Destructive Armadillo in My Yard

[Billm]

This guy dropped by a few hours earlier. In full velvet. I’d be tempted in deer season- just kidding. Thanks to @FL22 for recommending the Gardepro cameras. I recently purchased the long range WiFi version and have discovered my little acre is a safari park. When I first realized I had a bear problem, I purchased the Stealthcam Revolver 360 MKII and I had a lot of issues with it.

 

[FL22]

Look who’s back! I might have to move the TNC225r to the Panthera. Although I’m still nervous about the bears. View attachment 22193

I hope you get it Bill!! and not mauled by the bears .

 

[jps2486]

I killed a big one at 50 yards with my old RAW .25 cal and 33 gr pellets. It was shooting 60 fpe. It did the job easily and you shouldn't have a problem with your rifle.

 

[Billm]

I killed a big one at 50 yards with my old RAW .25 cal and 33 gr pellets. It was shooting 60 fpe. It did the job easily and you shouldn't have a problem with your rifle.

That’s good to know. Thanks

 

[FL22]

I recently purchased the long range WiFi version and have discovered my little acre is a safari park.

I take it that it’s working decent, I have an older one that needs firmware updates and that cannot be done over the device WiFi. My phone is pretty much the “sand box” for everything online, the wife’s computer is off limits lol.

I guess if I want/need to use the live feed feature I will be purchasing a new one. Probably get the long range version as well.

 

[JimT66]

Look who’s back! I might have to move the TNC225r to the Panthera. Although I’m still nervous about the bears. View attachment 22193

I think you have every right to be Bill. Unless you can raise a window facing this part of your yard to tag him good.from inside the house or garage, I would make sure the wife was armed with a bear stopper before I snuck out in the yard with a PCP! I know how bad you wanna put paid to this possum on the half shell, but you gotta ask yourself, is it really worth the risk?

 

[Billm]

I take it that it’s working decent, I have an older one that needs firmware updates and that cannot be done over the device WiFi. My phone is pretty much the “sand box” for everything online, the wife’s computer is off limits lol.

I guess if I want/need to use the live feed feature I will be purchasing a new one. Probably get the long range version as well.

I bought the link system and it works great. A little pricey, but worth it if you need 100+ yards. It has a better image than my security cameras or the the Spypoint Revolver.

 

[Billm]

I think you have every right to be Bill. Unless you can raise a window facing this part of your yard to tag him good.from inside the house or garage, I would make sure the wife was armed with a bear stopper before I snuck out in the yard with a PCP! I know how bad you wanna put paid to this possum on the half shell, but you gotta ask yourself, is it really worth the risk?

I’ll probably keep a 30-30 or 12ga pump with slugs next to me. He may have just passed through, there’s no sign of him digging anywhere. Where the bears come from, there’s really no notice until they’re on top of where I usually shoot from.

 

[JimT66]

I’ll probably keep a 30-30 or 12ga pump with slugs next to me. He may have just passed through, there’s no sign of him digging anywhere. Where the gears come from, there’s really no notice until they’re on top of where I usually shoot from.

Well, just be careful. Would be nice to know if the bear only comes around foraging closer to, or just in October when fattening up. I know can't ever tell though. Can't imagine having to worry about bears when walking out my own door. That just sucks.

 

[RatSmacker]

I feel like I’m living in the twilight zone lol. Last night we went out until late and I forgot to put the trail cam out. The dillo came back an dug under the breeze block we placed on top of where he had been burrowing. The rabbit I saw is dead in the road. I’ll be back out tonight lol.

What Air Rifle Caliber and KE Minimum would you recommend for Dillo dispatching just curious? I live In New York Long Island to be exact and we now have a Rabid Raccoon Epidemic! I keep an JTS Air Styrke (.25 26.24 H&N Crow Magnum) at the ready just In case!

 

[Billm]

What Air Rifle Caliber and KE Minimum would you recommend for Dillo dispatching just curious? I live In New York Long Island to be exact and we now have a Rabid Raccoon Epidemic! I keep an JTS Air Styrke (.25 26.24 H&N Crow Magnum) at the ready just In case!

I’m not an expert on this. Personally I’d recommend .25 and 50fpe or greater. Checkout @Ezana4CE posts, also @Chief55, @FL22 @JimT66 . They all have actively dispatched pests of that size. I think @Pumacarl too. I wouldn’t mess with a rabid racoon. I’d want him down hard and fast with a headshot. I’ve only body shot a racoon with a .243 hitting him with about 1800 fpe.

 

[FL22]

What Air Rifle Caliber and KE Minimum would you recommend for Dillo dispatching just curious? I live In New York Long Island to be exact and we now have a Rabid Raccoon Epidemic! I keep an JTS Air Styrke (.25 26.24 H&N Crow Magnum) at the ready just In case!

What are the requirements in Long Island?

Here in Florida where Bill and others like myself live, the laws may be different. Some states actually specify minimum caliber, whether or not you can use an Airgun and the minimum FPE depending on the animal.

 

[Billm]

What are the requirements in Long Island?

Here in Florida where Bill and others like myself live, the laws may be different. Some states actually specify minimum caliber, whether or not you can use an Airgun and the minimum FPE depending on the animal.

Good point. I’d be using one of my .30s. My issue is that I’ve had a bear and a coyote in my yard in the last few days. I also had an 8 point buck walk up to my camera and either sniff or lick it lol.

 

[FL22]

@RatSmacker this guide is no substitute for knowing the current laws and regulations where you live.

Game & Pest Hunting | Choosing Best Equipment | Pyramyd AIR

Get expert tips on hunting game and controlling pests whether you prefer airgun hunting or bowhunting from the outdoor experts at Pyramyd AIR.

www.pyramydair.com

 

[RobbieGio]

What Air Rifle Caliber and KE Minimum would you recommend for Dillo dispatching just curious? I live In New York Long Island to be exact and we now have a Rabid Raccoon Epidemic! I keep an JTS Air Styrke (.25 26.24 H&N Crow Magnum) at the ready just In case!

As others state, you must follow local laws. Here is some info from NY state DEC:

Furbearer Hunting

dec.ny.gov

Small Game and Furbearers

For hunting species like squirrels, rabbits, hares, ruffed grouse, coyotes, foxes, and raccoons:
• Allowed: Any single-projectile air rifle that is .17 caliber or larger.
• Common Legal Calibers: .177, .22, and .25 are all fully legal, provided the rifle produces a muzzle velocity of at least 600 feet per second.

 

[Ezana4CE]

I’m not an expert on this. Personally I’d recommend .25 and 50fpe or greater. Checkout @Ezana4CE posts, also @Chief55, @FL22 @JimT66 . They all have actively dispatched pests of that size. I think @Pumacarl too. I wouldn’t mess with a rabid racoon. I’d want him down hard and fast with a headshot. I’ve only body shot a racoon with a .243 hitting him with about 1800 fpe.

I wouldn’t shoot a rabid animal in the head unless it was absolutely necessary. Rabies affects the central nervous system. The brain is central to that system, so spreading brain matter outside of the body may not be a good idea.

This link contains decent reference material. The first bullet point supports some of what I’m saying.

https://oaddl.okstate.edu/site-files/documents/rabies-submission-instructions-09-07-21.pdf

 

[Billm]

I wouldn’t shoot a rabid animal in the head unless it was absolutely necessary. Rabies affects the central nervous system. The brain is central to that system, so spreading brain matter outside of the body may not be a good idea.

This link contains decent reference material. The first bullet point supports some of what I’m saying.

https://oaddl.okstate.edu/site-files/documents/rabies-submission-instructions-09-07-21.pdf

Good point. I just wouldn’t want one attacking me.

 

[Ezana4CE]

@Billm That’s completely rational and understandable.

 

[Chief55]

Good point. I’d be using one of my .30s. My issue is that I’ve had a bear and a coyote in my yard in the last few days. I also had an 8 point buck walk up to my camera and either sniff or lick it lol.

Bilm, I had around a 1-year-old, about 120-pound bear knock over my garbage can last Thursday at 11pm.

One of the problems with airguns is nothing is standard. One .30 may put out 60FPE but the next will put out 80fpe and the next 110fpe and so on. All of the calibers are this way. So, for racoons which can be hard to kill I say .25 or .30 50fpe or more for medium to long range. There are vidoes of them running after being shot with a 22mag so they can be tuff if you don't make a good shot in the vitals. Yes, my .22 Condor can make a bunch of power, but I still go with a .25 or .30 to hunt coons. The larger the hole you put in something the faster it will go down and you won't always get good expansion. I have killed them with both calibers. I killed a lot of them in my yard near the chicken pen years ago with a Hatsan 135 .30 brake barrel inside of 20 yards that only made 30fpe but it was always very close range and a .30 hole with a heavy pellet put them down with one shot every time. I don't think I could cock that thing anymore, took about 50 pounds of force.

 

[JimT66]

Here in Alabama, I'm thinking .22 is smallest legal for trash panda hunting.both daytime and night time hunting Yes, I've killed them with .22 pellets from 30 ft.lbs and up, but I wouldn't recommend it, straight on head shots are easily deflected, hard to hit a teed off coon square for penetration! and a rabid one? Just NO! Minimum 25 caliber unless you have one pushing 50+ ft.lbs. Like been said, the bigger the hole, the better. Our raccoons around here easily get 25-30+ lbs and they tough to kill anyway, especially when they get mad or scared. Armadillo hunting is best to have a 40+ ft.lb. gun too. They are tough as a football, with all that leather armor. If your worried about head shooting a rabid coon, douse the area and the raccoon with Clorox. That will run off the other critters, and kill any virus, but don't touch it. shovel and a few trash bags to dump him in. Better safe than sorry.