Otter problem

Worm

Worm

Active Member
I need some help on how to trap an otter. I assume its an otter.
I have an acre pond about 60 yards from my house. Last year I noticed something swimming on the surface. I wasnt sure if it was a muscrat, otter or whatever. I saw it dive down near an old tree and come up with a bass.
I saw this several times over the winter. Everytime I saw it, I would grab my shotgun and head towards the pond. Ive shot at him a couple of times. I never saw him ( or her )floating but hoped that I had killed it.
I just saw him a few minutes ago . Once again, he dove down and came up with a fish . This always happens by a submerged tree on the other side of the pond.
I grabbed my shotgun and hung out by the pond in the pouring rain for 30 minutes or so , but didnt see him again.
Ive never trapped. A live trap would be my first choice , but will do whatever is necessary .
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Worm
 
Otters are tricky to trap. Smart critters. Don't think you'll get him with a live trap. Put an ad on Craigslist and hire someone to do it for you. By the time you buy what's necessary and figure out through trial an error how to get it done your fish will be gone and you'll be trying to catch a very expensive otter. Just my .02

Also, these guys may be of some help: https://virginiaprofessionalwildliferemovalservices.com/
 
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Practice the 3S's, (Shoot, Shovel and Shut-up). I would be using a rifle or a turkey set-up.....a rabbit or squirrel setup scatter gun may not get the job done. You need a tight pattern and a wallop at a decent distance! If you can trap them, that is great, but I would see if you can find someone with the tools and experience to do so......your not trapping a coon or the neighbors cat!
 
Thanks for the input guys . In the meantime - Around 30 minutes ago, I saw him swimming around in the shallow end of the pond. Once again, grabbed shotgun, first 2 shells that I could find. I snuck to within 50 yards or so. I was behind a small willow tree. It felt like a good shot. All I could see of him was his head.He splashed and went under. I hung around for another 20 minutes but never saw him.
After the fact, turns out that I shot a #4 buck with a buck kicker full choke.
I have no idea if he is hit or not . Hopeful !
On a side note, I very rarely use a shotgun anymore. I deer hunt with a 270 and that just seemed a little extreme. I figured that I could probably get within shotgun range .
 
It's only extreme if you plan on keeping the pelt. Dead is dead. Hopefully you nailed him with the buck shot!
 
I hope you got him as well.....I am not against going a little overboard if it means getting the job done. That has carried over to my son. Recently we had a opossum issue. It was in the trash (the dog found it) so I went out to deal with it. My son (21 yo) followed behind. We stood right over it and it was playing dead - dog was in the house. I had the light and I hear my son cock back the hammer on a hand gun and see him aim in out of the corner of my eye. I assumed he grabbed his 22LR revolver and was expecting a simple little pow. Nope.....he grabbed his 357 mag......BOOM! I about peed my pants! I about jumped off the ground as far as the opossum did!!! I said, "A little much don't ya think?" He replied, once he got done laughing at me, "Got the job done didn't it?" Like Jeff said....dead is dead!
 
You guys make me laugh ! But youre right .... I would think that if he is dead, he will float sooner or later.
Either way, I really hope that I dont see him again. I think my bass would agree too !
 
Ive sometimes wondered if its just one or several .
Whats scary is that everytime I see him, he has a fish in his mouth.
 
had one in my pond took a year to get him ,, ended up with a long shot of about 150 yards while he was suning on the dock and used the old 30 06 deer rifle I would of used a tank f I had one
 
I shot two out of a tree in the middle of a pond one time. I could tell you what they were doing up there but this is a G rated site.


Sent from my iPhone using Deer Hunter Forum
 
Sounds like not a lot of Otter love out there . Mattpatt - its a good thing you got them when you did !



1
 
Worm said:
Ive sometimes wondered if its just one or several .
Whats scary is that everytime I see him, he has a fish in his mouth.
Click to expand...

I own a small piece of land that borders a nice creek. I've not deer hunted there yet, but I turkey hunt there a lot. Otters are numerous on that creek. I watched one about 10 feet from me eat a fish like a popsicle once. You can set down on the gravel bar and it won't be long until one comes by.
 
I'm just frustrated that he found my place . There is a big creek that borders the entire north side of my farm . Maybe an otter highway . . Also, lots of farm ponds around.
I also read that they can travel quite a distance over land to find habitat.
I really hope that I killed him . I still work part time ,so I havent been around to observe since I last saw him.
Ive read conflicting facts on whether they are nocturnal . I'm going to put out a couple of trail cams and get a better look.
If it turns out that he is still around, I will call a trapper that lives down the road.

i
 
Worm said:
I'm just frustrated that he found my place . There is a big creek that borders the entire north side of my farm . Maybe an otter highway . . Also, lots of farm ponds around.
I also read that they can travel quite a distance over land to find habitat.
I really hope that I killed him . I still work part time ,so I havent been around to observe since I last saw him.
Ive read conflicting facts on whether they are nocturnal . I'm going to put out a couple of trail cams and get a better look.
If it turns out that he is still around, I will call a trapper that lives down the road.

i
Click to expand...

Where there's one, there's more.
 
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