Nutria experience?

Todd M.

Todd M.

New member
This is my first post, and I have enjoyed the site for some time now. I have permission to hunt a farm with more than a mile of irrigation canal that is experiencing damage from Nutria. They have not been hunted recently. I will be using my 17 HMR to limit disturbance to the neighbors. Are there any best methods to hunting Nutria? Thanks for the advice and for an excellent site!
 
Todd, what part of Oregon are you in? Grew up there, wish I was back. Shot a lot of nutria in my time, I normally just sneak along the edges until I locate one. They spend mornings and evenings eating in the fields near those canals. Thier trails are easy to locate if you wanted to set up on one and wait for them to come out to feed. Have you considered trapping them?
 
I live in Springfield, the farm is in Halsey. Hadn't considered trapping because hunting is much more fun. The owner is a family friend and keeps them thinned down usually, but asked if I would like to give him a hand with the shooting chores.
 
Lived in Springfield for awile, have a mess of relatives there, go by the names of Hibma and Mc Laughlin, know any of them? I always prefered to hunt them myself also. Sneak along the canals, I think that would be your best bet. I'd bet money you could call in some coyote in the Halsey area as well.
 
Sorry grumpy, not familiar with the names. I will be on the lookout for coyote sign for sure and thanks again for the info! Todd
 
get you a cano and a yungun' who wants to hunt and well you float down the canal and when time comes to go back up you get the youngun' to pdle you bothe up lol

just a good idea lol


later
 
Nutria in Oregon? Ooooh that could be trouble. They were initially imported from S. America to keep down the weed growth in the Florida canals.
Problem is they don't appear to have any natural enemies and are expanding like crazy. Get them all if you can. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal
 
Todd. Welcome aboard. I used to hunt Nutria just up from Halsey, near Shedd. I hunted them like I hunt rockschucks. Death from afar has always held my greatest interest. 17HMR will kill nutria, but plan on getting up close. I shot 20 plus rockchucks with one last year but body shots at over 50 yards needed follow up. Haven't shot a swamp bunny for 20 years, but I'd expect them to react much the same.
Ratman
 
Know thy enemy...daddgumIT!! that wasn't supposted to post..well here ya go.

Spanish for Otter Nutria

Google has a bunch more. Have Ya thought of finding a buyer for the meat / fur?
 
The sneak and shoot method works but a spotlioght is much more fun. Nutria in West Texas were always more active at night. You could top a pond dam with your buddy holding a spot light and you with your weapon of choice (a scoped AR-15 works well but the neighbors might not approve) and let the brass fly.

Big BIG fun. I miss those days alot.

A head mounted coon hunting light with a red lense might help in the sneak and shoot technique.

Make sure night hunting is legal first.

Good luck,

Jay
 
Thanks guys for the great replies! Hunting at night in Oregon is now legal according to Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. "Neither landowners nor agents need a permit from ODFW to spotlight predatory animals (as defined in ORS 610.002) on land they own or lawfully occupy. ODA has authority to define "agent" for purposes of the predatory animal statute. Written documentation is not required." Maybe I should ask my buddy if he minds if I do some night shooting, and become his AGENT!
In regards to the actual shooting I intend to limit myself to head shots, and will probably shoot from inside 50 yards. If the opportunity presents itself it would be fun to hit em' from afar though! This Savage of mine drives tacks.
Thanks again for the great conversation. Todd
 
Wild... I thought nutria only were down in the South in mild, muggy climates. Didn't know Oregon had any! Wonder if they were escapees from somewhere or something. Do you know where they originate from up there? Where else are they found? Sounds like fun times, though.
 
I got my limited info from Nutria.com. It's a great site and gives info on their introduction to Louisiana. I am guessing someone thought they would make a great furbearing animal to raise in Oregon and released them. Our climate is wet and mild and they seem to thrive in it. I'll try to post some pics when I arrange a hunt. Todd
 
I believe they were originally introduced in Oregon from fur farms that went under and the owners just turned everything loose. We were shooting nutria as kids back in the late 60's around the Columbia river north of Portland. I don't think anybody actually went out to hunt them other than trappers, they were just one of those animals like 'possums that were just there. You couldn't get anything for the hides then. We tried eating some, but it's not the best tasting, a little greasey and had kind of a muddy taste. But, it kept us off the streets and out of trouble. OK, so it didn't always keep us out of trouble. The canoe idea is a good one though, you can drift with the current and catch them along the banks. One thing you could try, is selling them to the fly tiers, they love getting that kind of fur to tie with, makes great nymphs.
 
I live in the Salem area and have helped out a few people with nutria problems. The easiest way to go about is to hunt in the evenings and just start on one end of the canal and slowly walk toward the other side.They really come out on blue bird days or after a heavy storm. It can be alot fun. Good luck.
 
they're as far north on the east coast as Maryland... have seen them on the eastern shore... hides are worthless coming from salt water though...
 
grumpy is right. We had two neighbors that raised them for fur when I was a pup.About 1950 era. They forgot that they multiplied like rats(which they are) and the furs became worthless. So they just turned them loose /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
Todd, you saw that the reg's allow night hunting for PREDATORS, right. Nutes aren't predators. And you have to get a permit from ODFW before lighting them up at night. :rolleyes: Have fun. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 


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