.22 caps

[Dermody15]

I live in a very urban area and have a pig opussum problem they drive my dog crazy and im getting tired off waking up at 3am. I have tried my pellet gun but i think there skin is to thick for it to do anything. I have heard of these .22 caps or CB's they are supposed to be very quite and still have a little power. would anyone recemend me using these to take care of my problem are they to powerful for a urban area? And are they loud and would it raise atention from my niebors

[JDC]

Just out of curiosity, did you intend to say "big opossum problem"? I have never heard of "pig opossums"

Who in the world thought of calling an animal an opossum????

Anyway, in most cases with larger small animals, a standard BB gun, even a pump model will have little or no effect on animals that size. Even .22 shorts have a pretty good pop, and can cause some noise issues in urban areas, plus if you miss, or have a ricochet, you could end up with undesirable results.

My personal recomendation would be along the lines of a higher quality air gun. I prefer pneumatics especially for urban areas. You can control the power depending on what you are shooting, thus not having a projectile ending up two blocks away.

I like the Sheridan Blue Streak in .20 cal. I have removed some possums from the local population in El Cajon with it. I found that a head shot with 5-6 pumps was an instant clean kill. If I was in a position that I had to use a body shot, 4-5, but it has to be well placed. I lived in apartment/condo type dwelling, and never had a noise complaint, nor did I ever notice any of the neighbors even take notice to the noise.

[Speckmisser]

Dermody,

Your best bet is to invest about half the cost of a good air rifle into a Havahart live catch trap. Possums are pretty easy to catch, especially if it's getting used to hitting your trash or your dog food.

Once you've got him, you can turn him over to animal control (they'll usually euthanize it) or if it's legal you can relocate it or take it out of the city limits and "euthanize" it yourself.

Once you've got one trapped, you can also keep it in a cage for a while, feeding it cornmeal and milk for about a month...then you've got some good eatin'!

Lots of alternatives to launching missiles in an urban environment and dealing with unintended consequences.

From reading your posts, man, you need to move out of that city and into the boonies! Sounds like you're rattling around in your cage... need to get out before it closes in on you.

[yotegetter]

I've shot these. They're called .22 Colibri. They're made by a Spanish company, Colibri. They're primer only with no powder in them. I shot some at a plastic pot with dirt inside it at about 10 yards with a Ruger Bearcat. It pierced right through it. Not sure what the velocity is on them.
I bought them at a gun show for about $3 for 50. You might want to doublecheck because I don't think you can shoot them within city limits. They're also not very quiet. They do make some noise.

[THBailey]

I don't know if they are still available, but I have used Remington CB Longs. They have plenty of thump but are as quiet as my Sheridan pump pellet gun. And they were tack drivers out of my Browning BL22.

[Speckmisser]

Just a word to revisit my last post on this topic...

If you live in an urban area, and get caught popping caps..whether .22 Colibri or anything else... odds are real good you're going to go to jail. That doesn't even take into account the very real possibility of hurting someone.

There are a lot of options, right down to the Coke bottle silencer... but bottom line is you're in an urban environment. Don't do it.

Trap the critter and get it out of there. Trap two or three or thirty if that's what it takes. One trap..no muss, no fuss. Havahart... 49.99 at Cabelas (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/horizontal-item.jhtml?id=0006858220456a&navAction=jump&navCount=0&indexId=&podId=0006858&catalogCode=IC&parentId=&parentType=&rid=)

[TScottW99]

raw hotdogs cut up into about an inch piece is good bait along with apple slices.... proably your best bet. You might want to look around on the net also for plans on a homemade box trap. I use to have some but lost them over the years, got mine from Outdoor Life when I was a kid. Caught a good many rabbits and possums in them.

[shaginator]

I second the trap idea.

Among the urbanites it's not only courteous and safe, but the most practical -- despite its tendency to go against some our instinctive aspects.

Colibris won't penetrate. CB's would still be too loud for a typical suburban tract and a wandering shot is still hazardous. Broadheads... same. Don't recommend target tips, please.

It's possible the local humane society rents out traps for retrieval of these sorts of pests, and they handle the rest.

If you decide to euthanize, or better yet -- make use of it as food -- then do get a trap.

Yes, Speck is right, good idea to feed the possum for at least 3-4 weeks with "clean food". When it's ready, marinate in beer, salt, pepper flakes, whiskey, garlic, thyme overnight, and bake them with sweet potatoes.
(Not bad for a boy raised in LA... that's Los Angeles, not Louisiana... huh?)
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[Speckmisser]

Dang, Shaggy... I never cease to be amazed! Next, you&#39;re gonna tell me you know how to fix &#39;coons too!

[machine]

Colibri&#39;s are made by a Co. called Aguila
the standerd Colibri&#39;s shoot @ 375 FPS
the Super Colibri&#39;s shoot @ 500 FPS
they are quite!

[TScottW99]

Here&#39;s a link to a blueprint of a box trap.....

Blue Print (http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/documents/nathis/woodwork/ww10.pdf)

this is exactly like the box trap I used to use as a teenager... it works very well. Good luck to ya&#39;.

Scott

[DILPRXO]

If you insist on a firearm....(I agree with, support and use traps myself) try the subsonic load by Eley. Very quiet..40gr. hollowpoint .. Lots more "hit" than a colibri.. Just don&#39;t use in a pistol...very embarrasing http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/afraid_face.gif

[Two Rugers]

bEFORE IT BECAME A CRIME. I would use CB shorts from a marlin bolt action. The longer the barrel the quiter it is. I had a rat problem since the nieghbors had a backyard full of fighting roosters, and the other grew funny looking weeds so there was no problem in a nosey neighbor calling the cops. yea right.
Anyways CBs are silent death to naything it hits. If it dosnet kill the critter right there it will in a few seconds. Anyway they are quiter than my air gun except for the THUMP! the bullet make when you hit a critter.
Oh and yea no pistols. they go BOOOM!!!! in pistols.
Anyway I use a crossbow for those things now.

[.22calholepuncher]

22 caps used 2 be used indoors for entertainment in france...and people didnt care...but nowadays, people whine about anything. Just get a good bb gun and some ammo, or put some good traps in your yard

[jmabbott888]

I&#39;d go for the live trap, then fatten the possum up on table scraps then cook him up, heard it was pretty good but never tried it. CCI makes the CB loads, I used to shoot them in the garage at a box full of old magazines & newspaper, would go about 4 inches in at the length of a 3 car garage, don&#39;t shoot at wood garage doors though, the bullet WILL go thru & dent the crap out of the car on the otherside lol.

[MapMan]

A friend of mine shot a troublesome possum with .22 CB loads through a 10/22 rifle. Not very loud at all but it took way too many shots to kill it and he bled all over his patio. A point blank shot behind the ear finally did him in. Hunters have a responsibility to kill in a quick, efficient manner to minimize any pain and suffering. I don&#39;t reccomend using CB loads on an animal that size. If you must, make it point blank head shot. Just my 2 cents worth.....

[Spud]

Had a problem a couple of weeks ago with a possum trying to get into our garbage on the back porch. I figured a CB between the eyes would work wonders, and it did, but I spent 20 minutes mopping the porch afterwards. I&#39;d go with a trap if you&#39;re in city limits. Just my opinion. http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-biggrin-aqua.gif

[hntndux]

Urban possum wraps: (can substitute cat or skunk)

1 trapped live possum
1 30 Gal garbage can
20 gallons of water(estimate)
1 13gal (kitchen size) garbage bag

Fill garbage can with enough water to cover length of cage
Place possum and cage combo on end in water
Make sure there&#39;s plenty of water to fully cover
Marinate possum for at least 10 minutes
Remove possum and cage from water
Remove possum from cage
Place possum in garbage bag and tie securely
Place wrapped possum in garbage can
Enjoy!

Note: Marinade can be saved for future use.

[JohnsIslandBoy]

Hell, I know a neighborhood here in Charleston were you can get $5.00 for a coon and $3.00 for a good sized possum. Use to make some good pocket change as a kid that way.


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[MapMan]

That was pretty good Hntndux!

If I did not like one of my neighbors as well as I do, I would try a "Kitty Cat" marinade! If that d#@# cat has sprayes inside my garage one more time I may change my mind.........

[EL CAZADOR]

I will occasionally do some target shooting with my BB gun while sitting in the front of the garage (door down) and shoot through the back door into a target in the back yard (wonderboard behind target). I live in a townhome with neighbors 20 feet away in the back. I solved the impact noise by placing my dry-vac in the backyard and letting it run!!

It seems to do the trick!!!

[tnctcb]

johns island boy: i might need the address of the place in charleston i just joined a club in waltersboro and you never know what i may find there.

anyway go with the traps.even if you have neighbors who wont call the law on you, let one bullet go stray and see how they change their mind