(06-19-2020, 08:08 AM)The Real Marty Wrote:

(06-19-2020, 01:23 AM)Senor Fantastico Wrote: Raccoons get most of mine, little jerks.

If you want to go plinkin' little varmints with a pistol, seems like a .22 with a longer barrel would be the thing.

The thing is, I don't want to "go plinkin' little varmints".  As I said before, I wouldn't shoot an animal unless I had to.  I have plenty of raccoons on the property and don't have a problem with them as long as they aren't causing a problem.  While a .22 might do the job, it would actually probably be more cruel.  Most times it's not going to be lethal enough and will cause pain and suffering (depending on what you are shooting).

Around the canal and pond on my property, and water moccasins have to go.  That requires #4 shot out of my new gun.  The same would go for a large rattle snake IF and only IF it is near our camp (future home site) or a threat to one of my small dogs or me.  While yes they are venomous and could be dangerous, for the most part they will leave you alone and warn you if you are getting close.  They are also good for controlling the small "nuisance" game (mice, rats, etc.).  However, they do eat larger game such as rabbits and/or small dogs.

Coyotes I would generally leave alone unless I was raising some kind of livestock (coming in the future) such as chickens.  The same goes for bobcats.

Getting into bigger predators such as a bear or a wild boar, I wouldn't rely on a pistol.  Bears for the most part will stay away unless you leave trash out or mess with young cubs.  Wild boars need to be eradicated (and who doesn't like bacon?).

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