Coons no match for Marlin 39A

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 3:03 pm

This weekend I took off with a buddy, his son, one of my daughters, and Mr Fred for a little coon hunting. Now Mr Fred is 80 years old, but still tough as nails and he has forgotten more about coonhounds that most people will ever know.
The first coon treed in some flooded timber and we couldn't get to the tree. We were getting a little tense but the dogs figured out we weren't coming after a while and came back.
We got two coons total for the night and headed on in. We all had a great time especially the kids. Not a bad little hunt in between deer and turkey seasons. Here are a couple pics.
A large time was had by all. Neither of the kids had ever shot a coon out of a tree before. I took the aperture out of my rear sight for night shooting and as always, coons are no match for the Marlin 39A.

Mr Fred and the kids

Listening to the dogs

Coon in the bag

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 3:10 pm

I haven't done that for about 25 years..........A good time, indeed.....(my buddies hounds seemed more interested in skunks and possoms, tho)

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 3:16 pm

Mr Fred looks like he's a hoot. I think you're holding him up when he has coons to hunt by the looks of that picture.

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 3:18 pm

Fantastic, good photos. All your faces say it all

What ammo did you use?
Nath.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 3:53 pm

Good post Dave. The pictures are great. And it's good to know that the lil 'ol .22s weren't bouncing off mr raccoon. ;)

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 4:31 pm

I neglected to mention what good looking pair of young adults you have along with ya..........

Comal Forge · Post by **Comal Forge** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:38 pm

I love to coon hunt. When I was a kid, my grandpa and two of my uncles shot 17 out of a single big pecan tree one night near the Pedernales river - the memory is clear like it happened yesterday. Took us about 3 hours to get them all as they would close their eyes when the spotlight hit them. We also used a Marlin 39 - the same one that now resides in my cabinet.

The uncle who owned the family farm claimed that raccoon families will join up when the eating is good and it was obvious the ones we killed were all different sizes. He had a large orchard with peaches and persimmons so the coons would tear up the fruit when it ripened. The other uncle liked to BBQ so we cleaned them just like big rabbits and he feasted for several months.

Boomer45 · Post by **Boomer45** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:47 pm

Great Post Dave,

There's nothing better then listening to a good coon hound work work out a trail and then "tree" on a coon. Especially great that you took the young one's with you. We have lot's of coon here in SW Michigan and I go out as often as I can. Great exercise.

Boomer

JohnnyReb · Post by **JohnnyReb** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:12 pm

The house in the background; is that your house or Mr Freds?

Whoever resides there certainly loves to hunt!

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:49 pm

Great way to spend quality family time!!!

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:25 am

Those are some big smiles on those kids faces

that says it all right there.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:30 pm

Nath wrote: What ammo did you use?
Nath.

I use the CCI Mini Mag hollow points. They are pretty powerful and my gun likes them. Coons are tough and you have to shoot them twice a lot of times. The Mini Mags are almost too powerful for squirrels.

nemhed · Post by **nemhed** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:48 pm

+1 on the CCI minimags. They are my rimfire round of choice for accuracy and killing power in my 39A. All the coons I've shot with it were just targets of opportunity. I wish I knew someone who did some real coon hunting so I could tag along.