OK, I'm cool. No bears.
Thank you, Jesus.
But back to coons.
It's mid-September......and we've sent 34 of those buggers to their 17 virgin reward.
My last 'high year' was 36 coons.
I have 3 and half months to go.
Clearly, I cannot kill my way out of the problem.
My habitat is simply Fantasy Island for CoonWorld.
Lotsa streams. Lotsa big old trees. Lotsa food.
You know the rest.
No surprise.
Every year I have one prized tree (this year it was a 8 year old Chestnut Crab) get nuked by the coons.
I use live traps ( can't say enough good things about Tomahawk traps)...I use footholds (1.5's)...and this year, with that Chestnut Crab, I weakened, and went to Golden Malrin.
(that stuff gives me the creeps. no problem with mice or rats....but racoons seem like a bridge too far, emotionally).......anyway, I crossed that bridge.
After this season's experience I have decided to strip all fruit off of all trees until the tree can support a 12lb racoon.
Being pragmatic has its' benefits.