Posted: 6/8/2024 2:58:12 PM EDT
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I watched this come in from about 200 yards out. It moved somewhat fast and erratically. Stopping and digging occasionally and came towards me following the fence line towards the barn. I don't shoot unless I know what animal it is I'm shooting at. I've been putting a hurting on coons here recently taking 15 in two days, and when I was out there I was confident it was a coon. I made a solid hit on my first shot and third shot. I think my second shot was a little high. First hit was at 50 yards and the second hit in the third video was at 85 yards. I assumed I dropped it in its tracks after that third shot and went down to grab it. There was nothing there. I looked around for about 30 min lastnight and went back out looking this morning for another 30 mins or so and found nothing. I haven't baled yet so the grass is 4' high and hard to see through. The first shot was a direct head or neck hit and the third shot was a solid upper body shot. Wife thinks it was an armadillo by the way it moved, how fast it was, and how long its face and ears were when she watched the videos. The ears looked bigger than a coon in the second video and this thing was tough to take two solid vital shots and keep moving. In the second video, the far left gong is 4", the center gong is 8" and the third gong is 8". It stopped right below that set of targets to give you an idea of its size and for its ears. Ammo was CCI 40gr hp. I've never had a coon or any pest for that matter take hits like that and keep moving. Now I'm second guessing myself on what exactly this was. So coon or armadillo? Or something else?  June 8, 2024 |
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I've lived in Iowa my whole life besides Military service and I've never heard of a armadillo in Iowa, let alone seen one but after looking it up there have been sightings and found roadkill armadillos. ive seen a bunch of opossums. The movement on this was entirely different. Way to fast and erratic. |
I suggest we trade a question mark in for a maybe.
Joined:
Feb 2008
Posts:
44712
EE: 100% (90)
IA, USA
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Originally Posted By AtLarge: Possum. Are there Dillos in Iowa? Agreed. At the shot it moves like a wounded possum. Armadillos have been seen at least as far north as Iowa City. Not common, but there have been some. |
WARNING-this post contains words or thoughts that may at some point be discovered by the state of California to cause cancer.
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Originally Posted By shack357: Agreed. At the shot it moves like a wounded possum. Armadillos have been seen at least as far north as Iowa City. Not common, but there have been some. One showed up in Traer last year. DNR has presumed that possibly they are hitching rides in livestock trailers 
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Can't never could 'til try came along.
"All welchers should be removed from the EE".-Aimless
R.I.P. to the EE
"All welchers should be removed from the EE".-Aimless
R.I.P. to the EE
I suggest we trade a question mark in for a maybe.
Joined:
Feb 2008
Posts:
44717
EE: 100% (90)
IA, USA
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Originally Posted By TGWLDR: One showed up in Traer last year. DNR has presumed that possibly they are hitching rides in livestock trailers Originally Posted By TGWLDR: Originally Posted By shack357: Agreed. At the shot it moves like a wounded possum. Armadillos have been seen at least as far north as Iowa City. Not common, but there have been some. One showed up in Traer last year. DNR has presumed that possibly they are hitching rides in livestock trailers Very possible scenario. |
WARNING-this post contains words or thoughts that may at some point be discovered by the state of California to cause cancer.
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https://www.kcrg.com/2024/07/29/why-are-armadillos-showing-up-iowa-one-wildlife-expert-weighs/ “We’ve been keeping, you know, good records for the last six years that have indicated about 12 to 24 sightings per year, verifiable across the state.” said Coffey. Just came across this and remembered this thread. 
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Can't never could 'til try came along.
"All welchers should be removed from the EE".-Aimless
R.I.P. to the EE
"All welchers should be removed from the EE".-Aimless
R.I.P. to the EE
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I have two homes, one in Melcher-Dallas, and another in Sarasota. Looks like an armadillo to me, I see (and shoot) them all the time in Florida. Like feral cats, all you have to do is wound them and they run off and die elsewhere. |
Dave Funk
President; Iowa Firearms Coalition.
President; Iowa Firearms Coalition.
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I forgot to update this thread. We cut the fields for hay after those videos and I never came across anything. I kept my eyes open for anything that would stand out, was hoping to find anything that would clear it up. In the predator hunting forum I posted in, some long time coyote hunters think it was a late brood coyote pup. I'm afraid we will never get 100% confirmation on what it was unless I stumble upon a dillo shell or something. Thanks for the info gents. |
