My first big game charge! (Sorta, lot of exaggeration)

[Shawnba67]

So this morning I had a first. My dog ran a coon under the shed. luckily before it ate any hens. I grab the ole 22 and head out.
I laid down to look under the shed and this coon starts straight at me! I put a round in him and he spins and snarls snappin at his side. Im about to congratulate myself and he starts straight at me again! 3 more rounds go down range before he calls it off and goes to the far end to give up!! Most excitement Ive had in awhile!
LESSONS I LEARNED
Shot placement!
Irons are hard to see in the near dark!
Targets are harder to see in the even darker!
Clear the darn grass oughta the way first!!
Shooting from field expediant prone isnt like F class!
I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PLUGGIN THE ESCAPE HOLE!! lol
Next time I might take the 1100 instead of the Marlin 60!
May you all have as safe of a big thrill soon.

 

[Immike]

It was him or you!! Good job!

 

[hunter67]

It always seems like a great idea at the time and hindsight is 20/20.
Great story always good to have a safe wake-up

 

[wedgy]

I've never had a coon go down peacefully with a .22 unless it was a head shot, man do they howl. They are big and mean as hell too ! Even the coyotes around here don't want to mess with them. Sounds like you had quite the thrill !! One of these(or similar "driveway alert") devices can let you know when something is messing with the chicken coup. A little buzzer goes off when it detects motion.
https://www.harborfreight.com/wireless-driveway-alert-system-93068.html

I had 4 coons come in thru the doggy door at 3am and all hell broke loose when my 60lb boxer and 2 of them got into it. They were as big as the dog, I know it's mostly fur not meat, but they are big here. I flick on the lights not knowing what the fight is about yet....so I'm standing there naked with a .38 WTH ? Don't want to shoot in the house so I grab the fire poker and start clubbing away..... I killed one, the dog killed one, then the other two came out hissing and snarling, put the dog in the garage, opened the sliding door and tried to club they out the door but they didn't want to leave without a fight. They climbed all over shelves, a wall unit/wine rack and furniture knocking over pictures, mirrors and wine bottles. I got it cleaned up in time to go to work, dog got a few stitches, a rabies booster, and the vet called animal control so my dog was home quarantined for a while. The coons still tear up the neighbors lawns at night but they haven't been back to my place, but I see them outside the fence on trail camera.

 

[Shawnba67]

I've never had a coon go down peacefully with a .22 unless it was a head shot, man do they howl. They are big and mean as hell too ! Even the coyotes around here don't want to mess with them. Sounds like you had quite the thrill !! One of these(or similar "driveway alert") devices can let you know when something is messing with the chicken coup. A little buzzer goes off when it detects motion.
https://www.harborfreight.com/wireless-driveway-alert-system-93068.html

I had 4 coons come in thru the doggy door at 3am and all hell broke loose when my 60lb boxer and 2 of them got into it. They were as big as the dog, I know it's mostly fur not meat, but they are big here. I flick on the lights not knowing what the fight is about yet....so I'm standing there naked with a .38 WTH ? Don't want to shoot in the house so I grab the fire poker and start clubbing away..... I killed one, the dog killed one, then the other two came out hissing and snarling, put the dog in the garage, opened the sliding door and tried to club they out the door but they didn't want to leave without a fight. They climbed all over shelves, a wall unit/wine rack and furniture knocking over pictures, mirrors and wine bottles. I got it cleaned up in time to go to work, dog got a few stitches, a rabies booster, and the vet called animal control so my dog was home quarantined for a while. The coons still tear up the neighbors lawns at night but they haven't been back to my place, but I see them outside the fence on trail camera.

I do believe that is more excitement than I would like!!! At least I knew sorta what I was walkin into!
I came across a squirrel sized racoon kitten once with its guts tangled up 2 trees overfrom the one it was in. I decided to speed up its transition. I was dumbfounded when 180lbs of athlete 17yr old me couldnt hit it hard enough to kill it! Ended up using a big rock.
ground was soft, but Im certain most things couldnt match it lb for lb for toughness!

 

[F224]

Brings new meaning to Ruark; "Use enough gun"

 

[brainiac]

From my years huntin em I was glad they never got to 150lb or we woulda been in a world of hurts.

 

[Tommie]

Never had a raccoon charge but I’ll bet that got the heart pumping. I swear those things get bigger every year.

I had a cat that constantly brought living animals into the house. Besides for the usual mice, squirrels, moles and birds, this kitty was skilled in catching bats (never figured that one out). I had to keep a Benjamin pellet gun handy to dispatch the constant flow of wildlife.

 

[MrMajestic]

Yeah, .22 LR is pretty much a CNS stopper on mammals larger than field mice. Squirrels are pretty much run away with anything less so I can only imagine a coon! Glad you survived...think .410 with #4 or larger shot next time.

 

[wedgy]

Tract housing & snowflake neighbors pretty much limits choices to subsonic .22's

 

[rebel]

When I raised quail, I had several coons circumvent the outer fence and get underneath the pen and bite the quails toes, feet or legs off. I set two leg hold traps, staked with 4 foot re bar and short chains. I checked the next morning and this 20 pounder had got in one trap and thrashed around so much he got into the other. Looked miserable but still alive.He got a 45 caliber from my lever gun and that's the last thing that went through his mind. Tough critters, seen them damn near kill a big hound by drowning it.

 

[trader steve]

I sure am glad we didn't have to read about a coon mauling.this could have went very bad I would get a bigger gun.lol

 

[nicholst55]

Use Enough Gun: On Hunting Big Game, by Robert Ruark

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1571570594/?tag=accuratescom-20

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

I got a Cape Buffalo charge in Zim in December of 2008. Him with a 450 Rigby was about as much fun as a coon from point blank with a 22. Didn't have to worry about rabies with him; just getting a mudhole stomped in my backside. Next trip I had my 470 double.

 

[rr2030]

WOW! My heart was pounding as I read that.

 

[MrMajestic]

Tract housing & snowflake neighbors pretty much limits choices to subsonic .22's

.410 surprisingly don't make much noise, especially if you have the muzzle under the shed. JMHO

 

[Tommie]

I got a Cape Buffalo charge in Zim in December of 2008. Him with a 450 Rigby was about as much fun as a coon from point blank with a 22. Didn't have to worry about rabies with him; just getting a mudhole stomped in my backside. Next trip I had my 470 double.

Dude. Any time a .450 Rigby isn’t enough gun, that’s a sign that I need to board the next plane to another continent!