Ethical Kill - What equipment is required?

[runner57us]

You can see in the picture attached that I have a nightly visitor.  Actually, there is a pair of Racoons (they seem quite well-fed) that come together most nights.  I am not pursuing any plans to eliminate these uninvited guests at this time.  If elimination at some point in the future becomes necessary I would like to know if my current equipment would be suitable for executing an ethical kill?  If so what is the best way to deploy such an elimination?  If not what is the minimum equipment requirements?

The stump in the picture is 15 yards from the back door of my basement lower level.  Add another two to five yards for a clear, straight shot from a comfortable supported location within the basement thru an open door or window to be somewhat undetected.  My current equipment is an Air Venturi Avenger .22.  I do not have any night vision scope equipment.

[customcutter]

A .22 PCP should be able to execute an ethical kill.  Best shot placement would be from the side, between the eye and the ear.  From my research, I've seen that people do not recommend a head on shot between the eyes.  You may get a ricochet, due to the sloping forehead.  Another possible shot would be to the back of the head down and forward into the brain.

I have a thread going in the Hunting Gate, on lessons I've learned about my bait station.  I've got a couple of opossums and a raccoon.  One of them tore holes in my newly replaced pool screens one day after I paid to have it done.

Here's a link:  https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=195993.0 

There's also post on my trail cam, solar lights, and HF Ding Donger Alarm in the same Hunting Gate.

[JuryRigger]

For all things night varminting; skim through Shadow's Place https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?board=210.0
Lot's of info to glean through there, I've read all his hunt posts; and learned quite a bit-here's some skull pic(s) showing shot placement that Shadow (Ed) posted there-there was even more info in the post.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Your equipment should be fine for the task. The variable is you.
As mentioned, shot placement is key for an ethical kill.
I would practice your described range and if you can repeated hit a bullseye the size of a dime from your door / window to the stump you're ready. 

[JimD]

My only concern is that the Avenger has a large range of tuning ability (I have a 25 caliber) and there are also a lot of different projectiles.  I agree you need to be able to place the shot well from the position you anticipate shooting from.  I would test penetration in mdf or plywood.  1/4 inch might be enough but I would want to see penetration through 1/2 inch plywood or mdf.  That should be very possible with a reasonable Avenger 22 tune.  I can get through 3/4 inch with my 25 caliber.  Simple domed pellets work well for penetration.  But you need to use something your gun is accurate with.

[triggertreat]

I have hit several coons in the head within 25 yards with my .30 cal Impact tuned at 90 FPE and didn't drop one of them until the second shot.  I hit another similar sized critter with my .22 Marauder tuned at 31 FPE and dropped it right where it stood at the same distance.  it is all about shot placement though having more terminal velocity does help some.  You gotta scramble the egg or you can do a heart/lung, so they run off elsewhere to take a dirt nap.  You might be interested in the Ace Beam A-10 red light.  it works amazingly well even out to 50 yards plus.  You'll have no trouble in complete darkness seeing them, but they don't see the red beam.

[Blowpipe Sam]

I built my own night pesting light out of a $20 Walmart flashlight and two pieces of green photographers gel.  900 lumens of green light is plenty for backyard pesting.  The coons haven’t noticed the green light yet.  But I haven’t been shooting at them and that would probably change real quick if I did.  I can shoot out of a back window at a bait station thirty yards away.  I learned to tape up a piece of cardboard to obscure most of the window to conceal any movement I might make.  I leave a small slot to shoot through.  A remotely activated light would be helpful in your situation I think.

[Mod90]

As mentioned, your current equipment should do fine if need be.
Regarding the night vision, it's not necessary. Once the area where your targets are has sufficient light enough for you to see them through your optic you are good to go.

[runner57us]

I have tested different tunes on the Avenger and the max I can get with pellet runs from 41 FPE with JSB Exact 15.89 gr up to 46 FPE with JSB Monster Redesign 25.39 gr.  At the distance to the stump, accuracy is within 1/2 in groups.  Thank you for the confirmation should the visitors start to become a concern.  So far they are simply eating any sunflower seeds leftover from feeding the birds and I do not leave any other sources of food out for them.  Looking at how fat they are I suspect they are getting well-fed somewhere else.