need possum control ideas

[Soundguy]

I got a bow.. but I'm not sure about trying to pop em up in a tree at night with it.

I don't have any animocity towards the buggers.. i just can't let them take any more livestock.. and shooting them ( or poison.. etc.. ) won't make me loose -any- sleep.. etc..

Soundguy

 

[Dargo]

Nope, I'm dead serious about a .22 and a possum. We have more possum out where I live than people. I've been face to face and handled more of those gawd awful looking creatures than you could imagine. I'm sure you've heard "play possum", right? Well, they'll act plenty dead until you're carrying one off to toss into the woods and it'll decide to take a nice bite out of the side of your leg when you're carrying it! You can carry them by the tail out away from your body and they can't raise up and bite you, but they'll scare the heck out of you when that tail grabs a hold of your hand and you can't hardly turn it loose!

If you want to test what I say, take an axe handle and try beating one to death by clubbing it over the head. When it's a bloody mess, keep on pounding for another 5 minutes. Then sit down to catch your breath and it'll get up and walk off. After skinning more of them than I'd want to admit, I'm not sure that a .22 will go through the top of one's skull. They are about 1/2" thick or more across the top. As I said, you may kill one with a .22, but it will not be a humane kill by far.

 

[Soundguy]

Seems to me a heart shot should pretty much kill it almost instantly. We are like machines.. machines need oil pressure.. we need blood pressure. With no blood pressure, the brain shuts down prety fast. Shooting in the head for many animals is problematic.

I've seen .357 rounds hit a wild hog skull, and rip skin off in a semicircle and then exit .. not 'hurting' the hog. Same .357 into the heart pretty much stops it in about 1 second as soon as the blood pressure drops.. etc.

I usually don't go for head shots when hunting.. but rather chest shots.. ( For one.. it's a bigger target.. and 2.. I usually want to keep whatever is on the head.. especially if it has big teeth or horns.. or can be mounted to a plaque .. ) .. Ok.. so the possum don't fall into that category... but still.. I think I'd prefer the chest shot.. et.

Soundguy

 

[Dargo]

Yeah, but you're assuming that a possum has a heart. Maybe they are like my wife...


I'm kidding!!

 

[EddieWalker]

In the last four years I've had my land, I've only seen one possum. I don't know if it's just me, or if there just don't like it hear very much. We got plenty of other critters, but very few possums.

Too bad, cause I've got the urge to go shoot one!!!! hahahaha

Eddie

 

[YanmarFever]

Yeah, but you're assuming that a possum has a heart. Maybe they are like my wife...


I'm kidding!!

Dargo, you really dont have possums at your place at all. Eddie Walker just dropped off a batch of baby hogs (thats all) its been all along.

Sound guy, have your wife shine a spotlite on the critters while you shoot them between the eyes with your favorite shootin iron, and let the neighbor complain all he wants. When the sheriff shows up show him the hog, I mean opossum in the chicken house, and give the cops Dargos phone# and tell them hes your snake, I mean lawyer
Im tired Ernie

 

[deerefan]

I have heard moth balls work for squirrels in attics....how about this for the possums? Anyone ever tried it?

 

[Dozernut]

We use a live trap for problem animals, that way if you catch someones cat or dog you can simply let them go. The trapped pest then can be disposed of with a .22 to the head or relocated. A boiled egg for bait works good on racoons and opposums and the cats will not be attracted to the trap. The live trap is easy to empty and will not harm any animal that blunders in to it.

 

[Dargo]

The live trap is easy to empty and will not harm any animal that blunders in to it.

I like that method along with the pepper spray for being safe, humane, and effective.

 

[DieselPower]

My official possum control boom stick. Savage 93R17BVS .17 HMR. Good for knocking off possums, ground hogs and such to over 300 yards with a head shot with the Swarovoski 6-18X scope.

edited to add: Almost forgot to mention. Don't plan on using a .17 HMR on very small critters that you plan on eating like rabbit or squirrel. They tend to explode when the tiny little bullet hit's them. I hit a rabbit 2 weeks ago in the flower bed from my 2nd floor hallway window. Hit it dead center in the spine as it was standing up and it blew the little fur ball in 2 pieces.