Beaver Hunting with a Deer Rifle in the Ruby Mountains in Nevada?

[MaddH]

Legal or not I would leave the beavers alone in Lamoille Canyon. Don’t mess with the ecosystem there

 

[Gr8bawana]

Lamoille canyon is not a spot I would be deer hunting with a rifle. Archery maybe? There's just too many people around to hunt safely.
I have seen beavers there when we were camping in the summer at night.
There are just so many other places to hunt the Ruby's that aren't near crowded areas.

 

[Irrelevant]

I bet its not bad - provided it doesnt smell funny.

beaver is never bad as long as it doesn't smell like fish or copper pennies.

 

[BEvans]

I floated in for my turkey last year. Constantly saw beavers while scouting and decided to take one home after shooting my bird. Not sure I'd want to deal with deer and a beaver at the same time though.

 

[Blowdowner]

beaver is never bad as long as it doesn't smell like fish or copper pennies.

This certainly means it smells like both, always.

 

[Jnasa]

If you want to make a joke go ahead, but I'm serious.

I drew a deer tag in the Rubies, I went to scout this past weekend, and I saw beaver ponds in Lamoille Canyon in that mountain range, and that got me curious about beaver hunting.

So I asked an AI chatbot about it, and the chatbot was telling me that it would be excellent idea to hunt beaver along with deer, and that beaver taste great and are an underrated delicacy.

Aside from "talking" to the chatbot about it, I did some research online and found out that since I don't want to sell fur, I don't need a trapping license, and the opening day for beaver season is the same as the opening day for my deer tag.

So now I'm tentatively thinking if I see any beaver while hunting deer this time around, I try to harvest one.

Anyone here did something like this before?

Is beaver actually good to eat? My limited understanding is that there are glands near the base of their tail that contain stinky oils so its important not to puncture those.

And do you think I can actually hunt beaver in Lamoille Canyon in early October or might there be too many hikers/campers who might freak out if they saw me carrying a dead beaver, etc.?

Instead of consulting chatbot or other AI sources look at the state wildlife regulations. Most states have Beaver listed as a fur bearer. Depending on the state they may require an additional license. Most states allow trapping but not shooting.

Look up the Nevada Regulations. See if you can hunt them or not.

I've known people to eat them and like them slow cooked. Nothing wrong with targeting them if it is legal.

 

[Jack Ryan]

If you want to make a joke go ahead, but I'm serious.

I drew a deer tag in the Rubies, I went to scout this past weekend, and I saw beaver ponds in Lamoille Canyon in that mountain range, and that got me curious about beaver hunting.

So I asked an AI chatbot about it, and the chatbot was telling me that it would be excellent idea to hunt beaver along with deer, and that beaver taste great and are an underrated delicacy.

Aside from "talking" to the chatbot about it, I did some research online and found out that since I don't want to sell fur, I don't need a trapping license, and the opening day for beaver season is the same as the opening day for my deer tag.

So now I'm tentatively thinking if I see any beaver while hunting deer this time around, I try to harvest one.

Anyone here did something like this before?

Is beaver actually good to eat? My limited understanding is that there are glands near the base of their tail that contain stinky oils so its important not to puncture those.

And do you think I can actually hunt beaver in Lamoille Canyon in early October or might there be too many hikers/campers who might freak out if they saw me carrying a dead beaver, etc.?

I LIVE on BEAVER CREEK and I kill a LOT of beavers. Mostly with rifles or shot gun. That said I hear this blarney about eating them ALL THE TIME. Finally I had a pair of fresh dead ones in the truck when someone who had hounded me for quite a while wanting some of "that good beaver meat, the tail is the best part".

He must have got all he wanted. I never heard another word out of him wanting more.

They STINK like sewar rats.

If it sinks, you didn't kill it. It got away. If they die when you shoot it, they float.

 

[backcountry_sassn]

For beaver, you do need a trapping license for beavers. For predators you dont need a license to hunt them, but do to sell them. For all othe furbearers you need a trapping license. When it comes to shooting them, I believe that's fine, but still double check.

 

[mevertsen]

@AntelopeEater

I see you picked up a fcfs elk tag.

How did this adventure go?

 

[AntelopeEater]

@AntelopeEater

I see you picked up a fcfs elk tag.

How did this adventure go?

The Ruby Mountain trip was fun despite not harvesting.

There was a lot of gorgeous fall color in the higher parts of the mountains, but the weather was record-breakingly warm with blazing sunshine during the days we had up there which meant deer could only be spotted at about dawn and dusk.

I went with a friend who had never been deer hunting before and we took it easy, stayed at a motel in Elko instead of roughing it.

We never saw a buck, but we found lots of does, lol.

My friend had no interest in beaver hunting and the main road up Lamoille Canyon was closed for construction while we there, so no beaver for me either.

I did stumble upon a dusky grouse while hiking though, so at least I saw one legal game animal.

Now that I know the area better, I am confident I'll have better chances of a harvest if I draw that tag again.

 

[SaskHunter]

I've shot loads of beavers (ayo!) in the spring, normally with a .223 or .22lr. Shooting them in the head is a gamble, they either float and it takes forever for them to get to shore or you have to get wet, or they sink.

Beaver doesn't taste bad (or good either) as long as you don't cut into the castor glands, if you do, the meat, that knife, your clothes, your hair, your skin, your dog, your cat, your pet hamster, your car, your house, your bed, your wife, your kids, etc, etc, etc, will smell like castor glands for the next hundred years. It doesn't stink, it's just beaver funk!