Porcupine Hunting

[Tiger1358]

I was trying to find a porcupine last year, but no luck. Does anyone know places in or not far from King County where I can find porcupines? Any info would be appreciated.

[jason stevens]

What are you gonna do with it eat it, mount it, don't even know what kind of license u would need not in the regs.

[Tiger1358]

What are you gonna do with it eat it, mount it, don't even know what kind of license u would need not in the regs.

I will eat it....It's really tasty,tastes just like pork,even better ....it's an unclassified type,so you can hunt them with small or big game licenses. American porcupines are not that big,the ones in Europe and Asia are really big, over 30 lbs and they taste really good. American porcupine would probably taste the same I guess

[tonymiller7]

Don't know what the European ones taste like but the American ones taste like greasy pine-sol.

[Hornseeker]

They are everywhere... but they aren't easy to find.... Good luck.

[Tiger1358]

Don't know what the European ones taste like but the American ones taste like greasy pine-sol.

Hahaha maybe you don't know how to cook it right.

[HawkCreek]

I don't have any idea where find them over there on the wet side but over here you drive around late at night and anywhere there is a culvert across a county road there will just about always be a porcupine nearby. I shot one last fall while we were out checking grass in the flats, another this winter while feeding cows and passed on many that were around those culverts.

Don't forget to save the guard hairs, they are worth decent money if you collect it and keep it organized.

[jasnt]

Most the ones I've killed have been in Lincoln county. Just at or before dusk. They wonder out and head for food. This time of year I believe they are mostly grazing on grasses and young tree bark. I'd bet you can even spot light them. May have to try that.

[HawkCreek]

Lincoln is where I saw them this last year as well.

[jasnt]

Pretty easy to find them over there. Not alot of trees and plenty of open space to spot them from a distance. I've killed them at Swanson lake area and bluestem.

[HawkCreek]

Ya that's about where I was, just south of Wilbur a ways.

I live over in Grant Co about an hour from there and I've seen one here this year but I haven't been out looking for them either.

[Tiger1358]

Looks like they're all in Eastern WA, I live in Western WA and don't really wanna drive 250 miles just to kill a porcupine. Anyway , thanks for the info, I really appreciate that

[PolarBear]

THere is a porcupine den on in my neighbor's pasture but we are in Thurston County.  As of 2 weeks ago it still had a porky in it and I have permission to hunt that property.  I can send the kids out to see if it is still occupied if  you are interested.

[jasnt]

Looks like they're all in Eastern WA, I live in Western WA and don't really wanna drive 250 miles just to kill a porcupine. Anyway , thanks for the info, I really appreciate that

Im sure there's plenty over there too. Look for young tree damage and grassy areas near brush piles or downed trees. There dens are easy to spot, often have poo all around the entrance

[Tiger1358]

THere is a porcupine den on in my neighbor's pasture but we are in Thurston County.  As of 2 weeks ago it still had a porky in it and I have permission to hunt that property.  I can send the kids out to see if it is still occupied if  you are interested.

Will I need to get permission from the owner to hunt there too?

[PolarBear]

I will send my kid out to see if it is still there and will check with the neighbor if it is okay for you to get it.  I'm sure that he would want it gone because it is in one of his pastures and we both have had to deal with pulling quills from our cows noses.  I will let you know what we come up with.

[Tiger1358]

I will send my kid out to see if it is still there and will check with the neighbor if it is okay for you to get it.  I'm sure that he would want it gone because it is in one of his pastures and we both have had to deal with pulling quills from our cows noses.  I will let you know what we come up with.

Alright ,thanks a lot!

[PolarBear]

Sent the kids out there yesterday evening.  They couldn't tell if it is still there or not.  I had surgery on my knee on Friday so I am not able to get out there.  It is a pretty deep den so my guess is that it is tucked back in there.  I will have the kids keep checking and if we come up with something I will let you know.  I bet that a smoke bomb thrown down there would flush it out.

[Tiger1358]

Sent the kids out there yesterday evening.  They couldn't tell if it is still there or not.  I had surgery on my knee on Friday so I am not able to get out there.  It is a pretty deep den so my guess is that it is tucked back in there.  I will have the kids keep checking and if we come up with something I will let you know.  I bet that a smoke bomb thrown down there would flush it out.

Thanks a lot for checking. Where are you located in Thurston county? I heard that there are a lotta porcupines in Capitol forest. I've never been there before , I always hunt in King and Snohomish counties.

[PolarBear]

Rainier

[yorketransport]

The fine are of porcupine hunting!

You'll have the best luck just walking logging roads which pass through 20-30 year old timber. Watch the grass along the side of the road about 2 hours before sunset. They come out and graze in the evenings. Look for dead end spurs with brush piles just off of the landings. You'll often find trails going into the brush piles from the lower side. You'll have pretty good luck if you can just sit and listen for a while. I'll actually wear a pair of electronic muffs while I'm hunting.

I've cut back on my porcupine hunting after making a pretty noticeable dent in the population down in the Ryderwood unit. They're all over in north Thurston county in the Yelm, Tenino area. You'll see more on the side of the road than in the woods though!

Andrew

[DeerThug]

I have only cooked 2 porcupines.  1st one tasted good but was so tough you could not chew it.  dog food.  the second one was tender and excellent  thing is they are just too easy to shoot - i have way too much meat anyway and when I see one it is just enjoying its day and I can bring myself to shoot the darn thing.   but i bet that it would be really good cooked slow on a treager....

[PolarBear]

Tiger1358 We haven't seen any action from the porky in a while so I sent 3 kids down there this evening.  It looks like a coyote or something got to it.  The hole was torn up and there were "dog" tracks inside the hole and small quills everywhere.  The kids picked up the quills and took them to youth group tonight to make stuff out of them.  If I see another one I will send you a PM.  I hate having them around because it usually means that I will be pulling quills out of my cows noses and legs.

[Tiger1358]

Tiger1358 We haven't seen any action from the porky in a while so I sent 3 kids down there this evening.  It looks like a coyote or something got to it.  The hole was torn up and there were "dog" tracks inside the hole and small quills everywhere.  The kids picked up the quills and took them to youth group tonight to make stuff out of them.  If I see another one I will send you a PM.  I hate having them around because it usually means that I will be pulling quills out of my cows noses and legs.

Again,thanks a lot for checking. I don't think coyotes can kill porcupines. Probably someone was hunting them with terriers. PM me if you see any porkies in your property. Help me and I will help you back.

[PolarBear]

The only reason that I am thinking coyotes is because I am the only person allowed on that land to hunt.      I have seen a fox kill a small porcupine a few years ago but it was a little porky.  I won't know for sure without seeing it myself and that aint going to happen at least for another week.  i'll keep my eyes out for you. Usually when my neighbor either fertilizes or hays his fields is when we see them during the day.  I know a bunch of farmers, Ill ask some of them to keep a look out as well.

[jasnt]

Very well could have been a fisher.  Porkys are one of their natural preys. 

[Hawgdawg]

I don't know if its true of old sour dough legend but when I lived in Alaska it was a unwritten rule you never messed with them. If lost and starving it's one of the only critters you can kill with a stick.  When I ran with the hounds men we would get a few to many in the dogs faces. My new boss has a full mount in the office. Kind of cool!

[Tiger1358]

I don't know if its true of old sour dough legend but when I lived in Alaska it was a unwritten rule you never messed with them. If lost and starving it's one of the only critters you can kill with a stick.  When I ran with the hounds men we would get a few to many in the dogs faces. My new boss has a full mount in the office. Kind of cool!

Actually ,when I used to live in Europe , I knew a few people that have killed big 20 lbs porcupines with sticks in their properties ,they can't run fast and their body is really soft. One good hit in the head will just simply kill him.

[grundy53]

The only reason that I am thinking coyotes is because I am the only person allowed on that land to hunt.      I have seen a fox kill a small porcupine a few years ago but it was a little porky.  I won't know for sure without seeing it myself and that aint going to happen at least for another week.  i'll keep my eyes out for you. Usually when my neighbor either fertilizes or hays his fields is when we see them during the day.  I know a bunch of farmers, Ill ask some of them to keep a look out as well.

Cougars like to kill Porcupines.

sent from my typewriter

[grundy53]

I don't know if its true of old sour dough legend but when I lived in Alaska it was a unwritten rule you never messed with them. If lost and starving it's one of the only critters you can kill with a stick.  When I ran with the hounds men we would get a few to many in the dogs faces. My new boss has a full mount in the office. Kind of cool!

This is true. But around here these days it's pretty much unnecessary.

sent from my typewriter

[Tiger1358]

The only reason that I am thinking coyotes is because I am the only person allowed on that land to hunt.      I have seen a fox kill a small porcupine a few years ago but it was a little porky.  I won't know for sure without seeing it myself and that aint going to happen at least for another week.  i'll keep my eyes out for you. Usually when my neighbor either fertilizes or hays his fields is when we see them during the day.  I know a bunch of farmers, Ill ask some of them to keep a look out as well.

If they're damaging the trees in your and your neighbors' properties and hurting the cows,why don't you guys shoot them???

[yorketransport]

Actually ,when I used to live in Europe , I knew a few people that have killed big 20 lbs porcupines with sticks in their properties ,they can't run fast and their body is really soft. One good hit in the head will just simply kill him.

It's funny, I hear this from guys who've done it fairly often. Then I go out and can put a 230gr XTP from a 45 through the skull and the critter shuffles off another 20 yards. Sometimes those little guys just don't like to give up!

Andrew

[Claymore15]

True story I went after one with a stick thinking easy meal, it just kept on moving.  I did get it eventually not very pretty

[grundy53]

Actually ,when I used to live in Europe , I knew a few people that have killed big 20 lbs porcupines with sticks in their properties ,they can't run fast and their body is really soft. One good hit in the head will just simply kill him.

It's funny, I hear this from guys who've done it fairly often. Then I go out and can put a 230gr XTP from a 45 through the skull and the critter shuffles off another 20 yards. Sometimes those little guys just don't like to give up!

Andrew

This has been my experience. They can soak up some lead...

sent from my typewriter

[Tiger1358]

Actually ,when I used to live in Europe , I knew a few people that have killed big 20 lbs porcupines with sticks in their properties ,they can't run fast and their body is really soft. One good hit in the head will just simply kill him.

It's funny, I hear this from guys who've done it fairly often. Then I go out and can put a 230gr XTP from a 45 through the skull and the critter shuffles off another 20 yards. Sometimes those little guys just don't like to give up!

Andrew

They're like snakes,when you cut their head off ,they still move hahaha 

[yorketransport]

They're like snakes,when you cut their head off ,they still move hahaha 

The most effective gun I've ever used was a 204 with 32gr V-max bullets. One hit to the chest and that critter stopped  running!

[Tiger1358]

They're like snakes,when you cut their head off ,they still move hahaha 

The most effective gun I've ever used was a 204 with 32gr V-max bullets. One hit to the chest and that critter stopped  running!

Shotgun works the best for porkies....#4 lead shot will just simply nail any porcupine....BTW nice porkie

[Blacklab]

Nicely done with the 204 

Looking forward to making red mist this fall with mine 

[jasnt]

True story I went after one with a stick thinking easy meal, it just kept on moving.  I did get it eventually not very pretty

Same here and I was using a huge crow bar

[Windwalker]

Not one of the brightest things I have done but- had two labs and was out on a drag road, big slag pile off the side. Dogs go to barking and- yes you know the rest-
I was pissed. Dogs were hurting - tied them back and went down there - he was in a hole under it. So I don the ol' ear muffs and grabbed the 32 Special lever gun and crawl in with a flash light.
I get in there (completely, was a big hole) and let him have it.

Well after the dust and debris from the concussion settled...      and I got my wits back,  I look and I am surrounded by porky spikes in every inch of wood.   
I thought OMG I am so lucky not to get them in my face or eyes..he friggin exploded.

Don't remember who was with me but they were...surprised..worried..and amazed all at once when the concussion sent puffs of dirt out all the cracks on the surface - like a bomb went off in there. Wondered if I survived till I clambered out covered with debris and spitting dirt out looked like I was drug down a bad road..

Then thankfully a hound hunter stopped by and had hemostats in his glove box. Dogs didn't learn squat but I did.
And no I didn't think to try to eat it...but that was brought up later.