Time for road-kill hunting

**tyger** · 17th October 09, 02:02 PM

If you want a quality hair-on skin for a DIY sporran, then now is the time to start your hunt for fresh road-kill.

Take all the usual proper precautions and considerations on the quality of the kill.

I left the house at 6 AM this morning to go to the Stone Mountain Highland Games. When I came back, I found a fresh dead otter about 200 yards from my house.

The poor girl was bumped by a motor vehicle- there is only a bruise on her; death due to internal hemorrhage. This is going to be a very fine skin for a sporran. And it will honor her life, taken so short, and so by accident.

**kevinkinney** · 17th October 09, 02:18 PM

...sadly i was about 2 cars too late for another Grey Fox yesterday.

Kevin

**tyger** · 17th October 09, 02:31 PM

Good point, young man. You gotta be faster than the road-kill!

Did you actually see the car/driver that got the kill?

Last January, I swung around to check out what I thought was a black bear, but it was only a hog. A VERY fresh hog, but I already have one of them. When I got back into my truck, I looked down the road and saw another vehicle making a bootleg turn to check it out too! I left, so I don't know if he/she got the hog. I hope that they did.

Keep on prospecting.......

**ccga3359** · 17th October 09, 02:46 PM

I've often wondered why roadkill is found on the side of the road. Do you chase them?

**tyger** · 17th October 09, 03:08 PM

You raise and important point here: the highest quality road-kills often are found by the side of the road.

When looking for road-kill, be sure to look to the side of the road, and off the road into the right-of-way.

An animal that is either bumped or rolled has time to leave the roadbed. The animal neither has been mangled in the accident, nor has it been mauled by subsequent traffic.

**D.A. Guertin** · 17th October 09, 05:57 PM

Otters and foxes? Lucky! Best I can hope for around here is a deer or a Russian Boar!

**Paul** · 18th October 09, 04:02 AM

I've only found pigeons dead on the road... and they've all been absolutely flattened!

I couldnt take the skin/fur off of a dead animal. I dont think I could deal with the blood 'n' guts!

**KFCarter** · 18th October 09, 05:29 AM

One of my staffers lived in New Hampshire for a number of years and mentioned the state has an an annual road-kill auction.

I always thought that was a bit strange

...but it certainly makes sense now!

**Inchessi** · 18th October 09, 07:36 AM

You have to be real careful with that. Many animals are protected by the State and the Feds. Even if the animal was found dead. If there is a hunting season on the animal, and it is found dead after the season, you can still get into trouble.

The rules are more stringent if it is a protected species.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 18th October 09, 08:09 AM

1) Keep a big black heavy duty trash bag in the back of your car.
2) keep a pair of heavy duty work gloves with the bag.
3) NEVER pick up road kill with your bare hands.
4) Make sure the road kill is dead-- poke it with a stick before attempting to pick it up.

I know that last one sounds obvious, but a wounded or dying animal will defend itself if at all possible. BE CAREFUL.

Finally, before you set out on a road kill safari, find a local taxidermist who is willing to receive, skin, and treat the hide unless you possess these arcane skills, yourself. Talk to the taxidermist, tell him what you are going to do, seek and follow his advice.

Finally, a lot of taxidermists (at lease here in the Shenandoah Valley) regularly pick up all sorts of road kill, skin 'em and sell the pelts. Locally a good skunk pelt runs $20-40 dollars, ready to go.