Tips for Hunting Nutria in LA??

HAHAHA!

When I read this I was thinking Los Angeles. I was like, 'I don't think you can hunt or shoot in LA, even if they're considered a destructive critter'.

But in any case, I think that different states have different rules. There was an article that I was reading a while back that said a guy did it at night with a searchlight from a boat. That because they're a nuisance normal hunting rules didn't apply. I don't remember which state it was, but it might be worth looking into : )

From what I've heard, you could shoot them about any time, or any where. Even in town. But I'd check with fish & game.

Now this may be urban legend but I've heard the best way to hunt them is to go out in the swamp with some sweet potatoes, a light, and a .22lr. Throw the sweet potatoes up on the bank wait and when you hear movement shine the light and shoot where you see eyes.

Be sure and cut the sweet taters up or it wont work.

That sounds fun. And yeah, if they let me do it, I'd do it in Los Angeles, too. Population density's kinda high, though. I'm not sure where you could take a safe shot.

Nutria and sweet taters. Breakfast of champions!

A couple years ago the state actually paid you to shoot them.

I've never actually been "nutria hunting", but I've shot a ton of them, usually while squirrel hunting near our crawfish ponds or while fishing. I've seen guys shoot them from duck blinds as well. A .22 is sufficient, usually you are pretty close when you see one.

It's still $5 a tail for every one you get over 7" (the tail)

http://www.nutria.com/site10.php

The Coastwide Nutria Control Program consists of an economic incentive payment of $5 per nutria tail delivered by registered participants to collection centers established in coastal Louisiana. The goal of the Program is to encourage the harvest of up to 400,000 nutria annually from coastal Louisiana. This program is funded by Coastal Wetlands Planning Protection and Restoration Act through Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Participant Application Process

1. Participants must acquire a valid Louisiana Trapping License.
2. Participants must obtain permission to trap/hunt in the Program Area from an appropriate private, state, or federal landowner.
3. Participants are required to submit a COMPLETE, legal property description for each property to be trapped / hunted. Participants are also required to send a map outlining each property to be trapped / hunted.
4. Participants are required to submit a completed W-9 Federal Tax Form with the Coastwide Nutria Control Program Application.
5. Applications submitted to the department or its contractor by October 1 shall be processed by the opening of trapping season (Nov. 20 – Mar.31). Applications submitted to the department or its contractor after October 1 shall be processed in the order received.
6. Applications listing only waterbodies, without signature of adjacent landowner(s) or designated representative(s), shall be considered incomplete and will be returned to the applicant.
7. For applications determined to be complete and valid, the participant shall be notified by mail and provided a Nutria Control Program Registration Number.

Edit:

During my formative years in TX, I used to take them with a .22, but a .22 Mag or even a .17 wouldn't hurt.