Nutria felt in the modern day

[W4ASZ]

Consider this thread under surveillance..............

We welcome your surveillance, because our interests are entirely coextensive. :eusa_clap

 

[Derek WC]

I agree, imagine how many hat's that could have made.

Would you favor the .17 rimfire for this application, or ye old .22 long rifle ?

.22 for me. This year's deer & elk season I'm going to use my grandpa's 80 odd year old lever single shot .22 LR for rabbits and nutria if I see 'em.

From what I understand, nutria fur is a lot like beaver so I would assume that it could be felted.

 

[CRH]

I'd just love to have the opportunity to judge which stew tastes better.

Maine Beaver or Louisiana Nutria.

[huh]

 

[scottyrocks]

I agree, imagine how many hat's that could have made.



.22 for me. This year's deer & elk season I'm going to use my grandpa's 80 odd year old lever single shot .22 LR for rabbits and nutria if I see 'em.

From what I understand, nutria fur is a lot like beaver so I would assume that it could be felted.

Wow, beaver-type fur from an over-abundant pest? I can see it now - quality beaver-like-fur fedora price drop! Ah, maybe not.

 

[CircuitRider]

Wow, beaver-type fur from an over-abundant pest? I can see it now - quality beaver-like-fur fedora price drop! Ah, maybe not.

Gives the name "Rat-Pack" an entirely new meaning!

 

[scottyrocks]

'Hey, whats that in the box, bro?'

'Its my new ratdora! Wanna try it on?'

'Only if its lined, thanks.'

 

[W4ASZ]

Part of a larger plan ?

The little nuisances made great, high-quality hats. I just don't own one, except maybe in a blended felt. Who knows ?

Between the Louisiana nutria, the foreign snakes in the Everglades, and the non-native possums in New Zealand you could end up with an outfit made almost entirely of invasive species. New Zealand's Possumfur (possum and merino wool) is doubtless too warm for where I live, though, and not cheap.

I have been told that nutria makes a good stew. I'd be more interested in sausage :

http://www.nutria.com/site18.php :essen: :beer:

There is much other good information at that site, which is run by the State of Louisiana and not by the nutria themselves.

 

[donnc]

Between the Louisiana nutria, the foreign snakes in the Everglades, and the non-native possums in New Zealand you could end up with an outfit made almost entirely of invasive species.

Don't miss out on the wild hogs all over the South. By some accounts quite the destructive menace, though that could be a myth for all I know. If you want to go get a hog, I think they're not as easy to find as the nutria (and you might want to bring a little more firepower), but there's a lot of hide on one.

In this part of the country, you can have all the Canadian geese you want, maybe could get some down off them. I've never heard of a pigskin down jacket, but it sounds cozy.

 

[W4ASZ]

Don't miss out on the wild hogs all over the South. By some accounts quite the destructive menace, though that could be a myth for all I know. If you want to go get a hog, I think they're not as easy to find as the nutria (and you might want to bring a little more firepower), but there's a lot of hide on one.

In this part of the country, you can have all the Canadian geese you want, maybe could get some down off them. I've never heard of a pigskin down jacket, but it sounds cozy.

Hogzilla.

 

[hatflick1]

The RAT PACK

National Geographic has a show on its cable channel called After Dark, or some such. The attractive, jeans clad hostess goes off to various locales to see what the nocturnal critters are up to.
In one installment, she rode along one night with a couple of New Orleans Sheriffs who fired rifles from the back of their truck killing nutria as they scampered along river and canal banks.
The rodents pose a real threat to the city.

 

[W4ASZ]

National Geographic has a show on its cable channel called After Dark, or some such. The attractive, jeans clad hostess goes off to various locales to see what the nocturnal critters are up to.
In one installment, she rode along one night with a couple of New Orleans Sheriffs who fired rifles from the back of their truck killing nutria as they scampered along river and canal banks.
The rodents pose a real threat to the city.

I can envision this episode spun off as a regular series, but the name Rat Patrol has been used previously.

 

[W4ASZ]

Nutria Range in the U.S.

The map at this site from the USGS is recent and something to hang your hat on. The narrative is enlightening, as well.

http://www.pserie.psu.edu/seagrant/ais/watershed/nutria.htm

I see that they are virtually next door to me. Who knew ?

_________________________________________


This article is less than two years old and addresses waste of the pelts, meat, and teeth. (!)

http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20081118/ARTICLES/811180287?p=1&tc=pg


And I wonder how this Cajun slip-and-fall variant turned out ?

http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20090507/HURBLOG/905079845

Demand Rat for your Hat !

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

Well, if US military do insist upon berets (instead of campaign hats), it would be useful if they made them of nutria felt. Never mid the stew.

 

[W4ASZ]

Nutria Uptown

This is great, but what about the hats ? :

http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/righteous-kill/22388


No hats suggested here, either :

http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/natural-beauty-fashion/stories/can-fur-be-eco-friendly#comments


No hat can be phat unless it's from rat !

 

[4spurs]

cleanup spillover

Given the uncertainty of the longterm impact of the BP oil spill on the Brown Pelican some folks in the bayou state have thought about making the nutria the state bird. I for one have only seen them fly when shot.

 

[W4ASZ]

Given the uncertainty of the longterm impact of the BP oil spill on the Brown Pelican some folks in the bayou state have thought about making the nutria the state bird. I for one have only seen them fly when shot.

When does the hunting season for BP executives open, and what is the bag limit ?

 

[W4ASZ]

Highly gratifying experience

So aside from Optimo, has any hatter used Nutria in their hats in recent days?

My graphite gray light weight has been around the world with me and rolled, beaten, crushed, soaked and... well abused since 2004 and it may have shrunk in the crown a bit, yet it's still holding up extremely well. It's been through two blockings so far, but that's because I needed to get it cleaned since it was looking grungy.

It's nearly a half and half beaver nutria blend with a touch of hare.

I do have to say its crown has shrunk less than any other modern hat I have owned. There are no signs of holes being created or the felt breaking down. It's just tough and floppy.

So what's your experience with nutria, and how does it hold up for you?

Are there any hatters using it today?

_______________________________________________________________

In reply to the original post, I finally was able to obtain a nice Stetson Nutria from a reputable fellow Fedora Lounge denizen. I have no complaints about the durability of the material, especially given the hat's age, perhaps sixty years. (It has been tastefully overhauled, I must add.)

I would like to have a few more hats o' rat should the opportunities present. This hat is not at all "floppy" but has a really nice fine finish to it. I have no idea what the "mix" might have been, or if it's all nutria.

In very recent news, the critters are still at large and vexing State of Louisiana authorities :

http://www.wdsu.com/r/27042904/detail.html

If you don't call in the Fedora Bureau of Investigation now, when do you ?

 

[W4ASZ]

Nutria in the Modern Day - 1955

An American success story !

(From Mechanix Illustrated, November, 1955.)

I'm sorry I missed out on this golden opportunity.

 

[4spurs]

When does the hunting season for BP executives open, and what is the bag limit ?

I think the season opened today in London, not certain what the bag limit is; or that there even is one.

 

[W4ASZ]

I think the season opened today in London, not certain what the bag limit is; or that there even is one.

I would expect the hunting parties to move with taste and discretion, so perhaps no bag limit need be imposed.