Hunting, Fishing, and related matters

[Prince Charon]

We had a bit of a discussion on boar hunting in the QQ thread in Rants, and a mod suggested that a dedicated thread was needed. I decided to created on, but didn't want to limit it to boar hunting, only, so it's more general than that.

 

[vyor]

Rabbits need to be hunted in australia.

Rabbits are scary.

 

[doomlord9]

Huh...I actually have something to contribute even though I haven't been hunting in over a decade.

A couple weeks ago my dad went out hunting, leaving me as the only one in the house for two weeks, which was freaking wonderful and something you get used to really fast.

Cut to earlier this week, I wake up and shamble my way into the kitchen to locate whatever food-like substance I could eat and then just stood there staring at the bloody gristle coated deer skull on the table(with plastic under it) in utter befuddlement. I was not awake enough to process what the fuck that was or what was going on, so I stood there staring for a good five minutes.

The first conclusion I came to was that the house had been broken into by a rather incompetent cult who left their skull behind after their ritual.

A couple cups of coffee and something that was technically food and I eventually figured out that they were back, but for that time period I was more confused than I have been in a long time.

 

[vyor]

The first conclusion I came to was that the house had been broken into by a rather incompetent cult who left their skull behind after their ritual.

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Can't stop laughing oh my god

 

[argent251]

When going hunting make sure to buy your girlfriend or wife tickets to your local Deer Hunter Widows ball.

That way they do not care that you leave opening weekend every year.

 

[Prince Charon]

When going hunting make sure to buy your girlfriend or wife tickets to your local Deer Hunter Widows ball.

That way they do not care that you leave opening weekend every year.

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Unless they like to hunt as well, of course (or are stubborn enough and/or really wanting to show interest in your hobbies enough, or whatever, that they go along even if they aren't that interested).

 

[argent251]

Unless they like to hunt as well, of course (or are stubborn enough and/or really wanting to show interest in your hobbies enough, or whatever, that they go along even if they aren't that interested).

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True but I have yet to have that happen something about cold and snow.


For some reason they do not want to come ice fishing with me or sit in a deer stand in 30 degree weather.

 

[seeing_octarine]

Rabbits need to be hunted in australia.

Rabbits are scary.

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Something I do not understand at all is how rabbit meat hasn't ended up being sold at supermarkets here in Aust. It would fit right in next to all the kangaroo meat. We're fine with using biological warfare to keep them under control, but eating them? No way, too far!

 

[argent251]

Something I do not understand at all is how rabbit meat hasn't ended up being sold at supermarkets here in Aust. It would fit right in next to all the kangaroo meat. We're fine with using biological warfare to keep them under control, but eating them? No way, too far!

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Well from the few Rabbits I have hunted it is a lot of work for a little meat. You only get a couple of pounds per rabbit.

Then you have the fact that Rabbit is just not that nutritionally great. So while not a problem when you eat it rarely it is never going to be a staple meat.

 

[Athlumney]

Something I do not understand at all is how rabbit meat hasn't ended up being sold at supermarkets here in Aust. It would fit right in next to all the kangaroo meat. We're fine with using biological warfare to keep them under control, but eating them? No way, too far!

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The profit margin wouldn't be there to justify it at a large scale, a single Kangaroo gets a half to several dozen kilos of meat depending on the type, a single rabbit is 1-2kg total. Then you have to have someone go out and shoot the bloody things, have the meat inspected, etc.

The actual rabbit meat you get from the butchers or stores here is from rabbit farms and that's getting more expensive because of the need to vaccinate the rabbits with the vaccinations in 2014 costing $6-$9 per rabbit.

 

[BlackDragon98]

Spoiler: some notable catches from the last couple months of fishing

I've been literally fishing for keeps to save money on food costs because I'm sort of broke after a car accident where the insurance refused to cover anything basically drained my funds. That said, I don't keep all the fish I catch because some large fish are breeder sized and I'd rather there be more fish in the future than dinner now.

But yeah, what does everyone think? Anyone else fish/hunt here on QQ? (I'm located somewhere in Ontario, Canada BTW)

 

[Guardian Box]

I've been literally fishing for keeps to save money on food costs because I'm sort of broke after a car accident where the insurance refused to cover anything basically drained my funds. That said, I don't keep all the fish I catch because some large fish are breeder sized and I'd rather there be more fish in the future than dinner now.

But yeah, what does everyone think? Anyone else fish/hunt here on QQ? (I'm located somewhere in Ontario, Canada BTW)

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I'm no expert, but that last pic looks absolutely delicious.

I'm from Poland, and when I was younger I did partake in a spot of fishing every once in a while. Most of my catches used to be catfish, which was fine enough eating, some breams if I was lucky, but the lakes around were mostly rich in the Common Bleak, which is a really tiny fish that's more trouble than it's worth to prepare. The cat was very happy about them though, and the furball ate well those days.

Then there's The Ruffe, which you were bound to catch even if you didn't want to. Especially if you didn't want to, and getting that spiky fecker off the hook and thrown back into the lake was a pain and a half.

 

[BlackDragon98]

I'm no expert, but that last pic looks absolutely delicious.

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Thank you! It was indeed a very tasty meal. I ate the whole fish in a single meal with some steamed rice and Chinese vegetables. The fish in question is a walleye (Sander vitreus) which is the North American equivalent of the zander (Sander lucioperca), which you might be familiar with.

I'm from Poland, and when I was younger I did partake in a spot of fishing every once in a while. Most of my catches used to be catfish, which was fine enough eating, some breams if I was lucky, but the lakes around were mostly rich in the Common Bleak, which is a really tiny fish that's more trouble than it's worth to prepare. The cat was very happy about them though, and the furball ate well those days.

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I'm somewhat familiar with European freshwater fishes due to the fishing games I played in my youth, so I know the kinds of fish you're talking about.

Spoiler: Speaking of catfish, these are two of the many I caught last night

Spoiler: We also have another species of small catfish here called bullheads

I caught that bullhead on the 23rd of the August, just a week or so ago. The way to tell a bullhead from a channel catfish is the color, bullhead are brown-yellow to camo in the mud while channels are black and the bullhead has a square tail while channels have a forked tail.

Channel catfish weigh an average of 2-4 lbs with the biggest being a 58 lb from the States, so they're never going to reach the size of your Wels catfish, which I've heard are capable of eating children or pulling fishermen in and drowning them.

Then there's The Ruffe, which you were bound to catch even if you didn't want to. Especially if you didn't want to, and getting that spiky fecker off the hook and thrown back into the lake was a pain and a half.

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Ruffe are an invasive species here in Ontario. None where I live but they've invaded the Great Lakes region.

My suggestion would be to use gloves and stroke the fish from front, essentially pushing down the spines.

That's how I deal with sunfish, rock bass, and other small spiny rayed fish

Spoiler: Other catches from yesterday: Smallmouth bass and a double catch of rock bass and yellow perch

BTW, the smallmouth in the net (12 inches) is not the same one I'm holding up. I caught the second, smaller one (10 inches) about 4 minutes after I released the first one. In hindsight I should have kept the smallmouth in the net, it was a perfect eating size.

The yellow perch was quite large (but not as large as your European perch) so I killed it and put in on ice. Its sitting, gutted, scaled, and cleaned, in my fridge right now. I'll probably fry it up whole tomorrow.

Spoiler: Bonus: some of my inorganic, non edible catches

Unfortunately, the rim was plastic so it was worthless.
Not sure about the ring though, I'll probably bring it to a jeweler's to get checked out.

All in all, it was a good day of fishing yesterday, using just worms.

 

[Guardian Box]

Thank you! It was indeed a very tasty meal. I ate the whole fish in a single meal with some steamed rice and Chinese vegetables. The fish in question is a walleye (Sander vitreus) which is the North American equivalent of the zander (Sander lucioperca), which you might be familiar with.

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At first sight I thought it might be a trout (Pstrąg), which is the kind of fish that was quite rare locally, but much sought after, and a bragging right if you ever caught one (at least among amateurs like me). But since you confirmed it's a Sander (Sandacz), that's even a better catch.

Yeah, the pickings were quite slim around my parts as far as fish were concerned.

Ruffe are an invasive species here in Ontario. None where I live but they've invaded the Great Lakes region.

My suggestion would be to use gloves and stroke the fish from front, essentially pushing down the spines.

That's how I deal with sunfish, rock bass, and other small spiny rayed fish

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First of all, I envy you access to such fancy equipment like protective gloves.

Second of all, if you guys ever decide to commit to a campaign of genocide against the Ruffle, my prickled fingers are giving you a full stamp of approval.

Give them hell.

The absolutely fucking deserve it.

 

[BlackDragon98]

At first sight I thought it might be a trout (Pstrąg), which is the kind of fish that was quite rare locally, but much sought after, and a bragging right if you ever caught one (at least among amateurs like me).

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Here where I live, there are only a couple spots that the provincial Ministry of natural resources stock with brown trout every year.

I'm planning to go to one of them and catch a couple trout in the next couple months. But usually I go fishing at a local trout pond for rainbow trout. It's a good price for each and the trout cleans the fish for you as part of the price.

But since you confirmed it's a Sander (Sandacz), that's even a better catch.

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Spoiler: Small walleye, had to release

I caught this 37-38cm walleye at 2000 last night. Unfortunately the regulations for my region mandate a minimum 40cm for walleye, so I put it back.

Yeah, the pickings were quite slim around my parts as far as fish were concerned.

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Overfishing? Some locations where I live have been pretty much fished out as well.

First of all, I envy you access to such fancy equipment like protective gloves.

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They're very cheap. I bought them in a package with a fillet knife.

Second of all, if you guys ever decide to commit to a campaign of genocide against the Ruffle, my prickled fingers are giving you a full stamp of approval.

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If I ever catch one it's going to die. And I'm going to toss them in the garbage can because they're too small and it's an invasive species