Porcupine, Numbers Up, N.E.

[Pumacarl]

Anyone else in the north east noticing a large uptick in their porcupine populations? I just shot another one today. I don't really like shooting them, but there is a dog involved, so I do. I used to only shoot maybe two a year and now it's like six. That's a pretty big jump. This year, in particular, every one was in an oak tree. I have been using a .30 Paradigm with RMR slugs and I gotta say, I am really starting to appreciate the caliber. Unfortunately, last year, my first couple of hunting shots with .30 caliber left me quite unimpressed compared to my experience with .25 and it has been an uphill battle to get my respect. It is just about there, as I wondered today, if my .25 could have brained him as well, hard, and fast, as the .30 has been doing lately. Anyway, I was just wondering if this population increase was just local, or all over. We have rabbits now too, for the first time in 35 years, but I think they were stocked by the Fish&Game Dept., a really dumb idea, super destructive.

 

[pan60]

I have seen porcupines in years but the rabbit and tree rat populations around here are nuts. worst year I have ever seen for rabbits.
maybe ten or twelve years back be had a skunk population explosion

 

[Pumacarl]

Things certainly have been cycling weird. On a positive note, I saw more frogs jumping around this year then I have since the early 80's.

 

[Danman]

Things certainly have been cycling weird. On a positive note, I saw more frogs jumping around this year then I have since the early 80's.

No porcupines here, last 2 years the skunks were crazy though in the fall. 2 years back I got 2 with my brothers Diana 350Magnum. Plenty of power but bit of a horrible choice, single shot, long, and heeavvyy! Now I got the Ghost ...Do you hunt then during daylight only @Pumacarl or night as well sometimes?

 

[Pumacarl]

I don't hunt them at all. I easily see where they are dropping cuttings on the grounds and fields, look up, and bang! It's not sporting at all and I don't like shooting the young ones but they are really quite a problem.

I love skunks. Their digging on the lawns is the first way that I can tell that there are active grubs and I can treat for them before they do more damage. I'll wash the damn dog if he gets sprayed, easy peasy, use Dawn. If you don't want skunks use Grubex on your whole lawn and you won't have any. It is really expensive to do on really big properties, and not very good for the health of the place, so I have been limiting use to where they show up.

 

[Danman]

I don't hunt them at all. I easily see where they are dropping cuttings on the grounds and fields, look up, and bang! It's not sporting at all and I don't like shooting the young ones but they are really quite a problem.

I love skunks. Their digging on the lawns is the first way that I can tell that there are active grubs and I can treat for them before they do more damage. I'll wash the damn dog if he gets sprayed, easy peasy, use Dawn. If you don't want skunks use Grubex on your whole lawn and you won't have any. It is really expensive to do on really big properties, and not very good for the health of the place, so I have been limiting use to where they show up.

I've had a few take up residence at my place back then and would not leave. I'd go from the house to the shop and almost walk into them (tried living under the back deck)...So I sent em a 13gr JSB message through the vitals. Rolled over into the ditch without even a tail flop, and no spray! I don't recommend head shots.

 

[Reeg]

2 weeks ago I had a rather small porky chew off most of the branches on two of my pear trees in order to get to the fruit. One of the trees had produced fruit for the first time since I planted it as a bare root whip in 2018. Both trees were "pruned" so bad I'm not sure if they'll survive. I've had numerous contacts with porkies and my bird dogs over the years. Porkies don't get a pass with me.

 

[Pumacarl]

Yeah, I hear you. I don't give porcs a pass either, even at home. Had the same problem with a peach tree and some apple trees. Skunks though have never been a problem. One night, five or so years ago, I almost walked a skunk into my house. It was dark out and I thought it was the cat and it was actually following me, and then I saw the cat coming from another direction. My eyes finally adjusted to the dark and I was like, whoa, that was close! Pretty funny.

 

[Pumacarl]

I've had a few take up residence at my place back then and would not leave. I'd go from the house to the shop and almost walk into them (tried living under the back deck)...So I sent em a 13gr JSB message through the vitals. Rolled over into the ditch without even a tail flop, and no spray! I don't recommend head shots.

Yeah, there was a thread a while ago about where to shoot skunks and everyone seems to agree that body shots are better for not getting them to spray. I would definately shoot one if he was spraying outside my window all the time but that hasn't been a problem so I leave them alone.

 

[Mike Brown]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed since I haven't had any skunk problems for about a year now. Before that, I was waking up at night because of the skunk stench coming in our open bedroom window!! I'll keep in mind the body shot rather than head shot information should my luck change!

 

[Reeg]

Been seeing this guy on my trail cameras lately, he made it easy for me by munching on acorns right outside my living room window. First one this year, won't be the last.

 

[CTAirgunner]

Actually yes, I have seen 7 or 8 on my hikes over the last year, quite large too.

I didn't see the one that quilled Peri in January, all I know is she came running back to me with 6 in her breast and 4 on the right side of her snout.

Thank goodness shes a tough one, let me pull all of them out with no fight toward me, and boy were a few really in there. She was not a happy camper.

 

[Pumacarl]

That's an exceptional dog to let you do that without going completely nuts! Congrats on that.

 

[CTAirgunner]

That's an exceptional dog to let you do that without going completely nuts! Congrats on that.

There were 3 that I needed a brand new set of knipex channel locks to pull out, she snarled in discontent over them but not at me. Nor did she fight.

You got that statement 100% right and she makes me tear up just thinking of how exceptional she truly is.