Nutria appear to be a muskrat like animal, getting up to about 30lbs. I found something on them on a website. Originally they come from S. America and were brought here to help control weedgrowth in the southern waterways. Unfortunately they have few enemies to keep their numbers in check and are playing havoc with farming areas in the south.
It looks like the best way to hunt them would be to float downstream in a canoe and snipe as you go, but I don't really know that from experience.
Their numbers have increased drastically in recent years. Anyone here know anthing about them, or better yet, has anyone here hunted them or shot them by mistake? Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

A long long time ago when I was kid, I lived on Church's Isl on the Currituck sound in NC. There was swamp all around us. There was a small bounty on nutria. maybe $2-$4. And for fun I would go out some nights with a Rem 22 pump and the brightest flashlight we had and try to shoot some. I was raised by a single mom, so I just kinda did the best I could.

Sometimes I would get one or two, sometimes none. But it was the most fun! Their eyes shine real bright. I could hardly ever retrieve them, but they were a nuisance anyways so that didn't matter. Mostly did it in the winter when the snakes weren't out.

Had special on about these critters a couple of years ago. They are at beyond pest levels in New Orleans. The NOPD had/has a patrol that goes around with silenced 22s and spot lights. It seems the nutri stay in the canals/levies and bring in even less desirable swamp critters.

I'd try a 22lr, 22mag, 22 hornet or some such round. Floating sounds like it might be a good idea.