Right to protect your garden from wildlife

[lonesomepine]

What's the law on live trapping or killing coons or other pests that are decimating your families corn or other garden produce? While I don't mind sharing a little,the electric fence isn't keeping the coons out and they are really laying to my sweet corn,I can deal with the rabbits eating a few beans,but the corn destruction is going to stop without my spending anymore $$$ to fence the place

[lonesomepine]

Statutes say this =
http://162.114.4.13/KRS/150-00/170.PDF

[CSS archer]

Contact your officer or private lands biologist. They will document the damage with a reporting form and instruct you as to the best way to deal with the problem.

[Al]

Lonesomepine, I have 7 traps around my sweet corn now but the coons are bypassing them and going straight for the stalks. Im only loosing 3 or 4 a night though because I trapped them real hard earlier. I took out 18 last yr.
I think winter, which happens to be the legal trapping season is the best time to thin them out for next yr because of the lack of food sources then.
Do you have a big dog you can chain up in your corn?

[Snareman2]

Lonesomepine, I have 7 traps around my sweet corn now but the coons are bypassing them and going straight for the stalks. Im only loosing 3 or 4 a night though because I trapped them real hard earlier. I took out 18 last yr.
I think winter, which happens to be the legal trapping season is the best time to thin them out for next yr because of the lack of food sources then.
Do you have a big dog you can chain up in your corn?

Thin them down every year during trapping season, it's a win-win situation, you have fun trapping and also sell their fur. Problem solved! If you don't try to manage the population during the season, then you are part of the problem, at least assume some of the responsibility. Killing them during the summer ain't worth a crap, they have to eat to and in their eyes, you just put out a big food plot, all for them. Start managing alittle or get some kids involved to help out. Good opportunty to get them into the outdoors and also understand why we need to do our part to control the populations. JMHO!

[Snareman2]

Or you could look at it like this! We are blessed, don't you tithe at church. I'm sure the Good Lord wants you to tithe out in the field as well, give alittle back to the wildlife. It's through him, all things are possible (Phillipians 5:13 or something like that), so don't sweat the small stuff.:D

[swamper]

Farmers around here say if the coons are stealing your sweet corn, you've waited too long to pick it....coons are the best source of info you have when the corn is ready.

[lonesomepine]

I have 4 separate plantings of Sweet Corn planted a few weeks apart so that it all didn't get ripe at the same time,4 rows each planting about 75 feet long.
I have 3 big dogs that will run and tree them,but the best one is my mutt herd dog who comes in at night,the two pups evidently sleep on the job.:)
I didn't kill the coons,caught two in a live trap and moved them to my farm on the Licking river a few miles away,corn problem seems to be solved for now,except for one that has figured out how to open my plastic garbage cans with sweet feed in them in my barn about a 1/4 mile from the house.I put a bungee cord on the lids and seems to be working.I was starting to think I had alzhiemers and left the lids off until I made certain I was putting them on tight.Rabbits are getting thinned out this fall,I let them slide a couple years too long around the house.
As far as the sharing thing,I share enough stuff around here with the wildlife,give them plenty of habitat and natural foods too,my families eating comes first in the garden plot.;)

[lonesomepine]

Forgot to mention that I know Clay Smitson well,(local wildlife biologist),I also let a couple local boys coon hunt through here,just too many coons anymore,I trapped a little when I was younger,but haven't for years and doubt if I would have time anymore,while nobody traps my place a former CO/Captain Barth Johnson traps my neighbors pond,I think he only catches muskrats though.

[KY_Fried]

You could keep a dog tied up near the garden. That's worked for me for years, if not just do what you gotta do. You've already put up an electric fence so you can't say you haven't tried other methods. I'm sure you've put in a lot of time and effort in your garden so don't let all that work be for nothing but coon feed.

[JDMiller]

My father-in-law has coon problems every year with his sweet corn. He ended up at a suggestion of some amish families near by... to put an electric fence up but use two strands.

The first one is about 3"inches off the ground and the second strand is about 8"inches off the ground. Being low its good to use a good weedcutter type of fencer to take care of the grass and he usually sprays his with round-up around the perimeter.

One strand usually does'nt stop them but two will. This seems to work with his corn. Just thought I would suggest it.

[rcb216]

I picked all my sweet corn last week, yours should be ready to, My grandad always says when the coons and bugs start hitting them hard pick them. Sloves the problem. I always leave the half grown or small ears and let them have them.