Any nutria bowhunters from MD?

[irishdrummer]

Hello- My son recently read an article about a MD DNR nutria trapper and asked me if I knew of any nutria bowhunters, so ... are there any experienced nutria hunters from Maryland out there? If so, is this a varmint hunt you'd recommend? Or is it more of a trapping operation at this point (after the large scale burn off, etc. at Blackwater)? Appreciate any suggestions or observations. -Jim

[Steve Kendrot]

Jim,

I sent you a PM. MD Traditional Bowhunters used to hold an annual nutria hunt. These days, after pretty successful nutria eradication campaign led by USDA Wildlife Services, nutria hunting opportunities are not what they once were. There are still a few to be found in Deal Island and Fairmount WMA, but they are spread out. Back in the day, you could cruise the tidal creeks in a boat and shoot them off the banks. Not anymore... Was it the Chesapeake Life "Dirty Jobs of the Chesapeake" article he read?

 http://www.chesapeakelifemag.com/index.php/cl/features_article/fe_bays_dirtiest_jobs_mj07/

Steve

[Tony Sanders]

Hey Steve how are? Good to see you are still about. Will you be at the Baltimore Shoot next weekend? If so I hope to see you there.

  Tony Sanders/aka"SNUFFER"

[Interseptor]

Tony,
Its good to see that you are still around.  I sent you an email a couple of years ago about sika deer and Blackwater refuge.  

Doug

[irishdrummer]

Steve-  Thanks for the informative post here and the PM.  You're right about the article, it's in the recent Chesapeake Life magazine.  Is the person they featured an acquaintance or co-worker of yours?

I called the folks at Blackwater and they confirmed hunting there was a thing of the past due to the successful campaign.

At Fishing Bay, they said the opportunities would be much fewer than years past, but if I launched from Elliotts Island Road into the Green's Island area, there could be some opportunities.  I'm thinking we could shoot from the canoe or conduct some "amphibious operations", depending on how the day goes.

I haven't contacted Deal Island and Fairmount, but I'll be sure to look into those places, also.

Thanks Again,

Jim

[Steve Kendrot]

Last time we monitored the Fishing Bay area, we didn't find much and we trapped what we did. But have at it and if you get something definately let me know. They are few and far between in that area now. Deal island would be a much better bet and if you go to Fairmont and park at the end of the road, there are some ponds  that had some active sign on Wednesday. Hunting is tough this time of year though. Yes, the fellow featured in Ches Life is a co-worker.

Tony, I hope to make it to the Baltimore shoot for a couple hours on Friday, but we have a wedding that weekend and have to head to the Poconos Friday afternoon!   :mad:

[Tony Sanders]

Hello Interseptor. Yes its been at least a couple of years since the e-mail. Sorry I wasn't much help, because it have been a few years since I last hunted Sika Deer. All my Sika deer I have taken were taken at Assateague Island in the month of October. I have never hunted Sika at Blackwater, though I understand the hunting there is much better. But I have always had good luck atAssateague. Maybe thsi coming season I will give Blackwater a try. On another note how have you been? I trust all is well.

    Ok Steve hopefully I will run into you on Friday morning.  I plan to be there Friday and Saturday, hopefully the weather is good for the 3 days. Later.

  Tony Sanders/aka"SNUFFER"

[Yohon]

Its all Steve's fault for not having any Nutria to bowhunt HE'S the one in charge of the eradication program and he's done toooo good a job!!!!    

Seriously though, its nice to see the marsh grasses coming back....now maybe we can get Steve to start on a mosquito eradication program.....  :D

[Littlefeather]

I recently had the pleasure to host a hunt for several guys from Maryland. They were associated with the United Bowhunters of Maryland and they hunt Nutria avidly. Matter of fact, the old timer of the group, Rob Davis has been in many magazine articles over the years due to his ability to successfully land giant stingrays with bowfish tackle. Rob gave me one of his freshly printed books/memoirs which has several articles about nutria hunting in Maryland. He speaks of where they hunted and the comaradrie of getting together with large groups and making a contest of shooting nutria. Sounded like grand fun! Here are a couple of pics my trailcam caught while we were at Texas Sweat this year along the Pecos River. The Pecos is loaded with nutria. Good luck with your adventure! CK


     

[Steve Kendrot]

Thanks for the Pics CK! We are doing a bunch of research using trailcams to detect nutria. Judging fromt he height of your shots, you must not have to worry about tides! We lost 8 cameras to a freak storm tide and now make sure we post them 4-5 feet off the ground. WOuld you mind if I borrowed some of your shots you posted?

Steve

[Littlefeather]

Use the pics! I got several hundred while at T-Sweat. Nutria are very easy to detect. They make slides that they use exclusively. Once they make a slide I think they only use that place to enter land and no other place. I could be wrong but judging by the pics, the same nutria used the trails over and over and never deviated. Good luck!

This is ol Paleface. I took this nutria with the white wiskers and face. It's in my freezer awaiting the trip to the Taxidermist. I don't mount trophies like other hunters do. I mount the strange animals that not everyone gets to see. I've got a Texas Porcupine over my TV. LOL!

   

[beleg]

Hi,
This nutrias looks like the ones we have here.
Are native to North Ameria or imported?
If they were imported, I would like to know how they get there? LOL.
Thanks
Martin

BTW: I eat one some time ago and dont like how it taste.

[Wile E. Coyote]

beleg,
They were imported in the 1800's by Mr. McIlhenny (who also happens to be the Tabasco Co. founder) into Louisiana with the intent to be used as captive furbearers for clothing. Some excaped and we've been losing wetlands ever since.