Anybody out there got a good story about shooting armadillos? I used to have a big problem with them until the area behind my house was bulldozed and houses put up...

I dont have any hunting stories but I do have a interesting warning to give you. Armadillos are the only known animal besides man that can carry Hansens desiese (leprosy). At the begining of this century there were lep colonies in the south. It is realy understood how its contacted other then by an explination of handling. Also... in Texas armadillos carry alot of Herpies, I guess the cowboys get lonely out on the range a bit.

Lived in North Louisiana for a number of years and you could not tell the difference between an armadillo or a deer walking in the dry leaves.

Also, we used they would have armadillo races at the state fair and we two people in the plant that would eat them.....said they we're tasty...

I've been around them plenty in Texas. While these critters don't mean any harm, they sure do plenty to yards, gardens and flower beds. They are like minature roto-tillers.

I cannot IMAGINE eating one, but I know some fools do. Another person I know used to make purses and hand baskets out of their shell. Best use I ever found for them was to hunt them at night with pistols. Normally they are nocturnal and I think nearly blind. I have stood still before and had them walk up and bump into me and then look bewildered.

Smart they are not.

By the way, I believe this animals range is limited by temperature. Since they have no fur to keep them warm, they freeze to death fairly easily. So you probably won't see many armadillos in Colorado and Wyoming.

[ 01-09-2003, 06:15: Message edited by: Pecos45 ]

I always thought possums were southern warm weather animals too, but we sure have a slug of them in Wisconsin. Please feed the dillo's well so that they stay where their at.

May not see em in CO or WY, but they are moving into TN.

LouisB

I used to shoot them with a .22 pistol at night - I'd leave a light on and always check the backyard if I got up to take a leak at 3AM. I live in the 'burbs of north Houston and told my neighbors that if they heard a shot at night it was me shooting the 'dillos - none of them complained and actually were happy not to have their gardens all torn up. Bad thing was when the 'dillo would run off into the woods and die - about a week later the neighbors' dogs would find them and roll on them WHEEEW! I saw more than one dog getting a bath because of that. I also had coons, deer, and coyotes in the backyard on occasion, but no more as we are too built up.

When I was a kid my Father and a friend had a deer lease in Mason county, Texas, that was loaded with dillos. Between the morning and afternoon deer hunts we sometimes shot them with a Colt Woodsman. We would clean them and my Mother would cook them like southern fried chicken so I'm one of those fools who has eaten them. Tasted like pork to me, tasty. Sure glad I didn't get leprosey (sp?) or herpes.

If you want to serve armadillos here in the north just remember to call it possum on the half shell.

When I was in College I was in a deer lease that had an armadillo problem. We hunted them durring the day with 44 Mag pistols in an area that did not hold many deer. After a while we only shot them running.
Just a few years ago I was on a Turkey lease that had a big problem with skunks and armadillos. I had just bought my 450 No2 and my 450/400 3 1/4. I used them on the skunks [the only animal you hunt with the wind in your face ] and the armadillos, solids on the armadillos of course. They were great sport and I was doing the land owner a favor.

We kill some down here in Bama. Got a funny story about killing one

Buddy of mine has a piece of land with a lake right in the middle of it (40 acre lake). During the summer, we drink some beer and cruise the lake at night looking for frogs, snakes, etc. with the trusty 22lr.

This particular night, the guy in the back of the john boat thought it'd be cool to have his single shot 12gauge with him. We're coming along the edge of the lake and we hear the freight train coming through the woods at us. We all stop (there are 3 of us: 22lr in front, me in middle with the light, 12gauge in back with trolling motor). As it get's closer, we realize it is up the bank (steep hill). I finally get it into the light and sure nough it's an armadillo!

At that point, my (2) buddies on the guns (and beer) decide to open up on the dillo. They both blast this thing at 35yds. Remember I said the dillo was uphill? What does a wounded animal do when hit? That's right! This dillo comes screaming down the hill right at us. The 22lr and 12gauge shooters freak out and start rapid firing at this thing. We can't be more than 5ft off the bank and it's coming right at us!

It comes down the bank, out into the water, and hits the side of the boat..... I'd hate to think what might have happened to us if that sucker made it into the boat with us. Anyway, we called it quits after that and went back in for the night.

Here in NE Oklahoma they have become a real problem. There is nothing like walking into a deer stand in the dark and stepping one of thier holes, I dang near broke my leg a couple of years ago. Since then we have declared all out war on these little football helmets with legs. In one day I killed 46 of of them but since everyone in the area kills everyone they see I did not see a single one hunting this year. I'm sure they will return but they will get whacked when they do.

The only animal I have ever shot with a shotgun slug was an armadillo. A 20ga slug at 10 feet cleaned it out from stem to stern. Impressive! A friend of mine was doing research at a remote site. He would clean any dead armadillos off the road on the way out and pick up any fresh road kills on his way back several hours later. He practically lived on them for several years. I never ate at his place. He claimed they were wonderful with a little bar-b-q sauce.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT OF ARMADILLOS AS NATURAL SPEED BUMPS..

THE 2ND AMENDMENT PROTECTS US ALL..........

About ten years ago I was visiting a friend in Atlanta, Texas.(Damn near Texarkana) We were talking guns, and went down the road to another guy's home. He showed me a pistol he had built on a Weatherby Mark V action (of all things) chambered for 7BR. It's about 11:00 at night, and as I admired this pistol, I mentioned it was too bad I couldn't shoot it. He said "Hell, take it out in the front yard and shoot a few!" This obviously was "out in the country". We all amble out to the front yard, and I said "wish I had somethin' to shoot at" when,I swear, right on cue, a good sized Armadillo comes ablin' up just like we called him. He's headed towards us (we were between the critter and the garden). At this point I heard "I shore wish you would shoot that sumbitch, he's been tearin' hell outta my garden". Shot him about 25 yards away. It was coming head on. Bullet went into his left shoulder between the plate and skin, crossed through the body and exited through right upper leg/shell. Needless to say, it didn't even jump as they are likely to do. Didn't even twitch.

I've shot many other Armadillo's over the years, but that one in particular stands out in my memory.

Armadillo weighed 22lbs. I've wanted a 7mm BR ever since.

Hopsing

Good stories all.
I don't look at Armadillos as problems.
I see them as opportunities. They are a wonderful test bed for new loads. (However, one of the last of them I shot was with a .357 mag and the bullet went thru the 'dillo, hit a rock or something and richocheted thru a window on my sun porch. )

Speaking of stepping into armadillo holes...I stepped OVER one out hunting one day and the fellow behind me noticed a 4 ft rattler resting in the bottom of that hole! Jolly good thing I didn't pick THAT hole to stumble into.

[ 01-19-2003, 06:02: Message edited by: Pecos45 ]

Oh yeah....

NEVER SHOOT A DILLO WITH A BOW!!! I've had (2) hunting buddies make that mistake while I was with them. Sure it kills em, but they run off with the broadhead and arrow never to be seen again!

I often wonder how many "targets of opportunity" get killed during deer season. It's tough waiting on a deer and hearing the tell tale sounds of one coming your way only to find out it's a squirrel, coyote, dillo, etc. The ol deer rifle really does a number on the varmits.