Feeder raider sighting.

Pretty certain instead of one I'm dealing with multiples. I have sightings at around 8:50pm to as late as 12am, and then there are the sightings that are almost always at 3:30 to 4am. So it looks like I'm really going to have my work cut out for me in the following weeks.

Last night it snuck in after I left, and tonight there was a no show for the 3am one. Other one got there before I even got off work. Looks like its going to be another few days of late nights, but the plus side is another possum that migrated in from the dump went down.

Still haven't caught any of them in the act since I've been finding it hard to get out there after work. So rather than just let these guys have a free meal I decided to make it much harder on them by wiring down the lid on the feeder and putting a payday candy bar in the bottom. Funny how the small things can give you a laugh once in awhile what with how tired the raccoon at around 3 minutes in looked.

On a side note I'm half tempted to break out my .45 Texan one night when its really nice and warm, though knowing my luck I'd miss the raccoon and hit the feeder.

Spent the day sighting in my .45 Texan since I had the opportunity, and then tried my luck once more tonight(not with the Texan of course). I even had my handy driveway alarm this time, and was setup under camo netting. They came in twice, once around 11:45 and again at around 1am, and both times they were gone at the slightest bit of cocking noise or glare from my barrel.

I won't say I've been defeated at this point, but it looks like I'll have to learn some new tricks to get the crosshairs on them. Also its safe to say these are probably the critters I've heard the neighbors taking shots at in the last month with how shy they are.

Definitely out of sight from my house. The glare comes from the 200w outdoor light that just happens to be within sight of the feeder so its a double edged sword. I can see the feeder without having to use extra lighting, but they can also get a good look at me. The reason the trail cam switches to IR for the pictures is it just happens to be dim enough at that spot for it.

Looks like I going to have to switch my hide location to something further out than the 40yds I'm comfortable with at this point. Of course if I'm going to go through this trouble I might as well just move a patio table and chair there and use my extra camo netting to make something really comfortable, and give me a steady place for my shooting bag to give me more of an edge for the new distance.

If that doesn't work I'll have to use one of those coon traps Salt, but it'll still be one of those waiting sessions because I absolutely will not leave of those traps over night. The reason being that if I did leave it over night I may not be able to get back to it for more than a day, and as much as I hate these raccoons I'd rather it went out as quick as possible rather than sit in a trap for more than half a day.

I had to resort to the trap. Once dispatched and given my rough estimate on its age I'd wager it was a sibling from the same litter as previous raccoons I'd shot late last year. Of course the down side to this knowledge is there is a good chance it has another sibling, and its parents still lurking around. Also the feeder hasn't been hit since. So either the others got a good look at the other one when it was trapped, or the scent of the blood is keeping the others away for now. Which ever the case might be I consider this a win for now.