that is also what I am thinking,coons.
they will destroy a corn field. check out some of the tresin the area also, I have seen them carry whole ears up the tree and shuck them. In the winter months I trap the coons around my feeder and sell them. I just use a live box trap and sardines.

http://www.cartogra.com/rs/35D6BABE-...77A760E/screen