Nutria Hunting

GutshotApe · 02-12-2003, 01:38 PM

A friend of mine, the late Steve Penner of Peoria, had a Jack Russel terrier that was death on nutrias. Steve spent a lot of time on the Willamette around Peoria and that little 20-pound dog was fearless. It would wade in on a hissing, yellow-toothed 30 lb. nutria and in a blur grab it by the back of the neck and give a couple of quick shakes.....one dead nute.

We used to shoot nutes around our duck pond where we grew buckwheat and millet. They'd eat it all 30 to 40 feet back from their slough.

Tilla · 02-12-2003, 02:17 PM

Anybody know if the furbearing Nutria are subject to trapping laws?

WaterDog · 02-12-2003, 02:18 PM

We use �hunt� them at the farmers pond next to my folks place. The farmer hated them because they would burrow into the dike and cause leaks in the irrigation pond. Never mind the fact that the aren�t native to these parts and would damage the crops. Me, the old man, and the farmers son would go out at night and pick�em off. A 7.62x39 worked pretty well for long distances. We would also walk around the creek after a good rain event and find them. 9mm worked well at close range.

birdhunter · 02-12-2003, 04:35 PM

While nutria do provide a relatively nice pelt (average prices is around 4-6 bucks) they are not considered furbearers in Oregon. Instead they are classified as unprotected mammals. You'd need a license to trap them on public property, but don't need a furtakers license to hunt them.

Kruechief · 02-12-2003, 05:29 PM

GSA,

Did the Jack look like this?

:shocked:

Krue

GutshotApe · 02-12-2003, 06:09 PM

That's what he looked like to the nute!

He was a really neat dog....never saw a dog with so much energy....constantly in motion.

Kruechief · 02-12-2003, 06:17 PM

yep, and boy is he protective! :shocked:

We adopted him and he became immediately attached to my daughter, trust me you don't mess with "his" girl.

It took awhile but we have worked out the dominant male thing...

I know that I would rather fight a dog three times his size. :whazzup:

Krue

1pump · 02-12-2003, 08:01 PM

I've never hunted them on purpose, but I've shot a few while duck hunting. Hate those things. [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img] My biggest fear was my dog tangling with one in the water.

They're like crows and coyotes- they're all over the place when you're unarmed. Pick up a gun and they vanish. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

Damien · 02-12-2003, 11:53 PM

I was just curious if any of you Ifish folks do any nutria hunting. This is something that I started when I was a kid learning how to hunt and haven't been able to stop. It is something that you can do when all the other hunting seasons are done. I usually hunt on a buddies property(creek) but would like to find some new "virgin" areas. Best day that I had was 6 in about a 1 1/2 span. I like to use a .22 with CCI mini mags. :smile:

pdxkevin · 02-13-2003, 06:19 AM

I have wanted to hunt them for a couple years now. They sell the meat in some stores down in Louisiana. Down there, you need a fur bearers permit. In OR, I beleive that they are still considered an non-native species. All you need is a valid hgeneral hunting license.

If I found one in clean water, I would give it a try over the bbq. There are several tasty sounding recipes out on the web for nutria. Looks like they are fairly nutricious too.

horseskull · 02-13-2003, 07:00 PM

If you ever skinned one out, you would not eat the thing. I hunted them at night and also trapped, when I was a kid. They are one of the foulest smelling furbearer I ever skinned. Smelled green, even fresh.

pdxkevin · 02-14-2003, 07:07 AM

Was the visera cut open when you skinned it? Was the area that you harvested them in clean? I heard that they were similar to catfish in this respect.

The cleaner the water, the cleaner smelling and tasting the meal.

birdhunter · 02-14-2003, 08:12 AM

I have to admit that years ago I used to trap nutria in Oregon. I've probably done over 300 of the buggers and I actually like the smell skinning them. I can see how it could be an acquired taste, but they certainally aren't foul smelling. Just very green. The meats a good consistency, I just questioned the water quality of some of the places I pulled them out of.

Now the foulest smelling furbearer award, that would go to the mink.

horseskull · 02-14-2003, 07:27 PM

I would have to agree that the mink has a nice strong musky smell.
I imagine that once you got over the nutria smell he might taste alright. When I killed my first antelope it took over a week to take the first bite. He smelled something awful when I walked up to him. Best tasting animal I ever had. :smile:

ibeanfishin · 02-14-2003, 07:50 PM

There is a lbino nutria over by vancouver mall, has anybody seen this other than me?
[img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img]

elkaholic · 02-15-2003, 06:29 AM

Have right at em on private land without any state approval. They are "predator" under ORS 610 and as soon as a person or agent of the person becomes aware of their presence they can to whatever is necessary to get rid of them. They are "rodents" by definition. This includes trapping, poison, shooting,...............

Like birdhunter said, on public land all you need is a hunting license to "hunt" them. No limits, no seasons. Although I have been told if you are "hunting" them with a 7MM in and during a draw season for deer or elk you might get pinched if you don't have a deer or elk tag for that PUBLIC land. No problem on private.

:smile:

Degner · 02-26-2003, 01:02 PM

I love blasting nutria, have for years.
They routinely dig holes through my dam. .44 mag des. eagle is one of my favorites for the nutria but a 338 bar is just as good. I am thinking about buying a 50 cal to more thoroughly dispatch them. Also I noted y'alls dogs are way undersized for them nutria. 240lb English mastiffs work better and it cuts down on the feed bill.