Traztaz Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Anyone ever shot a Coypu? Indeed do you have them in UK? I am going to try and get one tomorrow night, apparently they can go as big as 20Kg, and are as hard as boar. Want to eat it, and keep the skin, so going to use the shotgun, BBs should do the trick, we shall see. Apart from not letting the dog near it until I am very sure its dead anyone got any advise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vampire Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Tie some cord round your trouser bottoms,you don't want one of them heading north. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 never shot one but have heard tales that we used to have them in norfolk. i have seen old video footage of them being shot with shotguns and it seems most game loads did the job obviously at fairly close range and hit in the head. seem to remember they dive back under the water if wounded. i would think bb's will be ok for the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loki Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Hi Pretty sure these were eradicated in early 70s on these shores - invasive/alien species damaging local enviroment with no predator over it. Recall some European countries and US has them - including as pets! Google is your resource. As for eating - should be ok, Beaver like plant eater but hey - keep us informed! L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 (edited) They have been eradicated from the UK I have seen several while fishing in france , they get a fair size but I doubt they make 20 kg, BBs would be more that big enough. Edited January 14, 2014 by fenboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark@mbb Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 We hunted them with terriers when i stayed at a relatives farm in King Lynn Norfolk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lampwick Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Late 70s they loved The Fens a big programme of trapping and shooting sorted them out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moorvale55 Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 (edited) Keep us informed on the shooting and maybe the eating please. PS, Don't bring them back here. Edited January 14, 2014 by moorvale55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traztaz Posted January 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 They are an animal that like a badger or pig will eat meat and greens, so I have to have it tested for trichinosis first, will let you all know how I get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Large rodent, i saw one once in the wild when I was a kid at school in Norfolk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Giant Guineapigs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterford103 Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 We shot lots of these in Oldham in the late 50's early 60's .They had come over in the cotton bales which were destined for the cotton mills of Lancashire.When bomb damaged mills were demolished the rats and coypu which lived in the cellars and ruins were evicted by the bulldozers. Oldham corporation offered 6p per tail handed in at the council yard . Sixpence was a fair sum for a lad then - a Mars bar was 3p - Threepence in old money .My pal and I shot enough of these to buy an Airsporter .22 which made shooting them easier.I had been using an old .177 Diana , you had to hit them just right . Much fun and an early introduction to hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mungolee Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 I saw one of these fellas on the pontoon wash between welney and manea in the early 80s while out wildfowling with my father. i will admit is scared the poop out of me as i had not seen one before. ml Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Supposed to be eradicated now though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Supposed to be eradicated now though What, eradicated in Germany? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 What, eradicated in Germany? No here, sorry I didn't read the whole thread if this creates confusion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 (edited) We had them here for their fur, then a few escaped and they populated The Broads. It all started in the 1930's. Big problems with them destroying the river banks so the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) set out to have them eradicated. They were polished off about 1990. I know they originate from South America and always thought they were vegetarian. Edited January 16, 2014 by Whitebridges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deershooter Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 We shot lots of these in Oldham in the late 50's early 60's .They had come over in the cotton bales which were destined for the cotton mills of Lancashire.When bomb damaged mills were demolished the rats and coypu which lived in the cellars and ruins were evicted by the bulldozers. Oldham corporation offered 6p per tail handed in at the council yard . Sixpence was a fair sum for a lad then - a Mars bar was 3p - Threepence in old money .My pal and I shot enough of these to buy an Airsporter .22 which made shooting them easier.I had been using an old .177 Diana , you had to hit them just right . Much fun and an early introduction to hunting. .177 for a coypu this is nearly as good as the 607 yard magpie !!! I have been watching Rat ******** on sky and they use a .223 Deershooter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 We shot lots of these in Oldham in the late 50's early 60's .They had come over in the cotton bales which were destined for the cotton mills of Lancashire.When bomb damaged mills were demolished the rats and coypu which lived in the cellars and ruins were evicted by the bulldozers. Oldham corporation offered 6p per tail handed in at the council yard . Sixpence was a fair sum for a lad then - a Mars bar was 3p - Threepence in old money .My pal and I shot enough of these to buy an Airsporter .22 which made shooting them easier.I had been using an old .177 Diana , you had to hit them just right . Much fun and an early introduction to hunting. I can only imagine you used the air rifle on the rats not the coypu. Coypu get big 20 kg that is bigger than my springer spaniel. .177 Diana I don't think they would notice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traztaz Posted January 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 I got one!! Pics to follow, was a smaller one at about 6 or 7 kilo, will weigh it in the morning, Bloody big teeth is all I can say!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traztaz Posted January 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 It weighed less than I thought at just less than 6 kilo, decided not to eat this one as its the first one I have ever whacked so he is now at the taxidermists. My host told me that they regularly pop ones around the 12 kilo mark, so when I am up there buck shooting in the summer I shall take a shotgun and a extra couple of hours with me for a mooch in the dark to see if I can not bump into a bigger one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lampwick Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 (edited) It weighed less than I thought at just less than 6 kilo, decided not to eat this one as its the first one I have ever whacked so he is now at the taxidermists. My host told me that they regularly pop ones around the 12 kilo mark, so when I am up there buck shooting in the summer I shall take a shotgun and a extra couple of hours with me for a mooch in the dark to see if I can not bump into a bigger one. Ugly critters! Edited January 16, 2014 by Lampwick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mungolee Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 well done there fella ml Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 wouldnt want a nip off that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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