Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Interesting hunt coming soon

In May, got a 2 week hunt/fish in Belize (British Honduras, Central America). Primary game animals will be feral water buffalo, white-lipped peccary(warrie), and paca. May have a chance at curassow, will have to wait and see. There are no rifles allowed in Belize, so will use a shotgun with a rifled barrel. The Winchester 385gr Partition 45cal 12ga saboted slug seems what I will likely use. 2000fps. For birds or paca, will likely use #6 or larger shot, but know that the rifled barrel will throw them in a "donut" pattern. course, if I get a buffalo and warrie early, will switch to whatever smooth bore they have.

I've got a Marlin something-or-other, slug rifle that holds groups of 'bout 1 1/2 inches at a hundred yards, when coupled with a Hornady sabotted slug. I bought it over a decade ago to hunt a property I owned in Wisconsin, that was shotgun only. I'd no more then found a slug it liked when the law was changed, to allow rifles. Needs wheels, and a hitch (heavy brute), but it's accurate!

The buf' hunt would be really fun!

First pic' is a curassow?

Sounds like a grand adventure, and I love the variety of game you'll be chasing. Good luck, and please post pics!

First pic is a Paca(big rodent), last pict is a curassow (turkey sized bird).
I've killed capybara/carpincho (largest of all rodents--(100+lbs)in Argentina, but didn't get to eat it. Left it with a gaucho family.

You will enjoy Paca hunting!

My wife and I went to Brazil a few years ago, on a Peacock bass fishing trip. One evening, our host asked if we would like to go on an evening boat ride up the Amazon, to look for 'night creatures'. We of course said okay.

As we were boarding the small boat, with our host and a couple of other folks, he handed me a shotgun- a well-worn, 20 ga. side by side, and a handful of shells.

What's this for, I asked. He replied, "since you seem interested in hunting, we may see a Paca. If we do, shoot it with the shotgun."

I had no idea what a Paca was, but soon figured out it was a large rodent, and that the locals liked to eat them.

Once on the river, we spotlighted caymans (kinda like alligators, and snakes- lots of snakes, in the trees overhanging the river. Their little ruby red eyes shone in the light, and it was a little creepy.

Then, our host suddenly turned the boat toward the bank, and cut the engine. Paca, he said! I strained to see the animal, and finally did so. I raised the shotgun and fired for its head. It rolled, and then disappeared in a hole in the bank.

We got out of the boat, and shone the spotlight in the hole. "Paca, shoot, shoot"! implored our host. I could scarcely see my target, but poked the barrel of the shotgun in the hole and fired. There was a lot of dust and smoke, then silence.

Then, one of the guides, a small Indian guy, took off his shirt, and crawled into the hole! He disappeared from sight, then backed out of the hole, dragging the dead Paca. There was much hoo rah and cheering, and we headed back to camp with our prize.

The next morning, at breakfast, there was a meat plate on the table. It was the paca meat. We tried it, and it was not at all unpleasant- tasted kinda like rabbit, which I suppose it should, as it is a rodent.

The next evening, we went out in the boat again, and this time found a small caiman in the river. Our host picked the little dude up, and handed it to my wife, who was quite excited about the whole adventure.

Have fun!!

I'll be darned. In the pic' provided, the paca looks 'bout the size of a hampster! That must be an illusion, 'cause any critter big enough to take a 20 ga. blast, create a hole big 'nough that a man can enter, and feed a crew of folks, has to have some size to it.

Now I have to further reveal my ignorance. Do you hunt the curassow when it's on the ground (similar to turkeys), or do you wing shoot 'em?

The Paca I shot was probably around 35 lb.
Slightly bigger than a hamster.....

Bighorn, Great Story!
some caiman are too big too pick up--


Big Howler


Feral buff from Argentina


Caiman


Older Wichi woman

Looking forward to pics from your hunt! Sounds like fun.

That's a lotta squirrel equivilant.

Are all critters export/importable?

Re: curassow: I think most get shot out of trees.

Oh yeah, I'd be in for a chance at a Caiman!

>laughin'<

Bein' a newbie is entertaining!

The one method I'd not considered, and wouldn't ya know it.

As far as importable, will have to wait and see what the regulations are. From Argentina, importing anything was far more trouble than getting stuff from Africa, and I have never attempted to import anything from there. Probably won't attempt to import anything from Belize, although a white-lipped peccary would be an unusual mount.

OK, that Big Howler looks like somethin' that might "hunt" back.

What's the story on 'him'.

Howlers are BIG monkeys. Muscular, long tailed, and they sound like lions in the mornings and evenings. this one was pissed that we were close to him Here's a video from youtube to listen to.

Fascinating thread.

Are the Howlers agressive?