Hunting Nutria in the Pacific NW: locations, seasons?

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MatthewVanitas

MatthewVanitas

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Greetings,
This is currently just distant-future planning, as I'm currently in Iraq and still have eight months left in California at the end of this tour. However, I'm pretty motivated to return to Washington state sometime next summer/fall.
I'd heard that nutria (giant South American water rats) are a major pest species in Texas and Louisiana. Checking out some of the range maps, it seems there's a pocket of the critters in Oregon and Washington as well.
So, how easy is it for a Northwesterner to do his environmentalist duty and participate in the relocation of non-native species? Are nutria fair game all year round? Are there any notable populations on public land, or do you knock on farmers' doors and offer to rid their domain of rats? Is there a certain time of year best suited to shwacking foreign invader rodents?
Is a scoped .22LR single-shot T/C pistol a good choice? Or a Ruger .22 pistol or revolver? Or do I have an excuse to buy a .17 of some sort?
As mentioned, it will be a little time before I can act on this info. Hopefully enough time to let WA pass a $4 bounty on their tails, as in Louisiana. I'd have me a flat-bottomed fanboat and shirtless bib-overalls in no time.
Any info from Pacific NW nutria hunters (if there are any out there) would be great. Thanks, -MV
 
Nutria

They are in around the Eugene, OR area. Visited my brother in 1993 who lived in Oak Ridge at the time. We went to a seafood place in Eugene and on the way I spotted this animal along the bank of a small stream. Being from New Orleans I knew what nutria looked like, being in OR I thought I was sadly mistaken. Brother told that “someone†had released a bunch of them as seed stock for fur trapping. Then the bottom fell out of the fur trade. They were still there in ’98 when I last visited. Funny thing just yesterday our local news (NC) ran a story about a contract beaver trapper who now catches as many nutria as he does beaver just two counties north of me. County/state nabobs want to wait and see. Bad news. Where I come from (New Orleans) they spend upwards to $7M and year on control and roadbed damage repair. Planning to call my brother tomorrow I’ll ask about the nutria.
 
I've been in Western Washington for 7 hears now and havent heard of or seen any nutria, Being from Lafayette La, I too know what they look( and sound) like. I'd love to shoot a few. I'll keep my eyes open!

There was a rumor a few years ago that there were wild pigs in the olympics , I've talked to loggers,people who have lived and hunted that area their entire life and had never seen them. Oh well...

Both the pigs and nutria do lots of damage to the land, they must be shot on sight and I'd love to do the shootin' !:D

I normally carry a .44 mag when out in the woods and that would be what I would use if I walked up on one. If I were to make a special trip for them I'd take my "scout" guide gun in 45-70 or an old 99 in .300 savage, or my AR-15, or my '03Mk1 30-06 "mountain rifle", or my P17 .338-06 scout, or my..........:D

In Wa, there would not be a season, or tags needed being that they are not natural to the area. shoot on sight!!

Cajun
 
FWIW, Washington Fish & Game recently declared open season on feral pigs based on reports of sightings around Mason County. Lots of people say they don't believe they exist based on the lack of visible pig damage; a few say they've seen them.
 
I saw nutria on a waterhole on a golf course near Portland more than 10 years ago. Having hunted and watched nutria for decades in my home state of Louisiana, I know one when I see one. <grin> Still, I sure was surprised. I didn't know they lived up there.
 
You guys are freaking kidding right? We have a creek just behind our office that had 4 in it this year, not anymore:) Had some last year too. A buddy of mine had a creek on his farm and we went down and shot them all the time.
 
Open Season on Nutria all year

I live in the Eugene, Oregon area and will be hunting these pests as well. In Oregon you need a license ($31.50/year), unless you are on private property with the permission of the owner. The good news is that Nutria can be trapped or shot all year long. If you know this part of Oregon you won't be surprised to hear that there are some people that don't want the Nutria killed, however they are destructive to wetlands and native plants and animals and the Department of Fish and Wildlife is happy to have them eliminated. Because of laws against discharging firearms within city limits I'm not sure how to eliminate the one's living closeby. Within city limits the DFW suggests livetrapping, but what's the fun in that. You can find these creatures along most rivers and streams all over Western Oregon. They don't thrive East of the Cascades due to the colder weather. This is a good example of how hunters can help preserve the environment by destroying pests. Good Luck and Good Hunting!
 
I know of a Nutria filled pond in central Beaverton. I doubt the highbrow locals would appove of a hunt though. I tried hitting one of them with a nail gun but at that range all I killed was the pond.
 
Nutria hunting

There are a ton of nutria here in Eugene in just about every pond and stream around town. Hubby and I are thinking about going to the grandparents farm to hunt them. Anyone got any recipes? I'm game to try them
 
I know of a Nutria filled pond in central Beaverton. I doubt the highbrow locals would appove of a hunt though.
Click to expand...

Beaverton, high-brow?

How things change!

Did they build nice decks outside their trailers, or what?:D

I'd love to shoot nutria, though...
 
In the Southeast Nutrias, 'yotes, and wild hogs are targets of opportunity. You see one shoot the sucker shoot it.
 
For what it's worth, I spent some time on the gulf coast years ago when i was working for an oil/shipping company - had a blast hunting them at night from the back of a pickup with lights - driving down canals, etc.

i would not go out of my way to prep one for eating...but i had some that were BBQ'd to the point that species identification was hard. In that case it depends on the sauce. Cajun spices never hurt either!
 
A few grass seed farmers in the Eugene, OR. area offer guided nutria hunts that are sold off through school fund raising events. The farmer drives you around the fields at night with a couple of spot lights and all you need to do is shoot and reload when needed. I when on a shoot around Harrisburg that lasted until 1:00 am. Only shotguns may be used. We got 35 nutrias. Was the most fun I've had hunting or shooting.
 
Hey ArmedBear.....Now that is funny! I moved to Portland a short while back and yes, I have seen my share of Nutria. I wonder what people would think of me walking down the Springwater Trail with a spear in my hand? Might accidently hit a homeless person. They may know how they taste?
 
Hi everyone! I'm a noob to this site, very interesting posts!

My name is Michael and I'm starting up a small business in Boston, where we plan to use nutria. I am looking for hunters/trappers to find the nutria and ship me the meat. I'm in the process of applying for federal grants/funding for my small business idea. If anyone knows how to get in touch with local trappers/hunters, any and all information will be greatly appreciated!! (P.S. We are planning on paying market price or a little less if funding is slow during startup for the nutria, as we only want the meat, the hide could also possibly be sold to someone else for a little bit of profit.... just to clarify a little bit)

Thanks!
 
Years ago, nutria trapping was still a large industry where I live in south Louisiana. There were numerous trappers, skinners, tanners, etc. My father skinned and tanned nutria hides for years to supplement winter income.

The bigger skinners would simply dig small bus-sized holes to dispose of the carcasses. I happened upon one which was several days/weeks old, and uncovered. The stench was horrid, and that's an understatement.

I'll never eat a nutria.
 
I always used a .22 pistol or a scoped .22 rifle to kill nutria while growing up here in Louisiana. The great thing is that these are truly dumb animals, so if you miss you'll usually get a chance at a second or even third shot. I can't really attest for Oregon, but I've always been able to find some to shoot year round here.

As for recipes, the DWF teamed up with some renowned chefs down here in Louisiana a few years back to create some recipes for nutria. I haven't summoned up the courage to eat one of the filthy things, but I'm told that the meat is decent. The recipes can be found here
 
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Columbia County, along the Columbia is thick with them and a 2A friendly community.

I'd say ask a landowner with a creek and you're g2g.
 
Saw something a few years ago about the Cajun restaurants trying to put nutria on the menu...didn't go over very well - so they tried another name :tarairtun...read it backwards.
 
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