Had a little excitement this evening, just after sunset. The boy (age 7), dogs (one dobie/gr. shepard and the other Aussie shepard/?) and I were out walking on our property and the dogs took off into the 'thicket' (7 year old Dougf Firs and heavy blackberries - nearly inpassable) and there was much ruckus. The boy was playin' in his fighting hole (filled w/ H20) and I walked towards where the noise was comin' from. The dogs were on somewthin that was hissin' and spittin' like a 50 lbs tom cat. It was too dark and too much thicket to see what was going on or wade in, so we called at the dogs and after a bit the little one came out, the other one stayed in. Finally hiked to the house (150 yrds) and got a flashlight, .22 pistol and heavy staff w/ old machete blade attached. Went back and the big dog was still engaged. Waded in and and shot the critter COM. Slowed it up a tad. A couple more and it was down but not out. The devil was crawing at me! Got close and got a head shot, it stopped moving.
I had a bit of a look at it thru the brush and it seemed to be a large raccoon half the size of the Aussie Shepard. Left it in the thicket and took the dogs back to the house for first aid (little dog only one one cut the big dog had more than half a dozen on his face/head and is missing a small chunk of ear.
I have only ever cleaned fish, but would like to try use this for practice. It is 40 degrees tonight so it should be alright when I collect it tomorrow? Right?
My question is what do I need to know to undertake this project? I don't plan to us the meat, but it would be fun to collect the hide and tail. The boy has visioins of a coon skin cap.
I had a bit of a look at it thru the brush and it seemed to be a large raccoon half the size of the Aussie Shepard. Left it in the thicket and took the dogs back to the house for first aid (little dog only one one cut the big dog had more than half a dozen on his face/head and is missing a small chunk of ear.
I have only ever cleaned fish, but would like to try use this for practice. It is 40 degrees tonight so it should be alright when I collect it tomorrow? Right?
My question is what do I need to know to undertake this project? I don't plan to us the meat, but it would be fun to collect the hide and tail. The boy has visioins of a coon skin cap.