Nutria

[Mags]

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Was doing a little bit of sheetrock work today and when I went outside to dust off, noticed a couple of nutria below the house in the creek. Took my Henry .30-30 out and got both of them. I went down away from the house and found a tree to rest the Henry against. POA, body mass center. The first, a large nutria, bigger than a very large cat, got it just in front of the hip. The smaller nutria, about the size of a small cat and the furthest away, took the round in the neck. The first was about 35yds away the second, about 10yds further out. The first shot also left a trench in grass behind the nutria.

Odd observation. I have no problems hitting the nutria, but have trouble hitting the platters on my target tree. Go figure.

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[Mistered]

When can I come over the hill and hunt Nutria with ya?!?!?

[markiver54]

Nice shooting Mags. Good luck with the platters. Maybe they have to be moving!..

[BigAl52]

Nice work Mags. I bet that would be fun hunting those things for a while but Im sure youve got better things to do.

[markiver54]

No nutria around here, unless it's a form of opossum which I hate, got plenty of them around here. Unfortunately I have to bring out the Blue Streak for them around here.

[Mags]

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If their appearance was predictable, I'd say anytime. They don't stick around, unless I get them first. Not sure who will get to the carcasses first. Probably the owls tonight and/or the raccoons. If they are still there tomorrow, it'll be the hawks turn. Coyotes might find them too.

My hunting of them is lazy. Consists of going out every few days on the back edge of the deck, looking right, upstream and left, downstream, to check for them. Mostly just see a variety of ducks, egrets and kingfishers. Occasional coyotes, does and fawns.

When can I come over this hill and hunt Nutria with ya?!?!?

[Mags]

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Actually, NC has them. They are also referred to as river rats. Maybe you know them by that name.
https://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/Spe ... -more-info

No nutria around here, unless it's a form of opossum which I hate, got plenty of them around here. Unfortunately I have to bring out the Blue Streak for them around here.

[Mags]

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The nutria were kind of just moseying along munching on vegetation. Maybe if I put jigglers or sway things on the target tree I could do better with the platters.

Nice shooting Mags. Good luck with the platters. Maybe they have to be moving!..

[Mags]

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Fun but brief. I go at them when I notice they've made an appearance. Otherwise, I do have better things to do.

Nice work Mags. I bet that would be fun hunting those things for a while but Im sure youve got better things to do.

[markiver54]

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Actually, NC has them. They are also referred to as river rats. Maybe you know them by that name.
https://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/Spe ... -more-info

No nutria around here, unless it's a form of opossum which I hate, got plenty of them around here. Unfortunately I have to bring out the Blue Streak for them around here.

To me, any rodent that really serves no purpose on the planet is fair game and good target practice. Now that you mention it Mags, we used to call them Muscrats...don,t see them here in the mountains though. Try those plates on a really windy day! Maybe that'll help...

[North Country Gal]

Don't confuse nutria with muskrats. Muskrats are a native species and a natural part of every marsh ecosystem. Still trapped for their fur, too, and every state has a season for that and it requires a license. Nutria are not a native species and have been causing great damage to marshes, waterways. Serious problem animal in most southern states.

[markiver54]

Don't confuse nutria with muskrats. Muskrats are a native species and a natural part of every marsh ecosystem. Still trapped for their fur, too, and every state has a season for that and it requires a license. Nutria are not a native species and have been causing great damage to marshes, waterways. Serious problem animal in most southern states.

Thanks for the info NCG. Have never shot one. The last time I saw a " mucrat " was when I lived on the east coast. Good to know!!

[North Country Gal]

Definitely don't shoot a muskrat outside trapping season or without the appropriate license, not if you want to stay on good terms with your local game warden. Most states, though, have some kind of provision in their laws for muskrats and, especially, beaver, when they become pests and cause property damage. Do check, first, though, before shooting.

[markiver54]

Definitely don't shoot a muskrat outside trapping season or without the appropriate license, not if you want to stay on good terms with your local game warden. Most states, though, have some kind of provision in their laws for muskrats and, especially, beaver, when they become pests and cause property damage. Do check, first, though, before shooting.

Definitely would do that thanks to you!

[Mags]

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I think they mostly inhabit low lands and valleys where the water meanders, slow moving.

Maybe I should hang the shooting tree from a tree, so that it gets a good sway going. Thanks for the idea

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Actually, NC has them. They are also referred to as river rats. Maybe you know them by that name.
https://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/Spe ... -more-info

No nutria around here, unless it's a form of opossum which I hate, got plenty of them around here. Unfortunately I have to bring out the Blue Streak for them around here.

To me, any rodent that really serves no purpose on the planet is fair game and good target practice. Now that you mention it Mags, we used to call them Muscrats...don,t see them here in the mountains though. Try those plates on a really windy day! Maybe that'll help...

[JEBar]

Definitely don't shoot a muskrat outside trapping season or without the appropriate license, not if you want to stay on good terms with your local game warden. Most states, though, have some kind of provision in their laws for muskrats and, especially, beaver, when they become pests and cause property damage. Do check, first, though, before shooting.

Definitely would do that thanks to you!

in NC ===> Technically, they're supposed to be in the act of damaging property.

In North Carolina, illegally trapping a muskrat is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 in fines and community service. Shooting one illegally can cost up to $200 in fines. South Carolina's minimum penalties start at $94.

Most of the time, however, people are only caught if someone else reports them; rarely do wildlife officers actually catch someone illegally killing muskrats.


info per this link ===> https://www.greensboro.com/muskrats-a-n ... 79d89.html

[markiver54]

info per this link ===> https://www.greensboro.com/muskrats-a-n ... 79d89.html[/quote]

Thanks jim, good info. Terrible about the boats. That would definitely be a reason to dispatch of them legally.

[Mags]

Another Nutria wandered into its demise this morning.

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[markiver54]

Good for you Mags...sure he'll be happy now in Nutria heaven..