trapping coons
 

I have a lot of coons at my place and trap them regularly in a cage style box trap. I take them far enough away and release them so they don't come back. I was thinking about keeping hides during the legal trapping season. Any ideas of how to process the hides, and do you eat the meat? I've heard of people eating coon meat but I'm not sure.

RE: trapping coons
 

Check your regulations regarding trapping. In my state they are more or less varmits and can be trapped year around. In other states there are seasons and you need a license and need to trap during the season.

Relocating and releasing animals sounds nice and kind and all of that and disneyish. When you relocate an animal you are taking it to another area that it is unfamiliar with, where it does not know wherefood and cover are. You are introducing it to an area where there are already other animals and it is in effect invading their territory. Animals are generally not friendly to other animals hedging into thier area. If they are carrying disease, something you often won't know, you may inadvertantlyspread that disease to the new area. Relocation sounds nice, but in reality is generally a poor idea. Consider it.

If they are causing damage, trap and kill them within the bounds of the law. If you can do it in the fall and winter when the pelts have value, all the better.

RE: trapping coons
 

Oh..and inanswer to the other questions: The meat is edible. Many eat it, many don't. Do a google search on raccoon meat for ideas.I have Tom Osborn's fur processing video. It is very well done and for $20.00 it will give you five hours of instruction on how to skin, flesh, and stretch hide for most furbearers.

http://www.fntpost.com/product_detail.php?cid=521&product_id=2089

RE: trapping coons
 

thanks for the info trapper. They do tear up my garbage, thescreenaround ourporch, and veggie plants. We do havefur-bearer seasons and cannotkill them year around.

RE: trapping coons
 

Just what he was stating! Don't make your problem someone elses by relocating the coons. Here in VA there is a law against transporting and relocating wild animals.

RE: trapping coons
 

Most states have a contingency for damage control that allows managment out of season. Call your warden and see if you can legally deal with damage causing coon on your property, whether you can get a damage control permit, etc....

RE: trapping coons
 

coon is good eating..... i have a great recipe... if u want it... let me know

RE: trapping coons
 

i put intifreeze in cow tanks in the middle of woods/edge of corn fields..check it a few days later..theyre is usually 15/20 coons within 20 yards of the tank...if u want em to not move..add a bit of gasoline to the mixture

RE: trapping coons
 

What about all of the non-target animals that drink the water? Think about it and use your head for something besides a hat rack!

RE: trapping coons
 

no lie

RE: trapping coons
 

i wouldnt use the anti freeze idea...... thats messed up.... maybe you should think about getting a hound and start coon hunting.... :D

RE: trapping coons
 

My grandpa uses the "relocate" method and this past fall he had 24 raccoons out one evening eating the cat food. He has since unleashed the beast on them a.k.a. his loving grandson who hates raccoons with a passion for tearing up the pheasant hunting dogs. As for what I do with them... well the way i figure the more i feed the yotes stuff like that the less pheasants they have to eat.. Also the coons like to dig into his shingles on his house trying to get in... not smart on their part...

RE: trapping coons
 

Oh yeah this picture of mine... bout a half mile from his place gee I wonder where it came from?

RE: trapping coons
 

I'd figure this would strengthen the 'yotes, not smart IMO. I don't leave a morsel of guts or anything for the foxes around here when I gut a deer.

RE: trapping coons
 

Oh yeah, meant to say I liked your avatar :)