DuckSouth.com

How close have ya'll ever been to a live, WILD coon? I gotta share this one with ya'll. ('Delta Duck', I forgot to tell you about this, this morning)

I managed to get within 70yds of a gobbler still on the roost. When the hen flew-down, I followed her to the ground and watched her until she disappeared into the low brush. Something else caught my eye in that direction…..it was a small raccoon meandering toward me on the ground. The gobbler was still in the tree. He’d gobble and I’d try to spot him on his perch. Meanwhile, the coon is steadily closing on my position.

I continue calling to the gobbler, watching for the hen…….and keeping one eye on this coon. ('Got real busy for a few minutes, there.) Well, the gobbler finally bailed-out and hit the ground about 40yds out. I continue calling to him and watching the coon to see if he notices the noise. What a time to be playin' 'Chicken' with a coon.

When I’m convinced the Tom’s following the hen, now (away form me), I focused my attention to my little fuzzy buddy, as he waddled-up within 6 feet of me......and still comin'.

He acted like he hadn’t seen me yet, so I raised my striker hand to get his attention. That just made him all the more curious and he inched closer. I switched the striker to my left hand (the side he was coming from).

When he got within arm’s length, I raised the striker and was prepared to whack him across the nose if he took another step. He was already too close for comfort, but really didn’t seem like such a threat to me. I thought he may have been partially blind, and/or deaf. He'd obviously never come across one of these things, before. (Hmmm, ‘Sure is big…….and Ugly, too!) I wondered if he had distemper which was causing him to move so slowly......or maybe early stages of rabies. All sorts o' thoughts go thru your mind when a coon looks like he's fixin' to crawl up in your lap.

When he insisted on getting a whiff of me, I raised the striker to whack him on the nose. He just kinda rocked-back and looked at me like, “what the hell you wanna hit ME for?....I ain't gonna hurt you ('Southern' coon)……..but if that’s the way you gonna be, I’ll leave you the hell alone! Damn, you ain't NO fun!.......What a "BEARDED CLAM"!”

He turned and took a couple o’ steps toward my left boot. Keep in mind I’m sitting on the ground with my legs out in front of me with my back to a tree. He looked at my rubber boot and took a step toward it as if to sniff, but I got nervous about this thing with needle-sharp teeth being that close. I twitched my boot. Again, he looked at me like, “You mighty damn jumpy, ain'tcha…….what’s yo problem, buddy?

He took a step backwards and turned around and walked away in the direction I was facing……….'sucker never looked back to see if I was gonna 'tag' him in the back……totally unconcerned! He never showed any aggression or fear......just disgust and indifference....don't ya'll think that's just a little TOO wierd?

You know, looking back on this, I feel like a woos…..I mean it’s just a little coon! As long as he doesn’t jump ON me, I’m probably alright, huh? Honestly though, I had to 'shoo' him off of me. I just wasn't real wild about the idea of havin' a coon in my lap.

Oh well, I feel like I was one with nature, today……practicing a peaceful coexistence with the little animals…….even though, the best thing I coulda done for the quail and turkey population woulda been to remove this egg-eating, rabies-carrying, distemper-spreading critter from the face of the earth. Naw, didn’t have it in me, today. He didn’t seem like he was out to hurt anyone……he’s just trying to avoid coon dogs, Ozella’s iron pot, and automobiles.

‘Hope I see him, again. Maybe we can have a conversation about cellphone technology, ‘Hummers’, the stock market and the Gulf War.

He probably thought you were Delta Duck and heard about the mass kill-off plan of his species. He just wanted to see if it was true or not.

Wingman

Anatidae, maybe next time you will take some extra groceries in the woods with ya. I've seen a few young skunks that were acting strange. I considered the rabies possiblity.

I don't want to kill all the coons, Just the ones in the nesting grounds.

If I'da had the GUTS to, I bet he woulda eaten outa my hand. Like you said, I might take some food with me next time. 'Didn't see him this afternoon.

If the coon does have rabies and bites you, I think you can get 14 shots in the stomach and be okay.

Heck the coon could become a new family member!

I don't think the coon and the dog would get along too well.

Yeah, rabies DID cross my mind. Guess that's what kept me from pickin' the critter up and pettin' him.

Well, did you ever catch up with the gobbler?

And don't forget canine distemper and parvo....your dog would be real glad you brought him home. I wouldn't.

Wingman

'Bigbear'.....2 more hens flew-down late......out of a different tree. They joined the gobbler. I stayed even with them but about 100yds off. He didn't gobble very much on the ground, but managed to get him stirred-up with some purrs.......but couldn't get him away from the hens.

That afternoon, I found some birds out in the same area. There were 3 - 3year-old birds with hens in one part of the field and this big bird and his hen, closer-in. They were feeding toward the same roost area and i tried to get ahead of'em but ran outa time......they beat me to the crossing point.

I didn't call 'cause I thought it was useless.....they were feeding away from me. If I couldn't get him to come-in at 40yds (twice), ain't much chance I'll get him from 250. I'm going to have to be judicious about when I try this bird, lest I educate him. I'm gonna wait 'til he leaves his 'lover'.

I got him on video after I killed my bird last year. I limit myseld to one gobbler/yr in this area to try to help get'em established. 'Had him at 20yds on film......'called him IN, that day. There'll be another day like that. Real soon, I hope.

This is my 3rd season, so I'm gonna make some mistakes. So far, I've been calling too much, too loud. (Basically, my calling sucks). I'm going to give'em a break this week.......and practice on my calling. Fine time to start, huh?

Hey...I DID call-up 2 jakes yesterday.......was fishing in my pocket for the sandpaper to rough-up my call......and looked-up to find'em zeroed-in on me at 25yds ........what a circus! 'Rookies'!!

'Read your 'first-day' account. 'Had any luck since then? Maybe i need to get some calling tips from you. 'Main thing is, I just need to be more consistent and not call so much or so loud. 'Think I've gotten better overnight, though........'bout to get this sandpaper thing figured-out.

Anit - sounds like that coon must have lost his bright orange collar! That sounds like a great hunt. You'll remember that encounter for many moons.

Screw that sandpaper.......go buy a Preston Pittman Black Diamond mouth call. Gonna send you a couple of sound files, one is with a mouth call, the other is natural voice, you figure out which is which........

i have been trapping coons with a depreditation permit with live traps and apple pie is a sure catch....haha.... marsh mellows catch skunks and possums..... you would be suprised just how tame some young coons can be.... they have little fear of man unless they have reason other-wise... just don't offer a finger, they will take nail and all.....

judge jb

Anatidae...thats too funny......RONFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought ya'll might get a kick outa the story. Glad I didn't have to whack him with my striker.......it's a Primos 'Power' striker my uncle 'Dub' gave me. I was thinking the coon might take it away from me and do some real damage......you know.....one o' those 'quiet' types......."speak softly/carry a big striker"......

Hey Jeff, I loaded those files but can't figure-out how to play'em on the media player. I still have a mouth call Preston gave me when he first started makin' calls outa duct tape and latex gloves (un-used). 'Reckon it's the same thing? Thanks anyway. These birds have fallen for the Power Crystal before.....I'll stick with it, fo' now.

Anat,

try to save the files to your desktop, then just click on each one to listen, they should play on media player, real player, or the cd player on the computer itself.