Here on the Illinois side of the Mississippi, a couple years ago I reported spotting an armadillo in the yard. I knew their destructive reputation and was concerned. A few days later I saw him on undeveloped land to the south and heading away. Good.

Well they're (not he's) back, tearing the yard up extensively. A couple of them showed up after sunrise, I ran at one yelling. He just headed toward me like he was tough or something. I smacked him with a leaf rake, nothing.

So I tagged him with a 3/8" steel ball in a looped tube slingshot, he jumped up and headed to the woods. But they're still here, doing their thing.

Our property is semi-isolated, no immediate neighbors but they're not far away, on the back of our hill and down through the woods to the north. I think I could pull off subsonic .22's but is that going to do the job?

Armadillos aren't that fast, I could have easily snatched him up. Maybe a net to snag one initially, I dunno. And what do I do with a live armadillo?

They're killing our yard.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ripley,

A .22 will do the job. Be careful disposing of the as they carry diseases.

I use a suppressed .22LR. Works great.

quote:

Originally posted by Bluecobra:
I use a suppressed .22LR. Works great.

I wish I had a suppressor. Subsonic still effective? Heart/lung shot?

aim for the shoulder just like if they were deer. Unless you have a clear head shot.

I really need to stop reading these thread titles without my glasses on.

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
I really need to stop reading these thread titles without my glasses on.

Jesus I'm glad I wasn't the only one.

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
I really need to stop reading these thread titles without my glasses on.

Indeed! Buzz Buzz a-diddle-it!

We live in the county with neighbors homes within 150-200 feet each side and we all help manage the armadillo problem we have. On average we will kill or remove three to four a year. There is quite a bit of wooded areas with creeks near our homes so we see a variety of wildlife on a regular basis (deer, fox, rabbit, squirrel, and armadillo).

One neighbor uses a pump up pellet rifle (never had one just lay down and die but he said they jump up and take off running so he knows he hits them), and another one sets wire mesh critter cages up with extended 2”x 4” boards in a “V” pattern. When the armadillo starts working an area the boards guide him into the critter cage. He then loads the live caged dillo and drives it some 5-10 miles away and releases it.

What do I do - Suppressed Ruger 10/22 with a 1000 lumen light and sub-sonic CCI ammo. When the bullet hits the armadillo it makes a “smack” sound and the armadillo will usually jump straight up in the air and then run a few feet and die. We have lived here 23 years and I would estimate that I alone have killed 12-15 armadillo’s.

In my flower beds and shrub areas right now I have wireless driveway motion alarms that I purchased at Harbor Freight for $12.00 set up so when they get into the beds, the alarm alerts me in the house. I grab the 10/22 and proceed with running the armadillo out of the bed into the open yard (3.25 acres total) where I proceed with shooting it(never in the direction of any neighbors home). The ones around here are FAST and it can be a challenge hitting one on the run, but if I miss it is usually back within a day or two tearing up my yard or beds again.

Local MS Game and Fish have approved the killing after providing evidence of the destruction they were doing in our yards. The one neighbor just prefers to catch and release vs. killing. As previously stated they carry a wide range of BAD disease's so if you kill one do not touch it without gloves. We use a snow shovel to remove ours, place in a garbage bag and bucket, and dispose in a local landfill (recommended by Game and Fish). I am currently actively hunting one now. Hoping to have it in my scope sights in the coming nights.

quote:

Originally posted by Ripley:

quote:

Originally posted by Bluecobra:
I use a suppressed .22LR. Works great.

I wish I had a suppressor. Subsonic still effective? Heart/lung shot?

Oh yeah! that will work.

quote:

Originally posted by Ripley:

quote:

Originally posted by Bluecobra:
I use a suppressed .22LR. Works great.

I wish I had a suppressor. Subsonic still effective? Heart/lung shot?

I don't think suppressors are legal here in IL. Too bad.

Possum on the half shell