Armadillos

[mechanic]

I have a 12 guage and a box of bird shot that I want to use up killing armadillos digging up the yard. I have been told that number 4 shot would be better. Anyone kill one of these with bird shot.

 

[Bird]

As with lots of things involving shotguns, if you're close enough, the bird shot will likely work, but very much distance and you'll just chase them off instead of killing them. It I really wanted to kill them, my first choice would be a .22 with the number 4 shot in the shotgun second choice.

 

[meadowlarkponds]

I agree with Bird and use a .22 auto handgun myself. In early evening low light conditions you can walk right up on them and dispatch quickly.

They can be a real pest to gardeners and I haven't found any other reasonable way to control them.

 

[3RRL]

If you can walk up to them close in low light conditions, bird shot would work great, I'm sure.

 

[EastTexFrank]

20 guage with #4 buck works really well. Unfortunately, around my house, they seem to come around about 2 o'clock in the morning. They drive the dogs crazy and they wake me up. I grab a flashlight and the shotgun and run outside to attend to business. It's only when you come back inside that you realize that you were running around in the dark, with a firearm and a flashlight in your "fruit of the looms". If I'd done something like that in Dallas, I would have been surrounded by squad cars of cops in about 5 minutes. Lord, I love living in the country.

 

[ctpres]

Any shotgun/shell works up close. Have even used a hoe. My weapon of choise is 410 Snake Charmer- stainless, short barrel and pistol grip for one handed dispatching.

 

[MarkV]

They call those critters 'possum on the half shell' around here.

MarkV

 

[jinman]

The trouble with a shotgun is you do more damage to the yard than the armadillo does. It's also very loud and you can be sure your neighbors will be wondering what the heck is going on in the middle of the night. A .22 is just a "plink" and it's done...much more stealthy in my opinion.

 

[JRobyn]

They make good archery practice targets and make a satisfying "crunch" when well hit!

- Jay

 

[SnowRidge]

An air rifle works too.

Better yet, build a large catapult, and lob them at that annoying neighbor down the road.