Porcupines

[riflehunter]

Ran in to 2 different porcupines 30 miles apart let’s say both pups are hurting. Anyone else see porcupines in the cattails around Moses lake? What is best way to get dogs to stay away? Rough day for sure


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[Milkman]

There out all over, mating season. Saw a huge one in 506. Pup on a leash ?

[Pegasus]

Some dogs never learn....had a chocolate lab that would always go after them no matter how many times he got stuck. I hate to count the times when I had to straddle that dog out in the field and yank those needles out of his nose and mouth. Not fun for him and not fun for me as he was a pretty large dog that was hard to control as I pulled the needles. Luckily I always carried a leatherman's tool with the needlenose pliers that did the trick. Wait until your pups find a skunk...

[Tiger1358]

Been trying to find porcupines on the west side for years, but never seen one. They taste really good. 

[Pegasus]

Been trying to find porcupines on the west side for years, but never seen one. They taste really good.

If you like eating leather boots you will love porkys.

[Platensek-po]

Is it legal to hunt them?

[Pegasus]

Is it legal to hunt them?

Only if you strangle them by hand.

It is legal, joking aside. Many do not kill them because they are a easy source of food if you are stranded and starving.

[Birdguy]

You can try some avoidance training, friend of mine had his dogs (GSPs) get into one twice. Big vet bills so he found a roadkill and staged it around the property. When the dogs engaged in scenting they got full shock and a very stern "NO!" He would put it back in the freezer and do it again a week or so later. After the third time they lost interest in them. Cannot say it was totally successful but they never got into another one  .

[yorketransport]

Been trying to find porcupines on the west side for years, but never seen one. They taste really good.

I’ve shot more porcupines in western WA than some folks will see in a lifetime. Walk old logging roads in the evenings and watch for them grazing in the grass or blackberries along the sides. I’ve had good luck walking through the alders with a set of electronic muffs or plugs in and listening for them too. They make a pretty distinctive sound as they shuffle along the ground.

You’re probably the first person I’ve heard who’s said they taste good through! They’re not bad, but definitely not something I crave. 

[Tiger1358]

Been trying to find porcupines on the west side for years, but never seen one. They taste really good.

I’ve shot more porcupines in western WA than some folks will see in a lifetime. Walk old logging roads in the evenings and watch for them grazing in the grass or blackberries along the sides. I’ve had good luck walking through the alders with a set of electronic muffs or plugs in and listening for them too. They make a pretty distinctive sound as they shuffle along the ground.

You’re probably the first person I’ve heard who’s said they taste good through! They’re not bad, but definitely not something I crave. 

I don't know how they taste here, but most countries in Eastern/Central Europe have "Indian Crest Porcupines", hunters mainly trap them in areas where the woods have wild fruit trees. They taste really good, but I haven't shot, nor seen one here yet.

[duckmen1]

I never see them in western wa. Unless they are roadkill. But have probably only seen 2 crossing the highway. But never out hunting. Eastern wa I see them all the time.

[salt n sage90]

Moses Lake/Othello cattails are thick with porcupine. If you plan to hunt there pack leather gloves and pliers. We had a dog get hit 3 times in one day last year. I had to wrench the dog off one so hard it tore the vermins back fat off. Luckily my old man is a veterinarian so when its really bad we sedate the dog at the truck and take them out.

A tip: when pulling quills have a bucket of water next to you, every time you pull quills out dunk the pliers in the water, the quill float off the pliers. Saves time.

Lastly, the quill in the roof of the mouth are the most dangerous, rather than festering out they can fester up and end up in the dogs sinus.
You will find quills a week or two after.

[SGTDuffman]

Been trying to find porcupines on the west side for years, but never seen one. They taste really good.

They’re all over the place in the SW corner of the state. There’s was a stretch 2-3 years ago when I saw 3 or 4 a day walking around down there, not unusual to see at all, and they don’t seem terribly concerned with people either. Me and a fat fella walked towards ea other till I could have bent down and stabbed him w an arrow. They’re in short grass along the logging roads at dusk and dawn, I see more of them on roads closed to motorized access.

[lokidog]

Been trying to find porcupines on the west side for years, but never seen one. They taste really good.

If you like eating leather boots you will love porkys.

Not true at all if you know how to cook anything but Top Ramen....   

[Ridgerunner]

My dog got into one picking huckleberries in late August.  That was one expensive trip to the vet.