Possum Hunt (NZ)

[Houseplant]

I haven't been on a possum hunt or done much small game/pest control shooting for years. I bought a thermal spotter (Sytong XS03-25) that I wanted to try out and my friend Paul had a new permission, so we spent the evening walking the paddocks. I was the spotter and he was the shooter. Rifle was a CZ452 .22LR. The thermal certainly made it easier to find animals. I switched to a red LED torch once an animal had been located so that Paul could shoot it. 

Tally for the evening: Possums = 15; Rabbits = 1; Cats = 1.

Paul plucked the possum fur to sell. Current price is $90/kg. 

 

[7daysinaweek]

I wonder what possum are like to eat? Have you tried one??

They look like they might be a booger to skin, like a big hefty squirrel.

Good money for the skin of a pest.

Edited 3 hours ago by 7daysinaweek

[old'un]

Do you need to head shoot them so the pelt is not damaged?

 

39 minutes ago, 7daysinaweek said:

I wonder what possum are like to eat? Have you tried one??

They look like they might be a booger to skin, like a big hefty squirrel.

Good money for the skin of a pest.

seems you can..https://citysanctuary.nz/news/tasty-possum-recipes

[7daysinaweek]

6 minutes ago, old'un said:

Do you need to head shoot them so the pelt is not damaged?

 

seems you can..https://citysanctuary.nz/news/tasty-possum-recipes

👍

[islandgun]

3 hours ago, Houseplant said:

I haven't been on a possum hunt or done much small game/pest control shooting for years. I bought a thermal spotter (Sytong XS03-25) that I wanted to try out and my friend Paul had a new permission, so we spent the evening walking the paddocks. I was the spotter and he was the shooter. Rifle was a CZ452 .22LR. The thermal certainly made it easier to find animals. I switched to a red LED torch once an animal had been located so that Paul could shoot it. 

Tally for the evening: Possums = 15; Rabbits = 1; Cats = 1.

Paul plucked the possum fur to sell. Current price is $90/kg. 

 

I presume the possum were introduced to NZ and now considered a pest, when you say plucked did he actually pluck it and is the hair is valued at $90 kg or is the the whole skinned animal worth that much and who eats them {questions questions😊]