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Does anyone have any experience with them? We have some otters swimming around our 3  acre pond. I've seen 3 so far. They are pretty neat to watch and my daughter thought they were cool. I'm not sure if I should let them be or try to run them out. I've always kinda wanted an otter hide too though. Any input?

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Here's one...(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191214/cd1bec05bf42c6ea8bddc14b606ca31d.jpg)

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The only thing I know is they will definitely eat the fish,

Most guys in my area don't like them in their ponds they can clean them out. I would get rid of them. If you are a trapper set on the cross over on the dam of the pond. Set heavy to catch them all at once they are pretty easy to catch in pairs usually a male and female running together. You probably have some young ones also. I don't know what state you are in and what your trapping regulations are so double check them.

Quote from: Chris O on December 14, 2019, 04:58:50 PM
Most guys in my area don't like them in their ponds they can clean them out. I would get rid of them. If you are a trapper set on the cross over on the dam of the pond. Set heavy to catch them all at once they are pretty easy to catch in pairs usually a male and female running together. You probably have some young ones also. I don't know what state you are in and what your trapping regulations are so double check them.

I was told they are notorious for eating all the catfish, just wanted to comfirm that they are destructive.. I was thinking about just shooting them. I really don't have any trapping experience. They were all 3 less than 30 yards. A 22 mag should get it done or a shotgun with maybe 6 shot?

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Otters are WAY cool. One of the most fun animals to just watch, and fun to try and trap. Their pelts typically sell north of $100 for adults and several years ago were around $200 for a nice jumbo.

They can absolutely decimate a good farm pond's fishery real quick, especially crappies. They're good if you have a stunted fishery to wipe out the population quick though.

They have some of the softest, and most neat fur you'll ever touch if you can get one. Check up on your local laws, but we typically caught them in conibears or footholds near their slides and latrines. I'm sure you could shoot them as well as long as you have a furbearers/trapping permit.

Quote from: KYHeadhunter02 on December 14, 2019, 05:18:12 PM
A 22 mag should get it done or a shotgun with maybe 6 shot?

22 Mag for Muskrats, otter, and beaver is what we've always used no problem.

We try our best to keep them out of the pond in our area... they will dig in the pond banks and eat all your fish..

well, if they eat all your fish,, than they will move on than?/

We had them get in one of our catfish ponds and eat about 2000 dollars worth of fish , so no i don't think after they eat all the fish they will move on especially if you have more than one fish pond ...

Quote from: doublespurs21 on December 14, 2019, 07:39:32 PM
well, if they eat all your fish,, than they will move on than?/

Yes sir. My father is a damage biologist for the state of Missouri and I grew up trapping nuisance animals with him.

Otters will DECIMATE farm pond fisheries then move on to the neighbors. They are easy to find because otters leave big latrines that'll be loaded with poop piles filled with fish scales. Small farm ponds a family group can really clean out or do a LOT of damage in just several weeks. We have seen them destroy a 6 acre "lake" fishery on a farm in one year when left alone to do the damage because the landowner thought they were cute, that is until they didn't catch anymore fish.

they will dry clean your pond kill them as soon as possible.

Quote from: HookedonHooks on December 14, 2019, 05:28:01 PM

Quote from: KYHeadhunter02 on December 14, 2019, 05:18:12 PM
A 22 mag should get it done or a shotgun with maybe 6 shot?

22 Mag for Muskrats, otter, and beaver is what we've always used no problem.

22 mag will work great, sounds fun wish I lived closer  :fud:

Quote from: Chris O on December 15, 2019, 08:59:53 AM

Quote from: HookedonHooks on December 14, 2019, 05:28:01 PM

Quote from: KYHeadhunter02 on December 14, 2019, 05:18:12 PM
A 22 mag should get it done or a shotgun with maybe 6 shot?

22 Mag for Muskrats, otter, and beaver is what we've always used no problem.

22 mag will work great, sounds fun wish I lived closer  :fud:

Lol. If you were, I'd be happy to let you fire some rounds at them.

Thanks for the input. I checked the pond today and didn't see them. I think they are going back and forth to the creek across the road. I'll be keeping an eye out and waiting for em. Told my buddy I would make him some otter fur underwear for Christmas.

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I hope you get them. It's too bad they are that hard on fish because they are a really neat animal. I have heard that they can cover some ground and have up to a 7 day route before they may show back up


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Here in Florida they are even in the salt water now. People that have bait traps or bait pens (for salt water fishing) almost always get them broken into by otters. Years ago you would never see anything like that but for the last few years you cant keep a bait trap or pen in the water without an otter squeezing in, messing up your trap and eating all your bait.

Quote from: Chris O on December 15, 2019, 07:47:23 PM
I hope you get them. It's too bad they are that hard on fish because they are a really neat animal. I have heard that they can cover some ground and have up to a 7 day route before they may show back up


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I seen one playing on the ice last winter and had to stop to watch.
They don't seem very populated where I live and I don't have a pond so I think they are fun to watch.
I could see getting rid of them would be the answer for pond owners though.
It could be what happened in my Brothers pond.
Had an abundance of Bass,Crappie,and Big Catfish and they all disappeared from one season to the next without a trace.

We have otters on the creek near my house. In ponds.... They will clean you out. I'd either trap them or shoot them. I'd use some T shot or BB as otters can be pretty large. You have to telecheck otters in KY.

Quote from: Kylongspur88 on December 16, 2019, 09:29:49 PM
We have otters on the creek near my house. In ponds.... They will clean you out. I'd either trap them or shoot them. I'd use some T shot or BB as otters can be pretty large. You have to telecheck otters in KY.

That's what I read in the KY hunting guide. I'm a bit confused the way it's worded though about having a trapping license. Do I need to buy one??

I walked around the pond some yesterday trying to figure out where they are hanging out at on the bank. There's thick woods on one side that I walked over in. I figured out where they are staying and watched two of them catch fish.

I've got room in the freezer, I just need to figure out if I need a license or not.

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Quote from: KYHeadhunter02 on December 18, 2019, 01:16:52 PM

Quote from: Kylongspur88 on December 16, 2019, 09:29:49 PM
We have otters on the creek near my house. In ponds.... They will clean you out. I'd either trap them or shoot them. I'd use some T shot or BB as otters can be pretty large. You have to telecheck otters in KY.

That's what I read in the KY hunting guide. I'm a bit confused the way it's worded though about having a trapping license. Do I need to buy one??

I walked around the pond some yesterday trying to figure out where they are hanging out at on the bank. There's thick woods on one side that I walked over in. I figured out where they are staying and watched two of them catch fish.

I've got room in the freezer, I just need to figure out if I need a license or not.

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I honestly don't know if you need a trapping license. Might want to give your warden a call. I bet he could give you a quick answer.

Contact your warden. Sometimes in my state if something is a nuisance you don't need a license.

Definitely check your trapping laws. Otter is a cites animal here, not sure if that applies in all states. We have to have a trapping license and free kill tag for cites animals. We can't shoot any water animals either.

If you decide to trap. #280 and #330 body grip traps work well set in runs, slides or crossovers. #2 footholds on a drowning rig work good too. Footholds are best at toilets and crossover points imo. Make sure to have a lot of swivels in the trap chain if using footholds, otters are a twisting ball of fury when they get caught. They roll and twist like no other.

"I know a guy" who smoked one this year with a 10mm Glock 29 at about 30 yards.  First shot skipped on the pond surface and made 2 consecutive splashes.  Never seen that before. Second shot connected.  We spend too much money and time managing our pond and filling and fixing feeders to have these guys around.  I see them everywhere here in GA no matter where I've been.  And plenty of muskrat and beaver also.  By the way.....don't shoot a beaver when bowfishing from a canoe.  It never works out well.  Never. 

They are very neat, but very destructive. The land I bought 4 years ago has a 2 1/2 acre pond on it. When walking around the pond. There was ton of otter crap. Fish scales everywhere. It's amazing how destructive they can be. I watched a few videos on trapping and when deer season went out. I trapped for 2 weeks. I caught 4 otters and 3 beavers in that 2 weeks. It was fun to do. Of the 4 otters, 3 were males and 1 was female. All the otter sign stopped. Till the next year. Was seeing fresh sign on the dam. Set a trap on the cross over and within 6 days caught 1. I have seen a little sign this year but not much. When deer season runs out. Might set some traps for a week. I hate to keep killing them, but they are eating all the fish. Good thing the pond is loaded with crappie. Helps keep them in check. Wish I could find someone who live traps and relocates them. Like someone else said. Find the crossover on the dam and set your traps.     Jesse