Post by rkrodle on Jul 16, 2009 22:55:52 GMT -5
Went up to our Black Cat Thicket hunting property this evening to check the hog feeders. We’ve been having a big problem with coons eating the corn. I set out some traps and thinned out a few of the coons but for the last few days there has been nothing in the traps. I decided to walk on further to check another feeder and stopped by the pond on the way. I saw our resident wood duck hens and the one duckling, also for the first time saw a beaver there. There is a lot of old sign of beavers but as yet we hadn’t seen one. I also caught a glimpse of something moving away from the water on the far side but couldn’t tell what it was. The pond is heavily wooded on all sides with just one small clearing were I was standing. Feeling good about all that I had seen I continued on to the second feeder. As I came up on a small rise about 20 yards from it I see something moving under it. I realize it a coon and throw my Winchester 94 Trapper up to my shoulder and squeeze the trigger. The 250gr XTP pushed by a big dose of H110 wacked the coon hard but it was still moving, I send a second shot screaming at the struggling coon and then all is still. I move over closer to inspect it and find my first shot was a little far back and I had gut shot it. The XTP traveling at 1700 fps was devastating having blown a huge hole, the second shot exited out the side of its head and there simply was nothing left of it. I disposed of the carcass and turn to leave, as I’m walking back by the pond I hear a strange noise and creep up the bank and look over to see another coon followed closely by three young ones crossing a dead tree laying in the pond. I take aim and dropped the lead coon from about 50 to 55 yards, the younger ones reverse direction on the log and head back the way they came. I aim and drop the lead coon and the second in line, the third one goes into the water and after three shots I manage to take him also. All in all I managed to reduce the coon population by five. It’s a good start and will help the young wood ducks to survive also. I was curious how the XTPs would work at the speeds I running them in the trapper. I was pleased with them on the coons, simply devastating, but I think they’re moving to fast to be useful on anything bigger. I believe I will need to move up the XTP MAG for a heavier constructed bullet. I may also try some of Swifts 265gr bullets as I believe they will hold up quite well at these speeds on heavier animals such as hogs.
I not very good with my sixguns, for me a short barrel is 16 inches.