The pastures and woods are dry and the vegetation has switched over from the ferns and grasses of spring to the heat-resistant and dry weeds and grasses. Half the standing grasses are dead, some withered and dead.
The circle of life stuff is cutting close for the Raccoons. First a big healthy adult, suckered in by catfood, then a big boar who followed his nose early, then when the adults start thinking the kits rush in.
It's a disgusting process. Three days of killing and I'm sick of it. Ready to turn it off and quit, but if I quit too soon I just have to fire it up again when the deer are moving into rut. Better to push through to the end.
But it's not a "price war" or a "flame war." It's a real war with real victims. It's not a feat of arms. It's work to accomplish a distinct end.
A caution to those who fantasize about shooting-them-in-the-head-and-rolling-the-bodies-into-a-shallow-grave.
I'm not sure I could shoot prairie dogs.
Next I expect an empty sprung trap with the catfood dug out from the sides. We'll see.
Update: No doubt the social arrangement is in disarray after losing a big male, a big female and two kits. Raccoons have a herd pecking order and some divisions between males and female groups this time of year. I bet they wonder where folks have gone and are trying to adjust.
Update II: It's raining and 9:30 Central time. I'm sure the trap is spring. Pistol by the door in a sack.
Update: This is Part IV of the Coon War. Down below are the other parts.
3 comments:
I have the same problem with groundhogs. If they cross the DMZ into the pasture they are fair game but I don't take a pleasure from it. Possums in the barn, same thing.
I turn off the hunting shows when the nimrods start shouting and high five-ing each other. I've hunted from the Artic to Mexico and never thought I needed to act like I score a touchdown at a high school football game when a made a good stalk or shot.
I enjoy the blog. Keep up the posts
Good post.
I've been thinking of getting into hunting, but have been turned off by the stories and youtube videos of high five-ing hunters scoring a touchdown at a high school football game (good analogy Anon).
Good to know some folks take killing seriously.
Hunting brings you into direct contact with elementary forces. Nothing like cooking part of a deer you had to hunt, shoot, butcher and store yourself. Always reminds me of what a momentary existance we all share.
Plus, it's free range, low fat and all that.
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