Hi Everyone, I have a problem with aggressive raccoons and coyotes where I live. If I lived in the country I would invest in a good .223 varmiting rifle and go to town. The problem is that I live in a relatively undeveloped neighborhood in what is otherwise a densely populated urban area. Discharging a firearm where I live is obviously a no-no. Even if I can mitigate the circumstances by choosing a round that doesn't over penetrate, the local LEOs and judges aren't going to cut me any slack, so I need to come of with an alternate plan for dispatching these highly urbanized critters. The raccoons are a nuisance. They tear apart the garbage cans and have no fear of people. The coyotes are worse. The last time I say the one that claims our neighborhood as his, he decided to follow my dog an me on out late night walk. At 70 pounds, my dog might be able to take a coyote, but I don't want risk it and find out. Also, cats have gone missing, and the coyote, like the raccoons, has not healthy fear of humans. The best suggestion I have so far about dealing with my critter problem in a safe way given my situation it to take them out with bow and arrow. Having never hunted in my life with either bow or firearm, I think my odds are pretty bad in terms of hitting anything, but I'm willing to give it a shot. Does anyone have suggestions about what I might try? A crossbow seems like a good bet, but I don't know how much energy a crossbow bolt will impart on my target. A composite seems like a better choice in that arrows can be outfitted with a variety of arrowheads and is less likely to be mistaken by any LEOs as a firearm. (I don't want to get shot because I took it upon myself to clear out some nuisance animals.) Is this a realistic idea? I can guarantee that our local animal services will do doodly squat to control these animal populations.
Sounds like you have a heck of nuisance going on. If it was me, id set out some live traps for the coons. Then you can always take them out in the country far away from your household and do whatever you want with them. Dont know what to tell you about the yotes. I know i wouldnt go slingin arrows at them even if you were an experienced bow hunter. You dont want to have a wounded coyote runnin around the neighborhood endangering others or a child finding one dead in there back yard.
I second the traps idea. Trapping coons works very well. The coyotes, who knows. Perhaps calling animal control and having them "control" it. I'm sure they have tranquilizers at their disposal.
