I've heard they will eat fibreglass and polyethylene boat hulls. I wouldn't want to eat one of those.
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I've heard they will eat fibreglass and polyethylene boat hulls. I wouldn't want to eat one of those.
One of the funniest things I've ever seen was a newbie with his 270 at deer camp one year. I gave him one of my 90 gr loads and suggested he shoot the porkie out of the tree over his head. I moved out of the fallout zone before he fired.....
I've seen their destructive behavior first hand while working up in Haliburton about 25 years ago at a summer camp. Came upon one trying to chew through a plywood, cabin door while kids were sleeping inside. Let's just say that a fire extinguisher (spraying, not thrown) is a quiet, effective way to change their menu plans! :) As for seeing them while hunting~came across one while groundhog hunting a few years ago with the son of a landowner of one particular farm. He was carrying an old .222 as we crept up on a young bean field that day. Sitting in the middle of it was a big, fat porcupine munching away. I'd been hunting groundhogs a fair bit and hadn't seen that before...and haven't seen it since. Anyhow, we got in position and this young lad dropped a bomb on this thing from about 175 yards away sending quills at least 15' in the air. Upon inspection, it certainly was robbing the bean field, and I was told it wasn't the first one he'd shot, and likely won't be the last.
Lastly, I have tasted porcupine ribs...grilled. One word~YUCK! Either the guy couldn't cook, or it's plain...nasty stuff. Tasted like dirt to me.
My Grandfather reminded me as he gave me my first gun not to shoot porcupines. I have no clue why but he said their only defense is their quills and they can't move very fast. If I came across one in the woods I would leave It be, on the other hand if it was eating a hole on my boat, I wouldn't hesitate to put a slug through one!
Lost count of how many boats I've seen with porky damage, not to mention tires, oars, outhouses, dogs, etc.
Never found one that I could have killed without a gun if I had been starving in the bush....
First one I saw killed didn't involve a gun. Won't elaborate, but I will say that they are a formidable opponent. They mostly avoid people, but this one's behavior was very irregular and it was moving towards some kids. Wouldn't want to have to deal with one like that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pat32rf
had one eating my tree stand last year..loved the plywood walls.. was pooping all over the roof.. caught him sleeping in the tree above the stand.. 3 in,# 4 shell took care of the problem...
I have no issues with them. I have never had a dog get into one, nor had any chewing any of my property. I let them live and give them some space when we cross paths. That being said, if I had one damaging my property, it would be marked for execution.
I was fixing up my Bunkie a couple of years ago and the following spring the porcupines decided to have a feast and did some damage. I bought some 1/4" galvanized wire mesh stapled in over the lower part of the plywood siding with stainless steel staples and that ended it.
My buddy had to re-wire his mother's cottage 20 years ago with BX because the porkies got underneath and were eating the plastic off of the wire.
My father told me they love the smell of the glue in the plywood. My grand father told be they love anything with salt in it, hence toilet seats in outhouses. He was always on us when we were kids to make sure the door was locked shut when we were done.
Roe+