This year was my first trapping coons. I only managed three, and here is how the dispatching turned out. First was a medium sow, one .22 through the vitals and she went down quickly, the second was a large boar, took four shots through the vitals for same effect. On the last female, smaller the that first I gave her a rap on the skull and vital stomp. Although I thought this was the best scenario, when I skinned her the facial area was so bloody from the trauma it made skinning very difficult. Any ideas on dispatching. I was considering .22 short hollow points. Any input appreciated!

I just use 22. long rifle bullets. These seem to work out very well. The hole in the head is usually very small. And if you are lucky, there will be no exit hole. I am glad to give my help!

Go to the archives search in both the land and general trapping sections.

I agree to much head trauma to knockout a coon.
If you are using a 22, use CB Longs. They are not very loud and will not have an exit wound. They also tend not to blow the skull apart so not near as much trouble or mess skinning.
I even use them for coyote and cat.
drthol

Either blunt force or shooting are acceptable methods for dispatching raccoon.Niether will produce excessive bleeding or trauma when done properly.When useing blunt force. Strike the top of the head or slightly towards the back of the head with enough force to immediately render the animal unconsious .A second blow may then be used to kill the animal if necessary.Shooting can be accomplished by useing an aiming point where lines visualised from the ears to the eyes cross, high on the front of the skull.If you damage the sinus/nasal cavities this will result in a greater amount of bleeding.I have found CB's both short and long cased varities to be marginal especially durring cold weather and perfer .22 short HP or .22sub-sonics.When useing cartridges with greater penatrateing capibility place your shot so the bullet stays within the body.Try not to shoot through.

Just for general information,the .22CB long produces lower velocity than it's short cased counterpart

Thanks for the input! I really appreciate all the information on get on this forum!

I don't take any firearm on my trap line. I take my trappers trowl or a rebar stake, and give the coon a good wack to the back of the skull. then lay the coon on its belly and lay my trowl accross the back of the neck right at the base of the skull. step on both ends of the trowl on either side of the coon. grab the coons back legs. and give a hard pull intil I hear the neck dislocate. this gives the coon a quick death with little blood.

I simply use a 22 long rifle shell and shoot right between the eyes most of the time it drops them dead in one shot. the longest it took for them to die was 30 second.

Render the animal unconscious with a sharp blow to the head, then, with the heel of your foot, shift your weight onto the ribs untill the animal is expired. Most importantly, this is a humane method and secondly, you will get very little blood if done properly. I use this method with just about all my critters. Never got bit. Don't have holes in the head and face when done and I don't have bloody pelts to clean up.

Trap Jaw.Are you implying that the other methods suggested are not humane?