Hunting non-native species as form of environmentalism?

[Jim March]

Wild hog hunting in dense brush with a handgun is not uncommon in California. You're definately dealing with a non-native pest AND it's a definate self-defense training scenario from hell!

I'm basically in MV's boat, haven't hunted yet, and that sort of "environmentally correct" hunting has a lot of appeal.

Only thing is, make sure you're doing it during that time of year when the suckers taste good . Seriously: depending on where you are, part of the year they taste like stringy crap on four legs and other times, they're the best pork you'll ever chomp. This depends on your area of course.

Plus you get the tusks for knife handles and the like. It's basically low-grade ivory.

 

[countertop]

Here's what Virginia thinks of nutria

The following animals: house mouse, Norway rat, black rat, coyote, groundhog, nutria, feral hog, European starling, English sparrow and pigeon (rock dove) are designated as nuisance species and may be taken at any time (except on Sunday) by use of a firearm or other weapon and on some public lands during certain time periods

Perhaps we should have a Virginia Side of the Chesapeake THR gathering and we can all go blasting away the varmit nutria!

This is a pretty good overview of Nutria in the Chesapeake region. It cover's Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware.

Apparantly, Maryland with the most serious problem makes it the most difficult to eradicate nutria. They do allow a .22 rimfire to be used though.

However, trapping of nutria and other furbearers is restricted on state owned lands to certain months and for permit holders only. Nutria may not be hunted with a rifle, except with a .22 caliber rimfire rifle (MD Ann. Code 08.03.05).

Delware regulates it as a fur species, and virginia, of course, just lets you blast away.

Nutria are considered a "nuisance" species in Virginia. It is unlawful to take, possess, transport or sell all other wildlife species not classified as game, furbearer, or nuisance, or otherwise specifically permitted by law or regulation. There is a continuous open season for trapping nuisance species.

I shouldn't have to add, that its only on the rare occaision that I even consider venturing across the river to Maryland. But all is well here in the Commonwealth. LIke I said, maybe we should do a THR nutria hunt

 

[Langenator]

Nutria hunting sounds like a great way to get in some quick fire practice with a red-dot or holosight scoped .223 EBR.

Normally, I wouldn't hunt anything I'm not willing to eat, but for destructive non-native species, I'd make an exception. Kill 'em all, let the maggots feast.

 

[VaughnT]

Ya know, I haven't hunted in several years. But, I would definitely be interested in getting together for a nutria hunt/shoot. I wonder how easy they are to track/stalk/find, though? I'm quite sure it's not going to be that easy, esp considering that they spend the majority of their time in marshes and swamps.

Could be loads of fun, though. Any here in SC?

 

[submin]

My area has a lot of Guinea Fowl http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Guineas/BRKGuineas.html running around. This time of year they have broods of 15 to 18 chicks following them around. They were imported from Africa and are quite plentiful in the 'burbs. Tasty critters but tough to kill with anything one would use near the home. I once shot one in the breast with a High Standard 22lr and it just looked at me and walked away. When I see one while squirrel hunting, the 12 gauge does the trick nicely.

 

[Matt G]

Moving to the Hunting forum.

 

[nico]

Ya know, I haven't hunted in several years. But, I would definitely be interested in getting together for a nutria hunt/shoot. I wonder how easy they are to track/stalk/find, though? I'm quite sure it's not going to be that easy, esp considering that they spend the majority of their time in marshes and swamps.

from what I was able to find, they seem pretty challenging. The guy who talked about hunting them from a kyak said that you often only see the top of their head sticking out of the water (just high enough to breathe) and that if they see you, they bolt. They also don't like to sit still while you aim. Based on that, I'd think a shotgun with decent sized loads and non-toxic shot would do the job pretty well.

 

[trapperjohn]

how about pheasants? They are non native havnig been introduced in the early 1890s

 

[JohnKSa]

For Nutria hunting, check out some of the nicer and more powerful airguns available these days. NOT the stuff you buy at Wal-Mart.

If they're non-game species in your state, odds are that airguns are a legal means to kill them.

 

[gazpacho]

Just soz ya know, hunting wild horse in nevada is a BIG no-no. I think it's one of those $15,000 and/or 10 years per offense.