Coon hunting

[ds92]

Hi everybody
Does anybody hunt coons? Again, it sparked my interest, like just about any other animal i havent hunted before, so i've got a couple of questions for those of you who do. What time is best to hunt coons? Dawn, Dusk? What kind of gun is best? would a .22lr do? what special equipment do you need? calls, camo, etc?

Thanks fellas.

 

[wilson]

You need some coon dogs, a 22 and go at night.

 

[janobles14]

gotta have the hounds imho

 

[qajaq59]

Years ago I hunted them with 4 hounds and a .22 pistol. To this day my Ruger has it's sights painted white. But you better be in real good shape, cause some of those smart old coon will take you on a 10 mile trek over every hill in the state. Lots of guys will tell you, "Oh, I hunted coon..... once."

 

[Newt]

I used to coon hunt about 10 years ago when I was in high school. It will sure keep you in shape. A .22 will do. It's not just a "go sit on your stand" type of hunting. We had coon dogs. I got out of it because I'm not much of a dog hunter and I don't like shooting critters to intentionally wound.

 

[SGR]

I have shot many coons with a .22 but I found a .22 mag. with hollow points a much more effective, quicker kill on any size Coon.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Coons are tough critters for sure. I've killed quite a few and have found the cci stingers to be very effective from a rifle. I never hunted them with dogs and I'm too old to start now.

 

[Dksimon]

I havent ever hunted them with dogs but if you have an area when you know there are coons just go out with a spotlight. Walk around for a while panning around with the spotlight, they seem to be pretty curious and will almost always be looking at you when you shine the light on them.

Once you get the light on them, some of them will be fixed on the light and wont move as you get close enough for a shot. others will run and you have to run to catch up for a clean shot.

P.S. Coon skins are going for $17 for a big one here.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I've coon hunted my whole life...I've had blueticks, redticks, walkers, redbones, mountain curs, and black and tans.


The best of the bunch IMO is black and tans...but opinions vary.

You need a good coon hound (they are about as plentiful as good women and good mules)
An accurate 22 rifle...even 22 shorts if you can put them between the coons eyes (I prefer open sights...but a scope can be used if you have a bright light)
Waterproof boots
A good rechargeable flashlight (similar to a coal miners light)
A coon squaller sometimes helps to get them to look at you (which makes them MUCH easier to find in a tree)
That should get you started...

Hunt them at night...all night long. Its better in late fall and winter...it gets hot climbing up and down hills in warm weather.

 

[Clint C]

Here in Iowa you have to have dogs. My old boss said he used to go out in the woods and howl. this would run the coons up the tree then he would spot light them. He stoped doing this after the game warden gave him a coupon (ticket) for doing this. You want a dog, .22lr, and hunt at night. I think it is legal to spot light them once you get them treed. I don't coon hunt but have many friends that do.

 

[Sunray]

Make sure night hunting coons is legal in CT. Takes a special licence for the hunter and the required dog, up here, in Ontario. .22 RF, only, up here.
Check your hunting regs.

 

[Bigreno]

Not sure how you guys do it up north. Down here in Texas you post up on a deer feeder with a spot light and wait for them. Then shoot until you run out of ammo.

 

[qajaq59]

Not sure how you guys do it up north. Down here in Texas you post up on a deer feeder with a spot light and wait for them. Then shoot until you run out of ammo.

In MA it was easy enough.

Cut the dogs loose.

Follow them for 10-15 miles till they tree the coon.
Shoot the coon 45 feet up in a pine tree in the dark.
Walk 10-15 miles back to the truck.
Preferably in the rain.

See....It's a piece of cake.

 

[TheTriggerHappyIrishman]

oh it is fun... and keeps you in very good shape. i have two redbone coon hounds and a walther P22 with a attached light. you will run a good 20 mi (here in la, through swamps) for 2 or 3 coons. fun as hell, but very tireing.

Not sure how you guys do it up north. Down here in Texas you post up on a deer feeder with a spot light and wait for them. Then shoot until you run out of ammo.

i did that once at a buddies house. we switched on the light and saw bout 30 coons. opened fire with my ruger 10/22 and his henry. killed bout a dozen or more.

 

[wb1209]

DS29 coon hunting

you need a couple of good hounds,.22lr is good,couple good 5/7 cell flashlights, waterproof boots, guareenteed that ringtail will put you in a swamp or two.nights with a good moon are best. plenty of rest because not only will the coon take you on a hike but if the dogs get on a deer forget it. or if you dont have dogs,on a well moonlit night look for round shape in the treetops maybe a squirsnest maybe not? late fall winter is best. pelts at there prime. try it its fun im thinking about doing it again as i did for years back in the day. good luck!

 

[patsygarret]

I have hunted and trapped coon my whole life. never hunted behing good dogs though. started off just walking river bottons and old houses and using mouth calls. worked great. now I have an electronic call and use a 22 magnum and a 5 cell mag lite. works great, best set I ever made I got 13. I do have a hound not a true coon hound (she is a bloodhound) and If you can get her to quit humping your leg she aint too bad at hunting. I was told she is pure bred but I think there is a bit of mississippi leg hound in her bloodline. I have found for me that as long as the temp is above 18 degrees hunting is good. and get a

 

[Savage Shooter]

So far this season I have 97 and I have a couple more days to hunt My years goal is a 100. Don't let anyone tell you ya have to have a dog to get coons. I don't Just get a good rechargeable coon light like a nightlite and a good pair of carharts so you can charge through the thorns. Just walk around creeks and corn fields and you'll do just fine.

 

[Rodentman]

I wish someone would hunt down the ones that come to my backyard every night in the summer! My neighbor "feeds the birds" and attracts all kinds of animals, fox, possum, coon, even deer, and we live in a dense suburb!

I trap the coons and relocate them but it's a waste of time. I heard I gotta take them 50 miles away and I can't do that two or three times every night in the summer!

 

[redneck2]

I have hunted and trapped coon my whole life. never hunted behing good dogs though. started off just walking river bottons and old houses and using mouth calls. worked great. now I have an electronic call and use a 22 magnum and a 5 cell mag lite. works great, best set I ever made I got 13.

You can actually get as many or more without dogs than with them. If you walk ditch banks with a bright light and shine the banks and trees, you'll see coons.

Years back I hunted with a guy that was crippled. He used a Johnny Stewart caller with a cassette tape of a baby coon in distress. Pull into a dark field next to a woods or ditch, put the speaker about 30-50 feet from the truck, and wait maybe 15 minutes, then start the tape. Coons would come in snapping and growling at the "predator" that had their babies.

I'd second the idea about the .22 mag if you do this type of hunting. A regular .22LR may or may not give a quick kill.

Any coon hunting I did involving dogs consisted of 20 minutes of coon hunting followed by several hours of hunting for the dogs. If your idea of fun is chasing dogs through briars and swamps in the rain until daylight, have at it.

 

[CoyoteSlayer]

Well I'd say somethin, but ya'll already covered it pretty well Yea make sure you check your local game laws, unless you like fines and such.