Nutria Hunting

I am new when it comes to nutria hunting. recently my good friend and i went to our hunting ponds in point a la hache. We brought along the trusty .22 winchester rifle, but it wasn't cutting it ! These swamp rats are huge. the two we killed were both thot through the eyes. Now i know that many people are better shots then us, but we hit all six that we saw in the head, but only managed to kill two. does anyone have any advice, or tricks that can help me out? Maybe a differnt caliber rifle...? Thanks, Jake.

I sure hope you nor anyone else comes down here around Buras and Empire and shoots a rifle over the water at anything! 22cal. range---1 mile

A 22 is just fine for killing rats, that is all we shoot rats with. If you can't kill them with a 22 then switch a shotgun

Most of the folks around Cameron shoot them with 22's. I like taken my .17 and gettin in some long range shots. My cousin bought the .204 and its awesome for gettin those nutria a long way off. Sit in one place in the burns and take a case a beer and have a blast.

A 22 rifle with a long rifle cartridge is all you need. When I was hunting nutria I used long rifle hollow points and never had trouble with killing them.

Warren

.22 is a perfect round for nutria. Sometimes, you might have to hit them several times. They are some tough animals. While hunting rats this year, there were several that were still alive from last year with only a nub of a tail left.

17 HMR. I've killed them dead as a hammer 100 yards away ! VERY accurate round too

Are you the same person that ran your boat in pea soup fog and grounded in it the marsh, maybe you shouldn't be giving safety advice.

find you a good strong stick and have at it!!

The .17 HMR is perfect for nutricats. Lots of energy and explosive bullets. Head shot will put them down quick.

I agree with Capt. John L. We had to get out of our duck blind twice season before last due to nutria hunters firing off multiple rounds with .22 rifles within 100 yards of us. We hunt flooded timber and slews, not open water, so they had no idea we were close by. Use the shotguns and it will be much safer for everyone.

Yep, Swamp Sniffer, that was me that voluntered to tell the story of how I ran aground in a heavy fog so others would somehow learn a major lesson that no one is too good to know everything about the waters one fishes in. And YOUR positive input for the masses is ?????????????????????

Come close to my boat firing a 22 rifle and I'll protect my customers by letting you know where I am with a round or two from the Ruger 45. Besides, nutria hunting is only sanctioned for persons holding a commercial trapping license. Go on out there with all your weapons and tell the game warden that you are there to shoot nutria.

I'm partial to the .17 HMR because I recently bought one and I love it. Very accurate, and smokin' hot muzzle velocity. That being said, I read some comparisons online between the .17 HMR and the .22 mag. They're comparable, although each has it's advantages over has advantages over the other. It kinda depends on what your looking for. The .22 mag apparently hits somewhat harder out to 100 yards. Some say it does more damage. The .17 HMR has more range and accuracy, probably the best you can get from a rimfire in my non-expert opinion. It's probably a bit more wind-sensitive than the .22 mag because it's a very small bullet (only 17 grains). However, that little bullet shatters on impact, causing alot of damage. I would imagine this would cut down on ricochets too, at least off hard surfaces. My .22 LR is famous for that. You hear "pings and buzzes" pretty often. Anyway, go to this link, www.shootingsquirrels.com/17hmr, and check out the videos. Make sure you screen them first or turn down the sound if you have kids around because some of them have songs with obscene language. Looks like it must have been some little immature knotheads that put the videos together, with garbage like that, but the videos themselves are pretty cool. The one with the ground squirrels is ok. Anyway, I hope this helps you out. Good luck nailing those nutrias! I understand you have to have a trapping license, but you can get paid somewhere around $6.00 - $8.00 apiece, last I heard, for each nutria you kill. Probably pay for your license in no time.

Nutria are not protected in any way, and you do not need a commercial license to kill them! You do need to have your regular hunting license. Kill away, Louisiana will thank you! Nutria are ruining our wetlands, and we need to get rid of them.
Most use rimfire rifles to kill them (.22, 17M2, and 17 HMR}, but I also know people who like to take the .223 or 5.56 out and blast away.

Cci makes a 1600 fps, 30 grain bullet called a "stinger". Wal mart sells them. They have a smaller bullet but larger casing than a .22 LR, but will fit in your gun. Try them first before buying a new firearm....I used them hunting and trapping raccoons and beaver in New Engkand.

Aguila makes a 40gr. supermaximum velocity round nose 1750fps. but the faster you get... you lose accuracy. Try the CCI mini mags

Aguila makes a 40 gr supermaximum velocity 1750 fps that it a hollow point that i garuntee you they wont walk away after a shot in the head. They are still accurate enough with a good rifle and a good shooter!!

your info is not completely accurate. I just copied this from the LDWF website:

1. Participants must acquire a valid Louisiana Trapping License.
2. Participants must obtain permission to trap/hunt in the Program Area from an appropriate private, state, or federal landowner.
3. Participants are required to submit a COMPLETE, legal property description for each property to be trapped / hunted. Participants are also required to send a map outlining each property to be trapped / hunted.
4. Participants are required to submit a completed W-9 Federal Tax Form with the Coastwide Nutria Control Program Application.
5. Applications submitted to the department or its contractor by October 1 shall be processed by the opening of trapping season (Nov. 20 - Mar.31). Applications submitted to the department or its contractor after October 1 shall be processed in the order received.
6. Applications listing only waterbodies, without signature of adjacent landowner(s) or designated representative(s), shall be considered incomplete and will be returned to the applicant.
7. For applications determined to be complete and valid, the participant shall be notified by mail and provided a Nutria Control Program Registration Number.

If you are a licensed trapper and would like to apply for participation in the Coastwide Nutria Control Program, click the links below to download the instructions and necessary forms.

Thats only if you want the $5 a tail bounty that LDWF gives, if not you can shoot them all day long.

Me and a friend of mine use mini 14's with 30rd clips and thats a blast you can obviously hit them anywhere and there not moving

can yo recommend a rifle for my 9 year old boy? for this kind of hunt?

Check out a gun called a Nylon 66 by Remington. The stock feels plastic but its made out of Nylon. I used one as a kid and its still my favorite gun. It's lighter than my Benjamin pellet gun and I'm deadly accurate with it.
The guns are virtually indestructible. My friend used to drop his in the marsh all the time. He would get home, rinse it off and lightly oil it up and to this day it's still firing.

I've never been b4 But i have lil Mossberg 22 cal Plinkster i use to squirrel hunt w/3x9x40 I love to try it on Nutria w/ 22 hollow point or either my 12 ga.

Them rats you head shot and did not kill musta been like my ex-wife,,, there probably ain't much between tha' ears to damage,, I think you gots ta' shoot them kind in the mouth to kill them ones.......

I do Raptor rehabilitation with Owls and hawks here in Louisiana. I am looking for some Nutria Rat meat to feed my birds. The problem is they can't be takend with a lead bullet but only steal shot or trapped. Just a little lead will kill my birds. Can any one on here point me in the right direction to get some in my freezer? Thanks to all so much. scottjmetayer@hotmail.com

22lr should do or 22 mag or 17 hmr!!! all you need is a basic huntin liscense and la. will thank you!!! blast them!!! just be careful on the water and on land too like huntin anywhere!!

Not sure how you think he can't hunt nutria in the marshes/open water or whatever. It's a nuisance animal, as long as he's in the season he can harvest the mammal. Game warden can't tell him shit unless he's trying to sell off the furs, then he'll need special licenses etc...may want to check regulations again.

As far as this CPT fellow at the top
Of this thread...you're going to shoot at someone for using a .22? Hahaha better be sure you're not pulling that on the wrong person, such as an off duty law enforcement officer.....just saying

I shot a nutria once while i was deer hunting with a 30-30, the thing was blown to pieces. Try that

Sit on top of levee on your buggy, glass out over the marsh to spot the rats, smoke rats at long distances with .22-250. #coonassprairiedoghunt