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Post by featherduster on Jun 26, 2011 7:19:00 GMT -5
Every year I wage war with Raccoons that get into my bird feeders and even my bird houses.
I have learned how to Raccoon proof the bird houses but still I wonder how much better off Indiana's game birds such as Pheasants,Ducks,and Turkey would be if Indiana would take steps to put them on the predator list such as Coyote and Fox.
It is a prov-en fact that in areas where heavy predator management is practiced the increase in nesting success improves by as much as 50%.
To this list I would also include Skunks.
Over the years Raccoon hunting and trapping has declined in interest and because of this Raccoon numbers are way out of hand, just ask anybody who lives in rural areas or just look at the number of dead Raccoons on the roads.
Just curious what your opinions are.
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Post by oneshot on Jun 26, 2011 7:58:18 GMT -5
^^ this.
About all we can hope for is for fur prices to go up. Make coons what they were worth years ago and the problem will probably fix itself. Same for coyotes.
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Post by tenring on Jun 26, 2011 8:12:52 GMT -5
I know of one state fish hatchery that cannot keep duck nests around their ponds due to the high number of raccoons that raid the nests. One year they had over 20 confirmed clutches of eggs, none survived.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2011 8:29:51 GMT -5
Well, you mention only coons, but I'd bet that as many eggs are eaten by shunks and possums as do coons eat. And the more yotes that you kill, the more coons, possums and skunks you'll have.
The problems with too many coons is not only related to low fur prices, which has improved some of late, but lack of access to trap and hunt with dogs. Seems a lot of deer hunters will not allow coon hunting with dogs at all.
The best solution would be to allow the few coonhunters still in the game to take coons year round and to be able to train dogs year round. Take bag limits off the number of coons allowed to take, and with any method-day or night.
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Post by tenring on Jun 26, 2011 8:41:51 GMT -5
I volunteered to hang out around the ponds with a Night Vision scope on top of an AR, and was told that they would let me if they could, but they can't. Was told that they can't even do it. Such is life!
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Post by esshup on Jun 26, 2011 9:04:41 GMT -5
I agree. I removed 18 of those buggers one year at Mom & Dad's house. They called all their relatives and invited them to the feast at the bird feeders. I was amazed at how many there were!
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Post by Decatur on Jun 26, 2011 11:11:14 GMT -5
...low fur prices, which has improved some of late, ... |
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Post by kevin1 on Jun 26, 2011 11:28:03 GMT -5
Varmint hunting is probably the least practised of all hunting, there's very little pay off in it these days. I'd gladly trade a landowner varmint control for hunting priveleges, but nobody seems interested in that until they lose livestock or suffer pasture damage.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2011 11:45:53 GMT -5
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Post by duff on Jun 26, 2011 13:52:10 GMT -5
Get out there and get after them. I never have had troubles getting permission to hunt or trap coons. I just don't really get into it any more. It's a great way to build rapore w/ land owners though. If you are having trouble getting land to deer hunt take up trapping and work on building a relationship that way. Most land owners with barns or hay hate coons. If you are willing to help them out this way it could open up more doors than you might ever believe. It just takes some dedication and effort on your part.
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Post by deerdude on Jun 26, 2011 19:23:11 GMT -5
i cant keep the dang things out of my bird feeders.wish they would jack the prices up so maybe they would get thinned out some.
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Post by Woody Williams on Jun 26, 2011 21:01:11 GMT -5
i cant keep the dang things out of my bird feeders.wish they would jack the prices up so maybe they would get thinned out some. My bird feeder is on a metal pole with a squirrel guard on it. The guard itself wont keep them off but I also grease the pole with vasoline.. One a week does it.. |
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Post by dadfsr on Jun 26, 2011 21:54:02 GMT -5
i cant keep the dang things out of my bird feeders.wish they would jack the prices up so maybe they would get thinned out some. My bird feeder is on a metal pole with a squirrel guard on it. The guard itself wont keep them off but I also grease the pole with vasoline.. One a week does it.. I knew a guy down in Missouri that would mix cayenne pepper in with the vasoline-didn't take nearly as much slippery stuff or as often on applications.  ;D |
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Post by whiteoak on Jun 26, 2011 22:13:58 GMT -5
If your having problems with an overpopulation of coons, usually in time, mother nature will do her stuff and an outbreak of distemper, rabbies will occur and many will die a slow horrible death. A 220 conibear , or a well made pocket set on a drowner is much more humane. I'm a firm believer that 75% of the crop damage reported to the DNR is done by coon, especially in corn that is blamed on deer.
I placed out a couple piles of corn in front of a game camera and out of 500 pictures it took 95% of them were of coons and squirrels . I no longer use corn in front of my cameras. I have all the pictures of coons I want to see.
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Post by trapperdave on Jun 27, 2011 8:55:39 GMT -5
Take bag limits off the number of coons allowed to take, and with any method-day or night. there are no bag limits on raccoons nor restrictions on methods of taking or time of day or night. Season runs from Nov8 - jan 31. Only exception that comes to mind is you cant disturb dens or set traps befor Nov 15 |
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Post by tickman1961 on Jun 27, 2011 9:06:18 GMT -5
Delta Waterfowl vs Ducks Unlimited.
Delta understands that predator control is part of good habitat management while Ducks doesn't have a predator control stance and looks at itself has a habitat creator. What good is the habitat if predators destroy most of the eggs and young.
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Post by featherduster on Jun 27, 2011 13:48:36 GMT -5
Tickman I guess I can answer that by saying what good is predator control when the habitat is turned into a parking lot or a mall.
Delta is mainly a organization that is seeking to study and preserve the what we have left of our waterfowl and it's habitat.
Ducks Unlimited on the other hand is trying to find and restore wetland habitat to protect it from it's worst predator ....man.
Both organizations play an important role in the future of waterfowl.
QUESTION why do we only trap and hunt raccoons till Jan 31 when I believe the fur is prime till at least March. I know that during the months of Jan thru March is mating season however the male plays no role in the development of the kits, he simply mates the female and moves on.
The chances of killing a male are 50/50 and so who cares if females get taken when the idea should be to reduce the ever growing population.
After season has closed the state requires a property owners to notify a Conservation officer within 72 hours of the taking of a nuisance animal, how many of us have ever done that and how many Conservation officers care. ANSWER-0
How many of us would or do eat Raccoon on a regular basis ANSWER-0
Now how many of us eat Pheasant,Duck,Goose and Turkey on a regular basis MORE THAN THOSE THAT EAT RACCOON.
If the State of Indiana would take an aggressive approach at greatly reducing predators there is great possibility that Indiana's upland game as well as Waterfowl would flourish again and hunter interest would return.
I guess what I am saying is It's time the State takes the gloves off and helps game animals regain a foot hold in Indiana.
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Post by duff on Jun 27, 2011 16:49:55 GMT -5
What do you suggest? They have gov't trappers out west that trap yotes. Any idea how effective they are? This is mainly in open range where they are protecting livestock more than wild life. I've even heard of aerial gunning and poison but not sure if that is still employed. I just don't see the state getting too interested in Predator mgmt past what they are already doing.
It ranks right up with being able to shoot 300 plus does a year if a guy wanted. No one wants to unless there is some benifit from it. Few guys really enjoy spending all the time and money to trap just for the sake of trapping. Those that do run ADC companies and get paid well for the work but again it is for specific animals by mainly private individuals. Not usually a large scale operation as that is alot of work and little pay back.
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Post by sgtwal on Jun 27, 2011 18:59:27 GMT -5
Male raccoon start to show a "rub" on their back as soon as the rut starts in January. The fur between their shoulders just looks like Hell and the value goes out the window.
Also Indiana raccoon are not the high dollar raccoon they get in other states, we have what's called a "coat" type that is used for trim.
The Indiana DNR hasn't shown much interest in helping our trappers the last few years and the number of water trappers is dropping. The interest has moved to coyotes as they are easier to set up for and run the traps. They're still not worth much but you can run your traps from the seat of a nice warm truck.
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Post by firstwd on Jun 28, 2011 9:39:21 GMT -5
Indiana has gone away from predator control in my eyes over the last few years, especially with coyote. Raccoons are mostly an "urban" problem because of feeding pets outside, garbage cans, no pressure on them. ADC companies do get paid well for the control work they do, but with the economy the way it is now, getting paid at all seems to be the issue. People just don't seem to believe that wildlife and animal damage control is a business or they think the DNR pays for the work.
Along those lines, there is no real monetary incentive for the State to promote predator control because the whitetail has become the master of the all mighty dollar.
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;D
