There are big raccoons, after which there are BIG raccoons.
Two brothers appear to have snagged the latter in northern Missouri during hunting season, shattering a recent state record.
The Missouri Department of Conservation said Couper Simmons harvested a 35-pound raccoon while hunting along with his brother Hunter Simmons in Price County. They contacted a conservation agent who weighed the raccoon on an authorized scale.
The present Missouri state record raccoon is 28 kilos, 8 ounces.
Latest records are determined at the top of the hunting and trapping seasons, which end at the top of February. Prolonged trapping season on private land is from March 1 to April 14.
Congratulations, Couper and Hunter! That’s one BIG catch.