# "Varmit" hunters. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 11, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473 "2012-03-11T18:29:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/1 "2012-03-11T18:29:22Z")
What do varmit hunters do with those animals after they kill them? I’m including large animals, such as coyotes and wolves and rarely some even larger. I’m not a hunter. Well, I will hunt a nice strip steak in the market. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/2 "2012-03-11T19:00:53Z")
Take the fur usually. Sometimes nothing. Either for bounty or for personal use. Most people don’t eat coyote, gophers, crows, etc. and either carry the meat out or leave it for the elements. I wouldn’t really consider wolves a varmint species. For one, they’re usually protected, whereas most varmints sometimes either don’t require a license or don’t have restrictions on limit, season, etc. like game animals do. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/3 "2012-03-11T19:08:27Z")
For something like prairie dogs, hunters will usually just leave them there. You can shoot them all day at long range and they are probably reproducing as fast as you can shoot them anyway. Other animals like wolves might get skinned for the fur but the definition of varmint hunting is to get rid of nuisance animals so the usability aspect isn’t as important as in sport hunting. It is a little like asking what the exterminator does with all the rats he kills. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/4 "2012-03-11T19:44:23Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Take the fur usually. Sometimes nothing. Either for bounty or for personal use. Most people don’t eat coyote, gophers, crows, etc. and either carry the meat out or leave it for the elements. I wouldn’t really consider wolves a varmint species. For one, they’re usually protected, whereas most varmints sometimes either don’t require a license or don’t have restrictions on limit, season, etc. like game animals do. I’m using the classification most often used by hunters I know, which usually includes even the mountain lion. I saw a mountain lion in the San Gabriel Mountains in the early 60s. She was beautiful, and didn’t seem much of a pest at all. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/5 "2012-03-11T20:07:29Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > I’m using the classification most often used by hunters I know, which usually includes even the mountain lion. > I saw a mountain lion in the San Gabriel Mountains in the early 60s. She was beautiful, and didn’t seem much of a pest at all. I am not sure what you could do with a mountain lion if you managed to shoot one legally for personal or property protection. You usually have to report things like that and the state wildlife officials take the body. I am sure that plenty of people would stuff some or all of it if they could. You really don’t want to be caught with parts of a protected species without the right documentation. ---
**Author:** ![96krag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/4491bb/32.png) [@96krag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/96krag)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/6 "2012-03-11T20:10:59Z")
My varmint shooting is limited to groundhogs amd there are always people who enjoy a nice whistle pig dinner (I AIN’T one of them…) ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/7 "2012-03-11T21:12:06Z")
In the areas that they can be legally hunted, mountain lions and wolves are generally treated as (fur bearing) game species and regulated as such. Coyote regulations can differ significantly on a state by state basis and still may require a hunting license or a small game license. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/8 "2012-03-11T21:13:21Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > What do varmit hunters do Nitpick: Varmint ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/9 "2012-03-11T21:25:26Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > I’m using the classification most often used by hunters I know, which usually includes even the mountain lion. > I saw a mountain lion in the San Gabriel Mountains in the early 60s. She was beautiful, and didn’t seem much of a pest at all. Well the mountain lion hunters will have to leave the state as it’s been illegal to hunt them for awhile, so they don’t even fall under the category of “huntable,” let alone varmint. [Recently](http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_20134519/wildlife-official-caught-mountain-lion-controversy-may-be), the CA Fish & Game head got in trouble (ethical, not legal) for hunting them in Idaho. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/10 "2012-03-11T21:30:24Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Nitpick: Varmint You’re right, mostly. Depends upon where you’re from. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/11 "2012-03-11T21:36:15Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Nitpick: Varmint Both spellings are attested by the OED. Examples: > [@Oxford English Dictionary](#): > > 1856 Porter’s Spirit of Times 20 Sept. 38/2 Why, massa, dat 'tarnal varmit hab fooled me bad. > > 1974 Evening Herald (Rock Hill, S. Carolina) 18 Apr. 13/3 She didn’t care if my face was black. She didn’t treat me like no varmit or nothing. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/12 "2012-03-11T21:39:07Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Well the mountain lion hunters will have to leave the state as it’s been illegal to hunt them for awhile, so they don’t even fall under the category of “huntable,” let alone varmint. [Recently](http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_20134519/wildlife-official-caught-mountain-lion-controversy-may-be), the CA Fish & Game head got in trouble (ethical, not legal) for hunting them in Idaho. Yes he did. He’s sorry. _Potential_ hunters say mountain lions will eat your babies. ---
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/13 "2012-03-12T20:15:36Z")
Last time I looked, in Texas, mountain lions have no closed season and no bag limit. They are classified as non-game animals. Rob ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/14 "2012-03-12T20:54:50Z")
Grampap used to hunt groundhogs and squirrels as varmints. The groundhogs, we’d eat ourselves (they’re actually pretty good). Squirrels aren’t fit for human consumption, but Mom would cook them up for the cats. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/15 "2012-03-12T21:31:26Z")
> [@sweeteviljesus](#): > > Last time I looked, in Texas, mountain lions have no closed season and no bag limit. They are classified as non-game animals. > > Rob There are mountains in Texas? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/16 "2012-03-12T21:42:14Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Grampap used to hunt groundhogs and squirrels as varmints. The groundhogs, we’d eat ourselves (they’re actually pretty good). Squirrels aren’t fit for human consumption, but Mom would cook them up for the cats. I thought if you eat them, they ain’t varmits (sic). ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/17 "2012-03-12T22:54:26Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Squirrels aren’t fit for human consumption, but Mom would cook them up for the cats. Don’t tell that to one of my family members. She makes a mean squirrel dish every Thanksgiving. Of course, squirrels aren’t varmints either in much of the country. They have specific hunting seasons that require a license with limits like deer. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/18 "2012-03-12T23:02:45Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Grampap used to hunt groundhogs and squirrels as varmints. The groundhogs, we’d eat ourselves (they’re actually pretty good). Squirrels aren’t fit for human consumption, but Mom would cook them up for the cats. You’re sure it’s not the other way round? My Alabammy grammy loved her some fried squirrel. I never knew anyone who ate groundhog. Yuuuck! ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/19 "2012-03-12T23:06:46Z")
I’ve heard from hunters whom I trust to be truthful that mountain lion, unlike most mammalian carnivores, is very tasty. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473/20 "2012-03-12T23:40:55Z")
I’ve heard that squirrels have a gland in their nether regions that you have to know how to remove before cooking them. It may just be that nobody in my family knew about that necessity. Regardless of the reason, when Mom cooked up the squirrels, it raised the worst stink I’ve ever smelled. And what makes a critter a varmint is that you’re killing it primarily because it’s a nuisance if left alive. You might eat if afterwards (waste not, want not, after all), but that’s not the primary reason you’re killing it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/varmit-hunters/615473.md?page=2)