I've been trying to figure out how to deal with chipmunks, squirrels and the worst of them is raccoons. Sometimes skunks.
I live in a regular type neighborhood. Across the street is a wooded area and no houses. But I have a house about 15' to my right, about 25 yards to my left and rear. Obvously, the only way one can really shoot is not towards any houses.
I've been reluctant to ever shoot any firearms in my yard, but I have killed a chipmunk and a squirrel with my air rifle. But everything is so close. The ones that concern me the most are the raccoons. We've had them descend on our house a few times and keep us up all night. The big problem with them is I'm not seeing if it's actually legal to kill them once in your yard. They have a season for hunting. So I have to dig deeper into that. But if I CAN kill them, I'm trying to figure out the safest way to do that in a tight neighborhood.
Obviously I would need to make sure I'm pointed in the right direction. There are plenty of times where they are in my front yard and there would be nothing beyond them that would be a problem. There aren't any houses for over 5 miles and only 1 that I know. If I was pointed towards the ground, I would be comfortable taking a shot.
But with what? I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with a .223 / 5.56. Although like I said. I think a shotgun would be the way to go. I have 2 options. .410 and 12 gauge. Obviously any shot would work for chipmunks from a 12 gauge and probably any .410 shot. For the real small game. I'm wondering what to shoot coons with. Maybe buckshot in the .410? Only problem with that one is I have a single shot break action. 12 gauge might be the better way to go for them. I wish I had a pump .410 or lever. I think that would probably be ideal. Just seems like .410 might be kind of light for coons. Unless I could do multiple shots, quickly, of buck loads.
I've heard .22 works but, maybe, maybe not so well????
My air rifle is toast. It was old and it no longer is sealed.
I did drown some chipmunks last year in a bucket with seed scattered on top the water. That did work for a few of them. Seemed like they got wise to it after a while though. LOL. Probably not, but it seemed that way.
Just thought I'd ask here and see what you guys think. I've always wanted a 20 gauge pump so it could pull multiple duty. Hunting / home protection / varmint culling, but money is real tight right now. I may think about trading something if it was necessary. Or a .410 pump if that is the way to go.
I could use the 12 gauge too but that seems overkill for all of them and I'd rather use something with less recoil if I can help it. Although maybe some managed recoil rounds would do the trick.....
I do have a .357 revolver. Maybe some shot in that would work for the chipmunks and squirrels. But I'm assuming that would just tick off a raccoon, eh?