Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Wildlife Management Rabies

I've been pretty careful lately just because of what Travis is going through. For the last couple of weeks I've been thinning a serious overpopulation of raccoons that are causing one heck of a lot of problems. Damn, they can be expensive nuisances. I go through this every 3-4 years.

Much like what happened to Travis, I was a little concerned about one I dealt with the other day. I usually catch them in live traps and then shoot them while still in the trap. I shot a really big one between the eyes on Sunday morning, and that thing slung blood and saliva everywhere. I sprayed the trap, my UTV, the area where I shot him, and my boots with bleach. I hung my leather gloves in the sun. Then I took a shower. I've done this many times before, and I've never seen one go into such violent convulsions before. I have no reason to believe this one was rabid -- just angry.

I also came upon a really awful looking coyote early last week that was staggering down the middle of a dirt road. I was fairly certain I was on the Virginia side of the border, but I wasn't exactly sure what state I was in (I pass five state-line signs in seven miles on my way to this friend's farm.) I had a .22, in a case, in the truck, but I just knew I'd get caught for shooting out-of-state if I shot the darn thing. I thought I'd just contact the local animal warden when I got to where I had cell service.

Even better, I ran into a Virginia county animal warden a couple miles down the road coming out of a farm driveway. I told her about it. She told me I should have shot it. I asked about being a West Virginia resident, and not a Virginia resident. She said nobody would take action against me for doing that. I just don't trust how true that is.

A friend shot and killed a half-dead deer near here a few years ago. It had been hit by a car and was struggling in the road. He was on a road that divides WV and VA. About the time he shot the deer, a VA county sheriff's deputy arrived. My friend ended up missing a lot of work days explaining to Virginia authorities about killing a deer, out of season, out of state, and without a license.

Travis -- I'm calling you next time!