At about 3 AM he and another pot head broke into someone's barn and was stealing chainsaws and other tools. The homeowner (farmer) heard the noise and put on the light just in time to see these clowns heading out of his drive and let go with two rounds with his 12 gauge. Dummy was driving a VW Rabitt (which I had given him) and in leaving the driveway he ran completely over the farmer's mailbox. Guess what. It tore the front license plate off and it was lying on the ground. It didn't take the cops too long to figure out who to talk to first--me--seeing that the car was registered in my name.

Anyway, we got it sorted out and Dummy got probation and psycological help. Wasn't that nice?

But my poor VW!! There were seven buckshot holes in the trunk, back window smashed and front windshield shattered. The damn insurance company wouldn't pay the claim saying it wasn't covered due to the vehicle was damaged during the commission of a crime!

When the farmer was questioned about shooting at a car he said that he didn't have his glasses on and heard a low growling sound (bad muffler) and was sure that a bear had attacked his sheep and was running off with it. Well, the cops sort of smiled and told him to be sure what he was shooting at next time. The old farmer said in his best Vermont accent "Don't think there will be a next time. Word gets around and I hear all the bears are heading south. Ayup.".

Anyway, I came out on the short end to the tune of about $1500 to fix the VW. I just wanted to fix the glass and leave the trunk with the holes in it. Great conversation starter! Wife says no way, so we fixed it.

If anyone starts a thread about "wannabes" I got another story about another ex son-in-law who has been in every war since 1812. Yup, you guessed it--same daughter==geeezz!

God Bless You and Yours.

Charlie

[warriorsociologist]

PS call ryobi and ask if the drill was ever warrantee registered, more than likely it was daddies and he sent in the warrantee card.....

Now that's just what I was going to say. It might be worth a shot.

[Lupinus]

Shooting them would have been bad.....though a shotgun loaded with rock salt if you just nipped them where forrest gump was bit would have been fun to watch. :neener:

[Car Knocker]

V4Vendetta,

Must be a regional term? It's actually hot-rolled steel that is a bit too hard and brittle to be termed "tough". A flat wheel or heavy built-up tread on a freight car or locomotive wheel can easily break a rail from the high point-loading.

[V4Vendetta]

All I know is that his mailbox wasn't damaged at all. Whereas their Corvette was smashed to bits.

[Yowza]

What kind of idiot would purposely hit anything with a corvette?

[Atticus]

[QUOTE][So heres my "What IF"...........What If by shooting towards them you scared them so much that they NEVER again do something so stupid. What If because of what happened they learned a valuable lesson. What If those kids actually grow up to become responsible law abiding citizens and teach their own kids some day that the RTKBA is essentail to keep our freedoms, do to a close call they had that made them realize THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN DECISIONS.
/QUOTE]


I totally understand the reponse. I've wanted to do that myself at times.


BUT

That's a good side of the "what if'. The downside might be a dead (shot in the back) 14 year old that you've known all your life (and maybe you are friends with his parents, grandparents, etc.) who won't get a chance to grow up and realize that his childish prank was stupid.

I'd bet twenty bucks that the kids are neighbors, or even friends of the family. How else did would they know about this feeder? They obviously came prepared to steal it. I would ask around to see who is missing a Ryobi drill.

[Hardtarget]

probably don't live very far from you...and one of them just needed a unique Christmas gift for his grandmother. how thoughtfull.
Mark.

[chopinbloc]

okay, i really don't understand why you would WANT to feed vermin. can someone please explain this to me? must be an east coast thing.

[Sportcat]

How much rock salt do you put in it?

What kind of shell do you use to "launch" the rock salt?

Will it damage the inside of your barrel?

[jtward01]

Since rock salt is so much lighter than lead, steel or any of the other alloys they're using in shotshells today you can fill them up without worrying about over pressure loads. When I lived in the country and we had a problem with the neighbor's dogs we'd just open up the crimp on factory loads (paper casings in those days), dump the lead shot and refill it with rock salt. It didn't seriously injure the dogs, but it sure kept them away for a while.

Yes, you do need to clean the gun immediately after using it. Some of the salt will turn into a powder when the gun is fired and that powder will coat the inside of the barrel. The salt will suck in moisture from the atmosphere and voila', instant rust. We only used the stuff in an old Winchester Model 37 single shot 12 gauge that was basically a rust bucket already.

[Azrael256]

You can, in Texas, by God shoot the heck out of a person who invades your property, day or night, for the purpose of stealing. And it's up to the property owner to decide what they're up to. A friend used to do field strength surveys for radio stations. Once or twice, somebody fouled up and called the wrong farmer for permission to cross his land. Most of them figured out what was going on when they saw two guys loaded down with RF measurement gear, but one or two responded with a load of #8 across the bow. Criminal tresspass, particularly for stealin', particularly at night can easily turn into a capital crime.

I will, personally, give a round of applause to the first man who can tell me who coined the phrase "Texas, by God!" and what gun made him say it.

[black bear]

For those that have expressed a concern about me feeding the raccoons.

Feeding the raccoons was a forced action.

My yard is fenced with a 7 foot fence, the nice raccoons climb the fence and fight my 100 pounds Rottweiler, taking round chunks of skin the size of dollar coins, down to bare skin.

It took me a while to realize they do that for the lingering odors of dog food or the smell of cooking coming out of the house.

I had a door fit on the fence and put the corn feeder out in a tree 25 yards away from the door in the fence.

I made a feeder, waterproofed it painted camo and covered it with the plastic leaves that bowhunters use for tri dimensional camo.

You have to be very near to discover it, but they did.

The feeder "tactic" worked like a charm, no more fights, no more frantic barking at 2 a. m. no more visits to the Vet.
It just cost me 20 pounds of corn per week, a small price to pay for piece of mind.

To discover the feeder you have to be lurking in the woods near the house, with other intentions, (casing the joint we call it) to come back with pliers and a screwdriver drill to get it, it is more like a dare, confront a 100 pounds frantic barking dog 25 yards away, shows disrespect and a who cares attitude, you have to show people like that a little of "show of force"
That was my reason for shooting near the BG's.

black bear

[jobu07]

And it's up to the property owner to decide what they're up to. A friend used to do field strength surveys for radio stations. Once or twice, somebody fouled up and called the wrong farmer for permission to cross his land. Most of them figured out what was going on when they saw two guys loaded down with RF measurement gear, but one or two responded with a load of #8 across the bow. Criminal tresspass, particularly for stealin', particularly at night can easily turn into a capital crime.

I will, personally, give a round of applause to the first man who can tell me who coined the phrase "Texas, by God!" and what gun made him say it.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley_Hardin

[Azrael256]

That article just says "Colt Revolver." You have to name it. :neener:

[Cosmoline]

Shoot the raccoons and feed them to the dog. Win win.

Honestly, feeding overly aggressive wildlife to placate it is a horrible idea all around. If you did it here you'd be looking at a very hefty fine or jail time.

KILL THEM OR LEAVE THEM ALONE. Do not feed them!

[iamkris]

Honest to gosh when I was reading the initial post, I thopught this was going to be one of those Mall Ninja stories.

I wear dark clothes and a dark watch cap just for those intrusions.
My gun is a 1911 with Laser Grips and extra magazines loaded with Federal's Hydra-Shocks 230 grains. I have a cell phone and a radio to communicate with the house to let then know what is going on.

My flashlight is one of my modifications, the MAG 951 II (1050 "real" lumens)
Thirty times more powerful than a regular Maglite 3 D on which is based, even more powerful than the 1 million candlepower spotlight.


The only thing left out was taking high powered rifle rounds with the steel trauma plate...

[williamlayton]

In reply to the one that asked who would run over anything in a corvette.
Can't speak to the corvette specifically, but I do know of one who has watched too many movies and seen the gates fly into pieces when hit by a car.
My home backs to a large transmission easement and it has a locked gate on ti behind my home.
The gate is, or was, the typical aluminum fence gate. The lock was a typical lock and the chain holding the gate closes was a typical chain.
I came home one aftyernoon to find the gate in a "U" shape, still locked and intact. I do know that the perp has found out that gates DO NOT COME APART UPON IMPACT, but the car does. :) :)
Blessings

[gunsmith]

It was a night time and the prowlers had a gun....a Ryobi can certainly look like a gun at night.

it might be time to stop feeding the coons,maybe you can bring the dogs in at night? I'm sure they would appreciate it.

[XLMiguel]

I was going to suggest killing the 'coons, but Cosmo beat me to it. Feeding them only rewards bad behavior and may attract more freeloader vermin.

My neighbor had a family of racoons in a hollow trunk of an old maple that were becoming a real nusance getting into trash cans, making a mess, etc. (suburban neighborhood inside teh beltway, FWIW) It got pretty tense when one of the neigbor's kids almost tangled with a big male one evening when taking the trash out (surprised the animal scrounging in the can). Animal control did nothing, and one of the bambista/bunny huugger neighbors on the other side of the fence said he'd call the humane society, et al, if anything happened to the 'coons (we think he may have been feeding them!?!). Fortunately, one good neighbor had a supressed .22 and a good line of sight on the tree/nest, so the problem was handled 'quietly'. Bunny hugger never figured it out:evil:

[RKirby]

That article just says "Colt Revolver." You have to name it. :neener:


1860 Army .44 Caliber.......supposedly Hardin's favorite.

[22rimfire]

Hiya black bear,

Now, you recall I mention "evaluating the situation;" that is what I did, and it seemed safe to shoot at the tree near them (I have a Laser Grips in my pistol and I know where I am shooting).

In my town, we can get away to do some John Wayne things, especially when we are in our own property.

I know the local law enforcement officers (I have sold several MAG 951's to them) and I was expecting trouble so I was ready to do some shooting.

I don't post here often but browse the forums quite a bit under another user name. Because of what I do in LE I've created this separate userid.

I ask you to seriously consider the potential ramifications of what you did had something gone wrong. I know you believe that what you did was safe but I ask you consider the following.

What if they had a gun? Might they have returned fire, after all you shot at them first?!

What if your laser sights somehow got "knocked off" of zero?

What if one of the scum had zagged when it was clear he was going to zig and inadvertently got in front of your bullet.

There's just too much that can go wrong here IMHO. There is a reason Law Enforcement does not shoot warning shots. Or shots to scare someone. If there is a justifiable reason to use Deadly Force then the point is to aim for the center of the largest visible part of the target (torso) and shoot to stop the threat. Were these guys a threat or simply trying to get away from you?!

I probably will not change your idea of what a bad idea it was to do what you did. But maybe there is someone who will read my post and re-consider doing anything similar to this.

Cheers,
M.

[Farnham]

My yard is fenced with a 7 foot fence, the nice raccoons climb the fence and fight my 100 pounds Rottweiler, taking round chunks of skin the size of dollar coins, down to bare skin.

First, you need to get rid of that pansy dog and get a hound. 50 pounds of redbone will drag 100 pounds of "assault dog" around the block. Twice.

Second, don't feed the vermin.

S/F

Farnham

[Azrael256]

1860 Army .44 Caliber.......supposedly Hardin's favorite. Actually, it was the sight of Armstrong's Peacemaker that allowed Hardin to recognize the Texas Ranger and say those words. Hardin couldn't bring his .44 into the fight because it snagged when he tried to draw it out of his waistband. Good concealment holsters are important!

[chopinbloc]

shoot the racoons. stop shooting at kids.


sounds like the cliche crazy old man that lives down the block. btw, sometimes if people think you're crazy, they might be right.

it seems relevant to note that most laws use the term "reasonable person" in regards to use of force.

[black bear]

shoot the racoons. stop shooting at kids.


sounds like the cliche crazy old man that lives down the block. btw, sometimes if people think you're crazy, they might be right.

it seems relevant to note that most laws use the term "reasonable person" in regards to use of force.

One point is what your "kids" are doing out of parents' house at 2 o'clock in the morning?

And if they think I am crazy and they are afraid to get shot by the "crazy man" I am ahead in the game.

Like the farmer in Old Phart's story I don't think is going to be a second time and is there is I will be NOT be firing warning shots.

And my advice to you is to control your "kids"

black bear

[mbt2001]

I would be hesitant to shoot them, as they are most likely ars kids... The law may say one thing and the damn NY jury finds you liable in a civil action. Keep calling the police and make sure that you keep reporting the trouble you are having. Keep documenting it and if something does happen you will have evidence that the police were not doing anything and you had DONE ALL THE YOUR REASONABLY COULD DO.

A couple of posters here have advised getting motion lights, cameras and the deer cameras set up to try to git pictures of these idiots. That may be a good idea... Get some more dogs though. Enough kids may jack with one Rottweiler, but 2 other big dogs should do the trick...

It would be hard to try to do something that would teach these ars boys a lesson and not get you sued.

Good luck to ya...

[QuickDraw]

And my advice to you is to control your "kids"

Maybe you should feed the kids as well.:D
Perhaps they were P.O.'d neighbors that don't like raccoons.
By the way,been thinking about one of your flashlights.:)

QuickDraw

[CAPTAIN MIKE]

Nothing like "shaming" them in a small rural community. I agree. Good idea !!

[chopinbloc]

Like the farmer in Old Phart's story I don't think is going to be a second time and is there is I will be NOT be firing warning shots.


have fun in prison, dude. i live in az, not socialist ny and we love shooting crooks here but you might end up in jail for shooting at/near someone who wasn't even remotely a threat and you certainly would go to prison for actually shooting someone who wasn't a threat to you. and don't say "but, but, it was dark," because you had a big flashlight, dressed up like a ninja and PUT yourself in that position. you fed and therefore attracted vermin, then shot at what were almost certainly kids. what, kids can't use a cordless drill? so what if some kids - maybe the ones you shot at, maybe not - smoke weed and drink beer in the woods. that's what kids do. they certainly don't deserve to die for it, just get their butts swatted and that is NOT your job.

And my advice to you is to control your "kids"

a gun is for poking holes in paper or defending your life when there is no other choice. it is not for expressing your displeasure at others or asserting your will over the neighborhood. if you started attracting 'coons in my neighborhood, i would be evenly split between setting up a comfy spot to shoot the little bastards or smashing your feeder with an ax. wouldn't steal it, that's more of a prank than anything. for all you know they intended to drive it around town and take polaroids of it in different places then return it like that commercial a few years ago. you are seriously out of touch with reality and you need to calm down before you hurt yourself or someone else. not only would it be a tragedy if you manage to get some poor kid killed, it would almost certainly bring another round of restrictive gun laws. please tell us this was all a joke or that you were just trying to get a rise.

[gremlin_bros]

back when i was growing up the idea of rocksalt in a 12 guage was still big i wonder how the law would take that today. i have had to help a couple of friends patch themselves together after getting rock salt to the backside. trust me they never again did the deed that got them a-salted lol. just a thought.

[Mtnvalley]

It was a night time and the prowlers had a gun....a Ryobi can certainly look like a gun at night.

Indeed. As it happens, I took a course at Front Sight a couple weeks ago, and was in one of the "shoot houses" working through a simulated home invasion.

The only friendly I shot? A guy holding a drill with a long thick bit, ostensibly a "neighbor returning my drill" during a home invasion.

When I told a couple of my real-life neighbors about this faux pas, they laughed...albeit just a bit nervously. ;)