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Help with coons
#8029526
10/29/20 10:47 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 36
Falco
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 36 |
I have two feeders that have been in place for three years with the standard varmint cages. I haven’t had issues with coons until recently. It seems they’ve learned the bigger ones can still reach the spinner plate. Most nights there’s 1 hanging from the cage and 7-8 on the ground for several hours. My corn usage has doubled this month. Any suggestions? The cellular camera lets me know when they’re there. Thinking about sneaking up on them and shooting as many as I can, but don’t want to shoot too much this close to opening rifle weekend.
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Falco]
#8029562
10/29/20 11:11 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Dog proof traps and make or buy you much larger varmint cage. One that is equal to the diameter of the barrel and much deeper below the bottom of the spinner.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Falco]
#8029564
10/29/20 11:12 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,640
LeonCarr
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,640 |
The dog proof traps have done well for us, we trap out 20-30 raccoons a year off of a 25 acre farm.
It makes a difference...when we set traps every weekend we are there we see very few raccoons on camera.
If you want to shoot those raccoons coming to your feeder, hang a motion activated kill light under the varmint cage and bait underneath the light with marshmallows on the ground. A shotgun loaded with 3 Inch or 3.5 Inch Magnum shells with between #4 Birdshot and #4 Buckshot, and the Trash Pandas will have a very bad night.
Just My .02, LeonCarr
"Whitetail Deer are extinct because of rifles with telescopes mounted on them." - My 11th Grade English Teacher
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Falco]
#8029623
10/29/20 11:46 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,045
mikei
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,045 |
I have two feeders that have been in place for three years with the standard varmint cages. I haven’t had issues with coons until recently. It seems they’ve learned the bigger ones can still reach the spinner plate. Most nights there’s 1 hanging from the cage and 7-8 on the ground for several hours. My corn usage has doubled this month. Any suggestions? The cellular camera lets me know when they’re there. Thinking about sneaking up on them and shooting as many as I can, but don’t want to shoot too much this close to opening rifle weekend. Don't worry about shooting close to the season! The deer are used to it. Go out there and blast the masked bandits and drag their bodies away for the buzzards and yotes. Shoot 'em, man; shoot 'em! Looks like you could use a shotgun and do a skillet shot on that pack that's in the picture!
Last edited by mikei; 10/30/20 01:08 AM.
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Falco]
#8029630
10/29/20 11:55 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,606
603Country
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,606 |
I had to craft cages around my spinners. Started with chicken wire, but that wasn’t tough enough. Squirrels chewed through it. I got some more serious wire screen and am ahead in the ‘coons vs me’ contest. The only problem is that the screen causes more of the corn to fall straight down. I can live with that.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: stxranchman]
#8030198
10/30/20 02:32 PM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 29,010
Western
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 29,010 |
Dog proof traps and make or buy you much larger varmint cage. One that is equal to the diameter of the barrel and much deeper below the bottom of the spinner. Can't beat the dog proof traps, very effective if you can be there for a couple days and keep taking the coons out. As STX said, larger cages will help, but I have put on eliminator spinner plates and I haven't had drainage problems from coons since. Might put a piece of 4" pvc over those legs as well, those stakes are pretty much ladders for a coon and squirrels.
If at first you dont succeed, then skydiving is not for you..
"Don't trust everything you read on the Internet"- Abraham Lincoln Dennis
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Falco]
#8030779
10/30/20 11:02 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 36
Falco
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 36 |
Thanks for the suggestions. Tractor supply has 1x2 cage wire for a reasonable price. I think I can fit a 24x24 cage under the feeder. That should be large enough to keep them out. The current one is 15x15.
I’m picking up some dog proof traps as well.
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Falco]
#8032442
11/01/20 09:26 AM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 122
Rifleman1775
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 122 |
Ditch the cage and put a SpinTech spinner plate on it. That will stop the grand canyon from forming under your feeder, that is being caused by the cage knocking down most of the corn that your spinner tries to throw. The corn will be thrown out further which allows the deer to spread out and eat. That will make it easier to take a shot when they're not stacked up.
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Falco]
#8033246
11/01/20 11:55 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,606
603Country
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,606 |
I had the fancy critter proof spinners on two of my feeders. They worked great till they didn’t. I suppose dust was the major problem, causing them to not shut off completely. Lubrication helped for a while, but wasn’t the long term fix. The squirrels and coons went wild on my corn.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: 603Country]
#8033283
11/02/20 12:20 AM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,138
Creekrunner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,138 |
I had the fancy critter proof spinners on two of my feeders. They worked great till they didn’t. I suppose dust was the major problem, causing them to not shut off completely. Lubrication helped for a while, but wasn’t the long term fix. The squirrels and coons went wild on my corn. Yep, they need lubrication with age. Like some other things. We ran a dozen Spin Techs on the last lease. 'Always had to have spare parts and keep them lubricated. Then I went by SpinTech to get more parts. Not what you'd call an impressive operation, and this was a week or two before the season opener. Eliminator plates need lube too. Fine if you have just one or two feeders.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Falco]
#8033804
11/02/20 02:33 PM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,216
papa45
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,216 |
I put 4" PVC pipes on all my feeder legs last year and my corn usage went down by about a third. No more pictures of coons hanging on the varmint cage or gathered under the feeder.
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Falco]
#8034834
11/03/20 01:04 AM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,865
txwildcat
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,865 |
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Falco]
#8034860
11/03/20 01:32 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,043
Wilhunt
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,043 |
The round vent material should work.
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Falco]
#8035025
11/03/20 03:31 AM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,817
Wildphilhickup
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,817 |
Wire coat hangers and RAT POISON. Get you some of those green wax blocks of RAT Poison. Put a hole through them. Run the coat hanger wire through the hole. Hang around the "cage". Coons learn real quick that eating at the feeder gets them deathly sick.
MILL CREEK HONEY BEE FARM, LLC millcreekhoneybeefarm @yahoo.com
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Falco]
#8037492
11/04/20 04:19 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 12,821
PMK
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 12,821 |
several of my feeders have the standard coon cage that works, others they have figured out how to reach thru those. I hog ringed some smaller pieces of wire screen on the inside, about the width of the cage and 4 inches in height, works well but does deflect the throw radius considerably. I have also put 4" PVC on the legs of several that has been very effective also.
"everyone that lives dies but not everyone who dies lived..."
~PMK~
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Falco]
#8037677
11/04/20 06:26 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 130
Draco_Farms
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 130 |
I use PVC pipe around legs, works great. I have had many pics where they get about half way up and the next pic is them on the ground. Use 3 or 4 inch so they can’t get their arms around it. Once it spins they will fall off. Cheap solution that works for me. Good luck.
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Draco_Farms]
#8039107
11/05/20 03:25 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,770
Mr. T.
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,770 |
I use PVC pipe around legs, works great. I have had many pics where they get about half way up and the next pic is them on the ground. Use 3 or 4 inch so they can’t get their arms around it. Once it spins they will fall off. Cheap solution that works for me. Good luck. This will work to stop about 95% of the coons. If you want 100%, Just drill a small hole in the top of the PVC pipe and put a bungee cord in it and attach to base of the feeder. Not only will the coons have a slick pipe to try to climb, but it will slide down every time they try to grip it. The pipe needs to be about 18" off the ground. The only negative is that the cords have to be replaced once a year as the sun detireates them.
Cabin rental in Pagosa Springs, Co. Sleeps 10, If interested please PM me.
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Falco]
#8072452
12/02/20 02:39 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,518
Reloder28
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,518 |
[b][/b]
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Reloder28]
#8072730
12/02/20 02:21 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,770
Mr. T.
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,770 |
Yea, what he said ^^^^. Old fat fingers sometimes get way off in the spelling. lol
Cabin rental in Pagosa Springs, Co. Sleeps 10, If interested please PM me.
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Falco]
#8073782
12/03/20 02:17 AM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,129
Biscuit
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,129 |
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Falco]
#8073958
12/03/20 04:35 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,919
maximum
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,919 |
As others have said ^ ^ ^ Trap them and kill them unless you enjoy feeding them. Trying to haul them away and release them won't buy you anything. I prefer to have any feeders left alone and not tore up by scroungy varmints. $15.00 each is about the top cost of most brands of DP traps, and all you have to do is stake it out, set it and bait it. No drilling or changing out feeder parts or modifications. Come by in the AM, .22 to the head, reset and rebait, toss coon out for the buzzards, one fewer headache
Last edited by maximum; 12/03/20 04:41 AM.
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Falco]
#8075713
12/04/20 11:17 AM
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,027
Hudbone
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,027 |
I like the idea from that STX Rancher fellow, but some peoples prefer these. If I were to use them , they would be spread out a little better. No doubt they like marshmallows though.
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Falco]
#8075826
12/04/20 01:48 PM
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 795
BbarVRanch
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 795 |
Coons are rampant now. In the good old days. a nice coon would bring $35 unskinned at the fur buyer. I will be declaring war on them big time when deer season's over. Was watching one area the other night where I'd had coons tearing down my game camera... The offending coons came in and I shot all three with 2 shots. Newer feeder designs are much better. The newer good ones feature two very large disks, with the spinner in the middle. Coons cannot reach far enough in to spin the spinner and get more corn out. My feeder in the above video is like that. You can see them trying though...
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Mr. T.]
#8077072
12/05/20 02:13 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,129
Biscuit
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,129 |
I use PVC pipe around legs, works great. I have had many pics where they get about half way up and the next pic is them on the ground. Use 3 or 4 inch so they can’t get their arms around it. Once it spins they will fall off. Cheap solution that works for me. Good luck. This will work to stop about 95% of the coons. If you want 100%, Just drill a small hole in the top of the PVC pipe and put a bungee cord in it and attach to base of the feeder. Not only will the coons have a slick pipe to try to climb, but it will slide down every time they try to grip it. The pipe needs to be about 18" off the ground. The only negative is that the cords have to be replaced once a year as the sun detireates them. Good idea
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Re: Help with coons
[Re: Falco]
#8115024
01/04/21 08:47 PM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,161
SouthWestIron
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,161 |
Dog proof traps and bailing wire. Coons need to be put in check on a property. They will decimate your turkey and quail populations. They get out of balance very quickly is what i'm finding.
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