Most coon hunting is done behind hounds. But, it is possible to hunt them alone without dogs. Calling one in is particularly challenging. They are extremely cautious. Often hunters get in a hurry and repeat the call at the wrong time. But if one is patient, it is just a matter of time until a hunter gets his chance at the wily character. Raccoon of the Midwest are the largest and darkest of the raccoon family. Its winter fur is long and thick with the animal having a bushy ringed tail, black face mask and pointed ears. The general color of raccoons is a yellow gray or gray‑brown with many hairs dark tipped. Their color is darker on the back. The face mask is black and runs from cheek to eyes. A black streak on the forehead completes the pattern. Their tail is usually gray with four to six black rings.
Raccoons are 27 to 34 inches in length and weigh up to 30 pounds on average.
The forefeet of a raccoon are about 3 inches in length and almost as wide as they are long when viewing the tracks. The hind feet have a longer print, 3 or 4 inches in length, resembling a miniature human footprint with long toes. The claws of both are apparent in the tracks. Raccoons walk flat‑footed like a human, with an average stride of about 14 inches.
Raccoons are creatures of the night found wherever woods, swamps and streams provide suitable habitat for food and den sights. Usually they make their home in hollow logs or trees. Sometimes they will inhabit temporary shelters in a rock fissure or a woodchuck den.
Raccoons begin to forage in the early evening along creeks and streams in search of food. You can find their tracks in the mud of the banks. They visit the low streams and pools of water in search of crayfish, frogs, fish and other easy prey. In times of short rations in the woods, raccoon like barns, grain storage buildings, orchards and chicken houses.
Hungry raccoons are the easiest to call in, as they will come to any sound that might mean a meal. Raccoon respond to calls of the type often used to call other predators. They also respond to deer calls. Because of its slow gait hunters should give the coon sufficient time to respond. Twenty minutes is a good rule of thumb. Visit Donald Gasaway Blog for more hunting asd fishing coverage….