Favorite firearm and caliber for hunting Nutria

Doug63 · March 11, 2006, 12:09 PM

Any readers hunt nutria. If so, what’s your favorite firearm and caliber you use?

I personally like the 870 Wingmaster 12 gage using 1 1/4oz steel BBs, it simply cuts them down but they are range limited.

On the longer side I have been using my dad’s old Remingtion model 34 a 22Lr with peep sights, I would keep using this thing, it but the barrel’s frosted. I can just about group with in a dime at 10 yds. but watch out at 25yds, and you need a 3x3 bandaid to cover the group. Its seen better days. :barf:

New on the horizon is a CZ 452 or 453, not sure which model yet either the American or Vermint, but more importantly I have not decided on the caliber. What are your thoughts .17, .22Lr, or 22mag... for Nutria?

fisherman66 · March 11, 2006, 12:16 PM

500 rounds at less than $10.00 (OK...that's bulk; I know)

or

50 rounds at less than $10.00

The classic .22lr will never be beat as the most fun and inexpensive cartridge to shoot. I bet the Velocitors would be a great rounds for your river rats.

loggerhead · March 11, 2006, 12:55 PM

Doug, I use a shot gun with #4 buck when I am shooting from a boat because it is usually rocking and hard to hit them rascals with a rifle.
when shooting from a steady base I use a .222 with a 45gr bullet.
When I ride the barrow pits on the 4wheeler i use the .222 to shoot um on the other side.

VWTim · March 11, 2006, 04:43 PM

Do you have any good spots for Nutria from PDX south? I live in Corvallis and I'm looking for some varmint hunting now that I've got more time on my hands...gf moved out.

Doug63 · March 11, 2006, 07:12 PM

I do not know of any place south of PDX. You might try talking with the ODFW or better yet Ducks Unlimited they are involved in quite a few wetland projects and they might know of some areas where Nutria are thieving.

I do not think wild life refuges will let you in to hunt but it won’t hurt to ask, the worst is they say no. I expect you will be knocking on some private land owners doors for permission to scout out their drainage ditches and ponds with the intent to hunt.

shureshot0471 · March 13, 2006, 11:27 PM

.22-.250 it is really nasty

Death from Afar · March 14, 2006, 01:21 AM

What on earth is a nutria? sounds like something you put on toast.

DWARREN123 · March 14, 2006, 06:09 AM

22 mag! CZ American 453. I believe you would love this setup.

Wild Bill Bucks · March 14, 2006, 01:20 PM

Only time I ever saw a nutria was at Lake Fork Texas. They are everywhere down there but they are protected,I think.
Are they good for eating or are they a pelt animal?
I would think that a good 22 mag, or maybe .17 would be suffecient to snuff one out.
Are they a pest or a game animal?

marks655 · March 14, 2006, 01:28 PM

I love to shoot Nutrea!

Large swamp in Green Co. Alabama late Feb. on sunny days we sometimes shot over 300 in an afternoon. That swamp has lots of my .223 cases in it.

More fun than prarie dogs because you have a lot more shots but not as much fun as prarie dogs because nutrea don't fly-up in the air and come apart like the dogs do. I guess they are too big. At least for an AR15. One in our party shot them with a 45-70. It was hard to tell what really happened to the nutrea when he hit them because it was more like a small mortar round impact than a shot.

I used one of several AR15s A service rifle config worked fine for most but sometimes I also used a varmit config AR for longer shots.

Used everything from 69 gr to 50gr varmit-type bullets.

Now I live in Kansas and suffer fron nutrea-withdrawl.

swampdog · March 14, 2006, 02:16 PM

I use whatever I've got in the truck when I see one, usually a .22. Nutria are
bigtime pests, have no value what so ever as food or fur and compete for
resources that native species use. I like using my k-22 revolver or a .22
rifle. Nutria get big and you need to hit them right with a .22 or they'll just
keep swimming. Use whatever you want but kill every one you get the chance
to.
If you start seeing lots of nutria, you won't see any muskrats, after awhile.
The nutria just take over. They originally came up from South America, possibly
as stowaways on ships. They are considered an undesirable exotic and you
are doing our native species a big favor to kill them. Local land owners will
thank you, too.

Have fun.

Csspecs · March 15, 2006, 10:19 AM

I have heard that they taste ok-good. But I have never tryed one as I don't thing they are in my state. Try it, somethings just get a bad rep for no reason. Like dogfish no one will eat them as they look ugly, but they taste much better than catfish.

Long Path · March 15, 2006, 11:32 AM

I've seen quite a few in our area (D/FW, TX). They look like beaver, at first glance, and are just about as big. I would think that a very accurate .22 WMRF would be perfect. For a little more reach without getting REALLY loud, I would go to the .22 Hornet. While I'm sure that most of 'em could be killed with a perfect .22 LR shot, some of the larger specimens look like they could use more kiling. (Alas, I've always been in urban areas like golf courses when I've seen them.)

Friends, please be cautious when shooting at these aquatic rodent pests when they're in the water; skips off the water are easy to cause, and can create a tragedy for people on the other side.

NRA4life · March 15, 2006, 02:41 PM

If anybody's interested, there's a dedicated website for them, nutria.com

shureshot0471 · March 16, 2006, 01:45 AM

Dont ever hook one when you are fishin they will strip the gears in your reel.

Dave R · March 16, 2006, 06:54 PM

Quote:

have no value what so ever as food or fur

I read an article today in Field & Stream on "Lost Skills of Trout Fishing." It said Nutria hide (w/ fur) was a good material for tying streamers.

Of course, one Nutria is probably a lifetime supply, so what do you do with the other few hundred?

Scorch · March 16, 2006, 07:51 PM

People used to raise nutria for the fur. It was used in making felt for hats (much like beaver used to be used) or for making low-end fur coats (like muskrat was used). Really nice pelt.
I have used a 22-250 and a 223 on nutria (can you say CHUNKY?). I know people who use their deer rifles on them. But I still prefer the 22 LR. Just pennies a shot, and a good head shot makes them just lay right down. If you do hit them in the body it has no discernible immediate effect, but a while later they die.
If you are looking for a place to hunt them, go over towards the coast and find a stream or a pond. You'll find nutria.

FirstFreedom · March 16, 2006, 09:48 PM

I've never seen one, and I certainly didn't realize they have migrated up to the pacific northwest - wow - I thought they were limited to the wet far south (tx, la, etc.). DFA, they are a south american native species that has proven very successful in souther usa as an introduced species. Like a large muskrat or a beaver without the flat tail, they breed like rabbits, and are quite a nuisance in places like louisiana. Even here in oklahoma, you can shoot them year-round (like coyotes, feral hogs, & beavers) - so they are definitely considered a nuisance species. This describes their destructiveness as an introduced species:

http://www.lacoast.gov/watermarks/20...tria/index.htm
http://www.sgnis.org/kids/suspect_nick.html
http://www.southerner.net/v3n1_2002/nutria1.html
http://cse.pdx.edu/wetlands/nwnutria...tr_072998.html

BUT....

Quote:

have no value what so ever as food or fur

http://www.nutria.com/site14.php

FirstFreedom · March 16, 2006, 10:54 PM

say, DFA, you get hit by the Volcano?

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapc...ion=cnn_latest

Death from Afar · March 17, 2006, 12:50 AM

He he- yeah, shame about that dude missing.

If you look at the picture on the CNN story, that particular volcano overlooks officer cadet school- its the armys biggest training area. We were out in the field and the Exercise was stopped as someone pointed out that we were on the point of getting some hot magma in our firing pits...that was an exciting exercise!

swampdog · March 17, 2006, 08:19 AM

FirstFreedom,
Yum. I'll save that recipe with the one I've got for "planked shad". You know
the one were you season the shad and smoke it on a board by a slow fire.
When it's done, throw the fish away and eat the board.

Guess I was wrong about the food or fur. I can't see buying my wife a nutria
coat, though. What were they thinking? They imported mongoose into Cuba
to control the snakes, too. Not a real good idea.

I did discover a use for nutria, however. A friend of mine who is a commercial
fisherman and avid nutria hunter uses the guts and carcasses to bait crab pots.

Smoke Screen · March 17, 2006, 02:39 PM

Where in OR do you live? P-town? I live in La Grande and didn't know we had nutria here. Where do you go to hunt them? I'd like to hop on it too! Where, where!?

-SS

FirstFreedom · March 18, 2006, 08:36 PM

Quote:

planked shad". You know
the one were you season the shad and smoke it on a board by a slow fire.
When it's done, throw the fish away and eat the board.

Smoke Screen, my fourth link above has a quote:

"They have popped up elsewhere in the country - including Oregon's Willamette Valley -"

Glad you're ok, DFA.

Smoke Screen · March 18, 2006, 09:09 PM

First Freedom,

I'm going to visit family the end of may in OK, (lake Tenkiller/Tulsa area) Where are the closest sightings of Nutria in that area? Any hints would be greatly appreciated!

FirstFreedom · March 19, 2006, 04:15 PM

I don't know, SS. But a quick search turned up a link to nutria hunting at and near Broken Bow lake in far Southeastern OK, which makes a lot of sense, being a wet area - the farther south and/or east you go, and the more water, the more nutria. But I also found a link to nutria being near Kaw Lake with is in far north central OK as well, so I'd say keep googling, and if you want to see okla. state public hunting lands (WMAs), go look here:

http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/wmas2.htm

http://maps.scigis.com/odwc/MapFrame.asp

look for marshes/wetlands.

http://www.lakesandreservoirs.com/Ok...=OK06lk002a002

http://www.lakesandreservoirs.com/Ok...kenBowLake.php

March 11, 2006, 12:09 PM	#1
Doug63 Junior Member Join Date: October 3, 2005 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 8	Favorite firearm and caliber for hunting Nutria Any readers hunt nutria. If so, what’s your favorite firearm and caliber you use? I personally like the 870 Wingmaster 12 gage using 1 1/4oz steel BBs, it simply cuts them down but they are range limited. On the longer side I have been using my dad’s old Remingtion model 34 a 22Lr with peep sights, I would keep using this thing, it but the barrel’s frosted. I can just about group with in a dime at 10 yds. but watch out at 25yds, and you need a 3x3 bandaid to cover the group. Its seen better days. :barf: New on the horizon is a CZ 452 or 453, not sure which model yet either the American or Vermint, but more importantly I have not decided on the caliber. What are your thoughts .17, .22Lr, or 22mag... for Nutria?

March 11, 2006, 07:12 PM	#5
Doug63 Junior Member Join Date: October 3, 2005 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 8	VWTim I do not know of any place south of PDX. You might try talking with the ODFW or better yet Ducks Unlimited they are involved in quite a few wetland projects and they might know of some areas where Nutria are thieving. I do not think wild life refuges will let you in to hunt but it won’t hurt to ask, the worst is they say no. I expect you will be knocking on some private land owners doors for permission to scout out their drainage ditches and ponds with the intent to hunt.

March 13, 2006, 11:27 PM	#6
shureshot0471 Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2005 Location: In the sticks of East Texas Posts: 185	.22-.250 it is really nasty __________________ "Prefection is not attainable,but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence." -Vince Lombardi "Gun control is putting that second bullet through the same hole the first one made." - Ted Nugent

March 14, 2006, 01:21 AM	#7
Death from Afar Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2004 Location: Living the dream in Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND Posts: 1,635	What on earth is a nutria? sounds like something you put on toast. __________________ "Beware of the Man with one gun...he probably isnt into guns enough to be safe with it".

March 14, 2006, 01:28 PM	#10
marks655 Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 363	Nutrea! I love to shoot Nutrea! Large swamp in Green Co. Alabama late Feb. on sunny days we sometimes shot over 300 in an afternoon. That swamp has lots of my .223 cases in it. More fun than prarie dogs because you have a lot more shots but not as much fun as prarie dogs because nutrea don't fly-up in the air and come apart like the dogs do. I guess they are too big. At least for an AR15. One in our party shot them with a 45-70. It was hard to tell what really happened to the nutrea when he hit them because it was more like a small mortar round impact than a shot. I used one of several AR15s A service rifle config worked fine for most but sometimes I also used a varmit config AR for longer shots. Used everything from 69 gr to 50gr varmit-type bullets. Now I live in Kansas and suffer fron nutrea-withdrawl.

March 11, 2006, 12:16 PM	#2
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,679	500 rounds at less than $10.00 (OK...that's bulk; I know) or 50 rounds at less than $10.00 The classic .22lr will never be beat as the most fun and inexpensive cartridge to shoot. I bet the Velocitors would be a great rounds for your river rats.

March 11, 2006, 12:55 PM	#3
loggerhead Junior member Join Date: February 10, 2006 Location: Right of the Mississippi but South of the Mason Dixie line Posts: 132	Doug, I use a shot gun with #4 buck when I am shooting from a boat because it is usually rocking and hard to hit them rascals with a rifle. when shooting from a steady base I use a .222 with a 45gr bullet. When I ride the barrow pits on the 4wheeler i use the .222 to shoot um on the other side.

March 11, 2006, 04:43 PM	#4
VWTim Junior Member Join Date: March 11, 2006 Posts: 1	Do you have any good spots for Nutria from PDX south? I live in Corvallis and I'm looking for some varmint hunting now that I've got more time on my hands...gf moved out.

March 14, 2006, 06:09 AM	#8
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2006 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 1,758	22 mag! CZ American 453. I believe you would love this setup.

March 14, 2006, 01:20 PM	#9
Wild Bill Bucks Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2005 Location: Southeastern Oklahoma, Next door to Sasquatch Posts: 1,266	Only time I ever saw a nutria was at Lake Fork Texas. They are everywhere down there but they are protected,I think. Are they good for eating or are they a pelt animal? I would think that a good 22 mag, or maybe .17 would be suffecient to snuff one out. Are they a pest or a game animal?

March 14, 2006, 02:16 PM	#11
swampdog Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2006 Location: Dismal Swamp, NC Posts: 338	I use whatever I've got in the truck when I see one, usually a .22. Nutria are bigtime pests, have no value what so ever as food or fur and compete for resources that native species use. I like using my k-22 revolver or a .22 rifle. Nutria get big and you need to hit them right with a .22 or they'll just keep swimming. Use whatever you want but kill every one you get the chance to. If you start seeing lots of nutria, you won't see any muskrats, after awhile. The nutria just take over. They originally came up from South America, possibly as stowaways on ships. They are considered an undesirable exotic and you are doing our native species a big favor to kill them. Local land owners will thank you, too. Have fun.

March 15, 2006, 10:19 AM	#12
Csspecs Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 1,111	I have heard that they taste ok-good. But I have never tryed one as I don't thing they are in my state. Try it, somethings just get a bad rep for no reason. Like dogfish no one will eat them as they look ugly, but they taste much better than catfish.

March 15, 2006, 11:32 AM	#13
Long Path Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 1999 Location: N. Texas Posts: 5,899	I've seen quite a few in our area (D/FW, TX). They look like beaver, at first glance, and are just about as big. I would think that a very accurate .22 WMRF would be perfect. For a little more reach without getting REALLY loud, I would go to the .22 Hornet. While I'm sure that most of 'em could be killed with a perfect .22 LR shot, some of the larger specimens look like they could use more kiling. (Alas, I've always been in urban areas like golf courses when I've seen them.) Friends, please be cautious when shooting at these aquatic rodent pests when they're in the water; skips off the water are easy to cause, and can create a tragedy for people on the other side. __________________ "Welcome to The Firing Line, a virtual community dedicated to the discussion and advancement of responsible firearms ownership."T.F.L. Policy Page Will you, too, be one who stands in the gap? ____________

March 15, 2006, 02:41 PM	#14
NRA4life Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2001 Location: WA Posts: 183	If anybody's interested, there's a dedicated website for them, nutria.com

March 16, 2006, 01:45 AM	#15
shureshot0471 Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2005 Location: In the sticks of East Texas Posts: 185	Dont ever hook one when you are fishin they will strip the gears in your reel. __________________ "Prefection is not attainable,but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence." -Vince Lombardi "Gun control is putting that second bullet through the same hole the first one made." - Ted Nugent

March 16, 2006, 07:51 PM	#17
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	People used to raise nutria for the fur. It was used in making felt for hats (much like beaver used to be used) or for making low-end fur coats (like muskrat was used). Really nice pelt. I have used a 22-250 and a 223 on nutria (can you say CHUNKY?). I know people who use their deer rifles on them. But I still prefer the 22 LR. Just pennies a shot, and a good head shot makes them just lay right down. If you do hit them in the body it has no discernible immediate effect, but a while later they die. If you are looking for a place to hunt them, go over towards the coast and find a stream or a pond. You'll find nutria.

March 16, 2006, 10:54 PM	#19
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	say, DFA, you get hit by the Volcano? http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapc...ion=cnn_latest

March 17, 2006, 12:50 AM	#20
Death from Afar Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2004 Location: Living the dream in Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND Posts: 1,635	He he- yeah, shame about that dude missing. If you look at the picture on the CNN story, that particular volcano overlooks officer cadet school- its the armys biggest training area. We were out in the field and the Exercise was stopped as someone pointed out that we were on the point of getting some hot magma in our firing pits...that was an exciting exercise! __________________ "Beware of the Man with one gun...he probably isnt into guns enough to be safe with it".

March 17, 2006, 08:19 AM	#21
swampdog Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2006 Location: Dismal Swamp, NC Posts: 338	FirstFreedom, Yum. I'll save that recipe with the one I've got for "planked shad". You know the one were you season the shad and smoke it on a board by a slow fire. When it's done, throw the fish away and eat the board. Guess I was wrong about the food or fur. I can't see buying my wife a nutria coat, though. What were they thinking? They imported mongoose into Cuba to control the snakes, too. Not a real good idea. I did discover a use for nutria, however. A friend of mine who is a commercial fisherman and avid nutria hunter uses the guts and carcasses to bait crab pots.

March 17, 2006, 02:39 PM	#22
Smoke Screen Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Cold Rocks Hold, Aiel Waste Posts: 186	Doug63 Where in OR do you live? P-town? I live in La Grande and didn't know we had nutria here. Where do you go to hunt them? I'd like to hop on it too! Where, where!? -SS __________________ Man is nothing else but what he makes of himself.

March 18, 2006, 09:09 PM	#24
Smoke Screen Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Cold Rocks Hold, Aiel Waste Posts: 186	Nutria in OK? First Freedom, I'm going to visit family the end of may in OK, (lake Tenkiller/Tulsa area) Where are the closest sightings of Nutria in that area? Any hints would be greatly appreciated! __________________ Man is nothing else but what he makes of himself.

March 19, 2006, 04:15 PM	#25
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	I don't know, SS. But a quick search turned up a link to nutria hunting at and near Broken Bow lake in far Southeastern OK, which makes a lot of sense, being a wet area - the farther south and/or east you go, and the more water, the more nutria. But I also found a link to nutria being near Kaw Lake with is in far north central OK as well, so I'd say keep googling, and if you want to see okla. state public hunting lands (WMAs), go look here: http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/wmas2.htm http://maps.scigis.com/odwc/MapFrame.asp look for marshes/wetlands. http://www.lakesandreservoirs.com/Ok...=OK06lk002a002 http://www.lakesandreservoirs.com/Ok...kenBowLake.php