How do I Shoot Things That Come Out After Dark>

[Swifty Morgan]

I got myself a trail camera and set it up in a place where something had been crawling under a fence. On the first night, I filmed coons, a bunch of crows killing a big black bird and fighting off a hawk, two coyotes, and a fox.

Needless to say, I am assembling my death list. The fox is safe, but the coons and coyotes are dead meat.

Problem: these things come out late at night. How do people kill varmints when it's pitch black out? I won't be able to see them.

 

[George P]

night vision works but isn't cheap

 

[Axis II]

I got myself a trail camera and set it up in a place where something had been crawling under a fence. On the first night, I filmed coons, a bunch of crows killing a big black bird and fighting off a hawk, two coyotes, and a fox.

Needless to say, I am assembling my death list. The fox is safe, but the coons and coyotes are dead meat.

Problem: these things come out late at night. How do people kill varmints when it's pitch black out? I won't be able to see them.

Wicked hunting lights.

 

[Swifty Morgan]

So they LIKE lights.

 

[WestKentucky]

Coon hunters have used flashlights for decades. The technology is getting better and cheaper (relative) so I would just do that. Coyote on the other hand can be interesting at night. Some states have nighttime hunting restrictions. I know in KY that the law only allowed shotgun hunting at night.

 

[Swifty Morgan]

I'm in Florida. Hunting regulations are hard to comprehend, but so far it looks like I'm in the clear with coyotes. I believe I am limited to a .22 or .410 for stinking coons.

 

[George P]

Guess that would depend on where you are in FL - i.e., on your own 1000 acres or in a subdivision...........

Could always try trapping them as well.

 

[Swifty Morgan]

I just found out about the ATN X-Sight night scope. Incredibly cool. I wonder if it's as great as it seems.

Florida is pretty loose. At the moment, you can shoot on private land just about anywhere, as long as you're not reckless or negligent. In Florida, it's illegal to pass a local gun law, so the state laws rule everywhere. Leftists really, really hate the current laws, but for the time being, they're screwed.

I'm on 34 acres. Not huge, but I can shoot safely here. I am blessed with a huge berm and enough roll to the landscape to make shooting at ground level safe. I want to move to Appalachia and get 300 acres or more. I was born in Kentucky.

A lady on an adjoining farm started talking to me over a fence while I was squirrel hunting the other day. Asked some somewhat ridiculous questions, but she couldn't stop me. Thought I was making her horses nervous. I had fired a total of 5 rounds that day, from a pipsqueak .17 HMR. Somebody on another farm was blasting away with a big gun, and after I got done looking for squirrels, someone nearby let off 3 blasts from what sounded like a deer rifle. She probably thought it was me.

 

[illinoisburt]

These are small animals. Live trap at the fence is best choice. No issues with neighbors complaining about shooting noise at night, no concerns about unseen backstops at night. Very simply to dispatch nuisance animals or release non target animals. You do have to check local regulations. Foxes, racoons, and others are covered by various hunting and trapping rules, especially so if you live within city limits.

 

[Swifty Morgan]

I don't have to check local regulations, because there aren't any. Florida state laws control.

I want to hunt with firearms and possibly a bow, so trapping is not useful to me.

Coyotes and coons may be small game where you live, but here, the only bigger items are hogs and deer. The godless hippies won't let us hunt bears, and we don't have moose or elk.

Real game, apart from turkeys, won't be legal again for several months, so I have to make the most of what's legal during the hiatus.

 

[caribou]

12 gauge and a 1/2 hour to get your eyes used to the dark before starting out.

We get bright full moonlight over snow and it can be fun, and its something to do when Winters Polar Darkness is apon us.

Big Jack Rabbits and alot more

 

[FL-NC]

night vision, weapon lights.

 

[horsey300]

Red tinted lights work well enough, either the .22 or .410 would suffice if you're close enough, I've killed a couple yotes with grandpa's old sxs .410, quite a few more coons, skunks, and bunnies honestly, but it DOES work on the yotes, just choose the right shot and know how to shoot it.

 

[buck460XVR]

I got myself a trail camera and set it up in a place where something had been crawling under a fence. On the first night, I filmed coons, a bunch of crows killing a big black bird and fighting off a hawk, two coyotes, and a fox.

Needless to say, I am assembling my death list. The fox is safe, but the coons and coyotes are dead meat.

Problem: these things come out late at night. How do people kill varmints when it's pitch black out? I won't be able to see them.

I'd be really surprised if you caught crows/blackbirds and hawks active after dark, much less late at night. As others have said, full moon, NV or some form of light. The minute you shoot or shoot at one, they will all disappear for a while. I wouldn't invest too much unless you are interested hunting elsewhere at night.

 

[Patocazador]

Years ago I bought a light from Burnham Brothers, a varmint-hunting outfit in Texas. It had a red plastic snap-on filter and a mercury switch. I squealed on my rabbit death call until I heard something approach then turned the .22 rifle from horizontal to vertical and the light came on so I could shoot the critter. It was mostly coons and skunks that I saw but the light worked good. It was cheap and worked well.

 

[Axis II]

I don't have to check local regulations, because there aren't any. Florida state laws control.

I want to hunt with firearms and possibly a bow, so trapping is not useful to me.

Coyotes and coons may be small game where you live, but here, the only bigger items are hogs and deer. The godless hippies won't let us hunt bears, and we don't have moose or elk.

Real game, apart from turkeys, won't be legal again for several months, so I have to make the most of what's legal during the hiatus.

Does anyone else know what this means cause i sure don't? I cant believe Florida fish and game doesn't have regulations on trapping or shooting varmints unless its all year round? Ohio you can kill coyotes and woodchucks all year round but crow and coon have a season.

 

[SoonerMedic]

I came here for the comments. Don't mind me lol

 

[Swifty Morgan]

In Florida, it is illegal to pass local laws regulating firearms, and hunting is regulated by the state, not local idiots in places like Miami Beach.

 

[George P]

Raccoon, opossum, coyote, beaver, skunk, nutria: year-round

• Nighttime Raccoon and Opossum - Only .22-caliber rimfire firearms (other than .22-magnums) or single-shot .410-gauge shotguns (using shot not larger than size 6) may be used. Hunting raccoons or opossums by displaying or using lights from moving vehicles, vessels or animals is prohibited. It is illegal to transport wild-trapped live raccoons within, into or from the state, except by FWC permit or authorization.
• Nighttime Coyote - A gun and light at night permit is not required to take coyotes with a gun and light on private lands with landowner permission.
  
  What is a CITES tag? Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) is an international agreement between governments to ensure that trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. CITES tags need to be attached to bobcat and otter hides if they leave Florida and immediately upon purchase if they are sold. Those with a hunting license may possess no more than 1 bobcat and 1 otter pelt between April 1 and Nov. 30, unless pelt has a CITES tag. Tags may be requested by calling 850-488-5878.

 

[MCgunner]

A green laser sportlight on a normal scope. It works for me very well for hogs. The hogs don't notice it. It's the poor man's night vision. I payed 100 bucks for mine. They MSRP for around 200.

Google is your friend.

https://shop.opticsplanet.com/cyclo...MIi6Xz0ozY2QIVUGB-Ch0dCQe8EAQYBCABEgJLZ_D_BwE

 

[illinoisburt]

Does anyone else know what this means cause i sure don't? I cant believe Florida fish and game doesn't have regulations on trapping or shooting varmints unless its all year round? Ohio you can kill coyotes and woodchucks all year round but crow and coon have a season.

There are rules and license is required:

http://myfwc.com/hunting/by-species/furbearers/

 

[Axis II]

In Florida, it is illegal to pass local laws regulating firearms, and hunting is regulated by the state, not local idiots in places like Miami Beach.

Ah, i gotcha now! Well Ohio law is the same the state governs the animals and city laws cannot override state laws but i would imagine a city would have some sort of no discharging firearms laws.

 

[Swifty Morgan]

No, that kind of law can't be passed in Florida.

I live on a farm anyway.

 

[SoonerMedic]

No, that kind of law can't be passed in Florida.

I live on a farm anyway.

You really think they don't have city ordinances to prevent people from discharging firearms within city limits? Are you messing with us?

Am I on Punk'd?

 

[George P]

A farm of 34 acres may be fine - a lot will depend on which county and their regulations regarding as to when you can discharge a firearm (and they CAN regulate that). Where some of my friends live, 10 acres is all you need, whereas in other areas, they require a larger piece of property and have designated shooting hours.