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Porcupines...other than the obvious
#6149074
01/22/16 06:59 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,922
HuntnFly67
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We have more porcupines on camera than ever this year. I don't know much about their habits other than they fling their quills at will and have a 30 yard launch radius. Do the prickly buggers burrow or nest in trees? Are they only nocturnal? Other than tree bark, what do they eat? Is it possible to live trap them and not catch a raccoon; if so, what would you use for bait? Thx!
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: HuntnFly67]
#6149097
01/22/16 07:09 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 16,367
603Country
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Whoa...I am clueless about porcupines, so forgive my ignorance, but you're saying that a porcupine can launch a quill 30 yards? I did not know that. I thought you had to brush against them to get 'stuck' with one or more quills.
The "30 yard" thing goes into the memory bank forever.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: 603Country]
#6149174
01/22/16 07:46 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,922
HuntnFly67
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Whoa...I am clueless about porcupines, so forgive my ignorance, but you're saying that a porcupine can launch a quill 30 yards? I did not know that. I thought you had to brush against them to get 'stuck' with one or more quills.
The "30 yard" thing goes into the memory bank forever. It's not just Oxner that can offer these pearls of truth and wisdom.
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: HuntnFly67]
#6149204
01/22/16 08:01 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,630
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Porcupines cannot launch their quills. Urban myth. They can however quill up and launch their body at you but that's just a little hop.
Bill will be along shortly to confirm.
Cast I have a short attention spa
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: HuntnFly67]
#6149305
01/22/16 09:01 PM
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 374
StretchR
Bird Dog
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: HuntnFly67]
#6149385
01/22/16 09:56 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,922
HuntnFly67
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Y'all ain't nuthin but dream stealers. Phooey on you.
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: HuntnFly67]
#6149965
01/23/16 04:24 AM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 23,149
BigPig
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Be only ever seen them nesting in trees
Wade Dews, REALTOR ® Rendon Realty, LLC Frontline Real Estate Team www.RendonRealty.comWadeDews@gmail.com 214-356-2410 Up to 1% for closing costs for First Responders & Veterans Proudly partnered with Assist The Officer Foundation https://atodallas.org/
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: HuntnFly67]
#6150017
01/23/16 05:29 AM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,211
skinnerback
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Never seen a porcupine in real life, we don't have them down here.
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: HuntnFly67]
#6150038
01/23/16 06:34 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,771
fgdn
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30 yards that's just good stuff, sonsabitchs could launch an attack
Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting.......holy kaka.....What a Ride!
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: HuntnFly67]
#6150041
01/23/16 06:47 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,473
Hirogen
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Porcupines den for the most on the ground in rock piles, rotten logs, and caves. Less often they will den in trees (usually a hollow). They eat bark, shrubs, water plants, leafy greens like clover and skunk cabbage, and love anything salty. They are also partial to corn and love paint and the glue in plywood and can be very destructive. They chewed a bunch of holes through our outhouse walls this spring. For the most they are nocturnal but you will occasionally see them during the daytime - much like coons. Every spring at my camp I put out a corn pile mixed with salt and kill them off with the 12 gauge. Three inch #6 turkey loads work very well as does a turkey choke as they are fairly slow. I set up on the pile about 45 minutes before sunset at 20 to 30 yards in a lawn chair with a book and a beer. Alternatively to the 12 gauge I sometimes use a 22LR or 17 HMR and take head shots. The 12 gauge works better if you are expecting multiple visitors at one time. Killed 11 last spring at my camp - they just kept coming. It was a strange year as normally there are only 2 or 3 and they can be eliminated in a couple evenings. I had one evening last spring where I got 3 in one sit: The biggest one on the right was 34 inches long and the middle guy was 31 inches. Killed this one last week: First one I have seen since the spring cull.
Last edited by Hirogen; 01/23/16 09:18 AM.
Never violate a woman, nor harm a child. Do not lie, cheat or steal. These things are for lesser men. Protect the weak against the evil strong. And never allow thoughts of gain to lead you into the pursuit of evil.
-The Iron Code of Druss the Legend
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: HuntnFly67]
#6150046
01/23/16 07:45 AM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,211
skinnerback
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Have you ever eaten one? Curious.
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: skinnerback]
#6150048
01/23/16 08:42 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,473
Hirogen
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Have you ever eaten one? Curious. Nope. Never had the urge. Supposedly they are not too bad but I just can't be bothered to figure out how to skin one.
Never violate a woman, nor harm a child. Do not lie, cheat or steal. These things are for lesser men. Protect the weak against the evil strong. And never allow thoughts of gain to lead you into the pursuit of evil.
-The Iron Code of Druss the Legend
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: HuntnFly67]
#6150049
01/23/16 08:56 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,473
Hirogen
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Is it possible to live trap them and not catch a raccoon; if so, what would you use for bait?
Thx! I suspect you would catch coons. If I was going to live trap I would try a corn/molasses/salt mixture. If you are going to shoot them in the trap use 22LR subsonics in the head. They don't throw their quills but when you shoot them the quills can and do fly off 2 or 3 yards. The low power rounds mitigate this a fair bit.
Never violate a woman, nor harm a child. Do not lie, cheat or steal. These things are for lesser men. Protect the weak against the evil strong. And never allow thoughts of gain to lead you into the pursuit of evil.
-The Iron Code of Druss the Legend
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: Hirogen]
#6150103
01/23/16 01:29 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Have you ever eaten one? Curious. Nope. Never had the urge. Supposedly they are not too bad but I just can't be bothered to figure out how to skin one. Must be pretty good to eat. I have killed quite a few and vultures love them and it looks like a convention on a dead carcass when they find it. Is it possible to live trap them and not catch a raccoon; if so, what would you use for bait?
Thx! I suspect you would catch coons. If I was going to live trap I would try a corn/molasses/salt mixture. If you are going to shoot them in the trap use 22LR subsonics in the head. They don't throw their quills but when you shoot them the quills can and do fly off 2 or 3 yards. The low power rounds mitigate this a fair bit. I have caught them in live traps when trying to catch coons. I used corn or milo. When I tried to catch only porcupines I used the little salt wheels for rabbits or chunk of salt block in a trap set close to water or a protein feeder. If you feed protein, porcupines will find the feed ASAP if you have any of the around. They must be able to smell very well. Most to the time they are nocturnal but have seen them this time of the year in winter during the daytime in trees or traveling.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: HuntnFly67]
#6150401
01/23/16 04:52 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,544
der Teufel
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I don't know what they taste like, but porcupines are edible. A survival course I took years ago described them as "The Woodsman's Friend" because they're slow enough that one can run them down and club them if you're stranded in the wilderness. Thankfully I've never had to do that, yet.
I have two unwritten rules: 1. 2.
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: HuntnFly67]
#6150556
01/23/16 06:54 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,630
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Get this, porcupines can be eaten RAW. Their liver is especially prized when chilled and eaten fresh and raw.
Hannibal? Are you there?
Cast I have a short attention spa
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: HuntnFly67]
#6151578
01/24/16 02:18 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 230
Rock Rancher
Woodsman
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Woodsman
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Posts: 230 |
After dispatching one how do you pick one up to move it? Very carefully? By the feet?
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: HuntnFly67]
#6151601
01/24/16 02:31 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,741
colt45-90
Texas colt45
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Texas colt45
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hold on Newt, we got a runaway
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: HuntnFly67]
#6151637
01/24/16 02:58 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,630
Cast
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Cast I have a short attention spa
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: Rock Rancher]
#6151750
01/24/16 04:06 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,473
Hirogen
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After dispatching one how do you pick one up to move it? Very carefully? By the feet? I use a pitchfork.
Never violate a woman, nor harm a child. Do not lie, cheat or steal. These things are for lesser men. Protect the weak against the evil strong. And never allow thoughts of gain to lead you into the pursuit of evil.
-The Iron Code of Druss the Legend
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: fgdn]
#6152970
01/25/16 03:22 AM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,922
HuntnFly67
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30 yards that's just good stuff, sonsabitchs could launch an attack Intercontinental Ballistic Quills. Thanks for the replies. Going to give the salted corn a try in a few weeks.
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: HuntnFly67]
#6153101
01/25/16 05:09 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,019
HornSlayer
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The ones I have shot stunk so bad it would make you sick. Do they all have that musky smell or is it just the boars?
They make ammo specifically for hunting for a reason!
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: Cast]
#6153106
01/25/16 05:14 AM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 131
IamMr2
Woodsman
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Get this, porcupines can be eaten RAW. Their liver is especially prized when chilled and eaten fresh and raw.
Hannibal? Are you there? Goes well with some Fava beans and a nice Chianti.
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: HornSlayer]
#6153135
01/25/16 05:56 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,473
Hirogen
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The ones I have shot stunk so bad it would make you sick. Do they all have that musky smell or is it just the boars? It's the females actually. In general they don't stink anymore or less than any other critter in the woods. The females however go into heat in the fall and excrete a pretty powerful smell to attract the males during this time. So if it's the fall and smelly than probably a female in heat.
Never violate a woman, nor harm a child. Do not lie, cheat or steal. These things are for lesser men. Protect the weak against the evil strong. And never allow thoughts of gain to lead you into the pursuit of evil.
-The Iron Code of Druss the Legend
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Re: Porcupines...other than the obvious
[Re: HuntnFly67]
#6153499
01/25/16 03:43 PM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 615
Frio County Hunts
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We have a lot of porcupines on our place. Early in the morning you can see them sitting in the mesquite trees. My old dog liked to play with them, about 4 times anyways. And you can definitely catch up to them on foot and give them a love tap. No ballistic quills were fired during any encounters that I have seen.
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