About Raccoon Hunting
Supplies
Coon hunting is a popular sport in rural, wooded areas with creeks, streams and moist river bottoms. Some hunting equipment is designed specifically for coon hunting, which will contribute to a safe, effective hunt.
Why Coon Hunt
Coon hunters enjoy the sport for many reasons. Pelts bring excellent prices on the fur market. Other reasons are training and working the dogs, and the meat is considered a delicacy. Coon hunting presents challenges; it is a chase at night on foot in cold weather, often through wet boggy areas, and a wily raccoon can outwit even an experienced pack of dogs.
Coon Habits
Raccoons are nocturnal animals, most active at night. Their dens are usually high in hollow trees; when they are threatened they will head for the safety of their den. Raccoons wander for long distances searching for food, and it is not uncommon to find one a mile or more from home.
Taking into account the habits of raccoons, there are several items that make coon hunting safer. Besides basic gun safety, which is always required, hunters must be equipped for the safety of their dogs as well as personal safety while stomping about in the woods at night.
Equipment
Good hunting lights and extra batteries are an absolute necessity. Coon hunting lights are made to fit onto special hardhats, with the battery cable running down one side to attach to a battery pack in a pocket. A control knob allows the hunter to adjust the brightness of the beam. Baseball-type fabric caps are also fitted with mounting brackets to hold this type of light. Hat lights also come with optional belt clips, and some hunters use headband headlights. Amber or red plastic lenses fit over any of the lights; they are reflected by the raccoon's eyes without a blinding white light.
Keeping track of dogs is a major concern. Lighted collars help with this. Dog collars have tracking devices to help a hunter find a lost or injured dog. A tracking device is quite an asset if dogs take off after a raccoon that leads them on a wild, circuitous chase and hunters have a hard time keeping up. It is also helpful in locating dogs when the raccoon gets away and with inexperienced dogs.
GPS devices are replacing compasses for hunters to ascertain their locations. A cell phone is another necessary item to carry. Homemade or purchased sweet bait blocks are sometimes hung from trees.
The hunting season for raccoon is in the winter when the pelts are the thickest. Well-insulated clothing is a must. Hunters who know they will be crossing creeks and swampy areas often include waders in their coon hunting supplies.
Costs
By far the biggest expense in coon hunting is for the coon hounds, their travel boxes, collars and tracking devices. Dogs also require ongoing food, training and veterinary care.
Benefits
Coon hunting is usually a group activity, and safety is always paramount. Have the right equipment and learn to use it correctly for a safe, enjoyable and profitable hunt.
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