[chbrow10]

Hi,

I am interested in learning about nutria hunting on the Mississippi Coast. I'd like to hunt them to help get rid of this nuisance animal and to introduce my kids to hunting. We have access to a canoe and a 22LR Marlin Model 60. I live in Jackson County. I have heard that Graveline Bayou has good hunting, but it is surrounded by developed neighborhoods.

I understand that these animals are nocturnal, so the best hunting is at night, correct? Does anyone have any experience or advice that they would like to share?

Thanks in advance, Chris

 

[captain-03]

Do not know anything about hunting them but here is a good article on them ..

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/wild/pdf/wildlife/NUTRIA.PDF

 

[Reloader]

Also known as Coypu. The Tenn Tom waterway is covered in these animals. They stay out in the day sunning and you might see 500 in certain backwaters. I have seen them big as medium sized dogs. They are not afraid to come close to duck hunters or fishermen so they shouldn't be hard to kill. Check local game laws though.

 

[chbrow10]

We went out hunting tonight. What a hoot. My 10 year old son and I were out there maybe 2-2.5 hours. It was about 35-40 degrees, with no wind thankfully. This is in Graveline Bayou, near southeast Ocean Springs.

We were in a canoe and paddling around, which isn't the best way since they swim about as fast as 10 year old kid can paddle a canoe while the adult holds the light on the nutria. Since he hasn't taken the hunter's safety course, I sat in front with the gun and he steered in the back. We would paddle around until we saw one on the bank, then I'd hold the light on the nutria and my son would paddle and steer as fast as he could, which might be slightly slower than the nutria can swim. There isn't much of them above water, it is a pretty wiley target.

Another problem was the rifle. It is a Marlin Model 60 that is an old family gun. It may have the world's smallest sights on it. It is hard enough to use the sights in broad daylight while sitting and shooting off a rest at a white steel plate sitting on a red clay berm, never mind while holding the rifle with one hand an the light with the other in a canoe franticly being steered and paddled by a 10 year old jacked up on hot chocolate while aiming at a brown head swimming in black water.

The one that I got was a head shot, I might need to aim lower and try and hit the body below the water instead of the little part of the head above water.

It was pretty cool. You didn't have to be quiet like deer hunting. You could laugh and joke and stargaze (no moon tonight and a clear sky, it was great). I told him if he takes the hunter safety course, he can sit in front and shoot and I'll steer and paddle in the back. That might be enough motivation for him to get through the course.

Anyway, it wasn't hard. A motorboat might make it easier!

 

[SubGunFan]

Sounds FUN......

Look into a Ruger 10/22 with a 4X scope. That should take out most of those sighting "factors" you mentioned.............

.

 

[chbrow10]

I can think of a million equipment improvements, but this year is the "catch up on credit card debt" year, so we are trying to have as much fun while spending as little money as possible.

Certaintly a new optic or a weapon mounted light would help.

 

[Scharfschütze]

I'd recommend a barrel clamp for a small flashlight, lots of gun shops have these and you can find them at gun shows, and maybe a $30 red-dot type sight (BSA?) like those sold at Walmart. This if you are going to stick with your current .22 rifle (I understand the "catch up on debt" concept, believe me!) However if you could swing it and want to get serious the Ruger 10/22 is easy to trick out and accurize, and would be the superior way to go. Have fun and glad you're introducing your son to this early on.

 

[jakeg823]

Look into him taking the safety course online! Assuming he's decent with computers like most kids any age are now? I get taught stuff by my nephews on a daily basis!

I did mine that way at my own leisure. Didn't have to do anything in a class room except had to take the test at a dwf station off the resevoir. Which wasn't bad.

 

[chbrow10]

Right, but the closest testing site is 2 hours Away...

 

[TomBomb]

sounds like a blast...wanted to do it as well since I saw a show about it in New Orleans a few years ago.... that's these guy's job...hunting nutria at night....COOL. The laser genetics sounds perfect for this...

 

[waynebeegrabber]

I often see nutria while waterfowl hunting. I intend to try one on the table this year. Wear gloves while handling to avoid nematodes, which can cause a rash. I aim to boil the meat in crab boil and then grill. This works well for fish-eating ducks, including mergansers. Also, there may be a lead issue shooting a .22 around water. I believe some companies noww produce solid copper bullets.