Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire why aren't possums (opossums for the pc) not extinct already?

You are supposed to pen them up and feed them better stuff for a few days.

No thanks.

Evidently, they're an acquired taste,...gen'ly acquired through hunger.

One of my ancestors, who arrived on the scene a bit late learned to eat 'em.

He floated on a boat to here from England,...kept a rather concise diary of the event. He hit land and headed west. For a good while he would mention that he "bought fodder and beef".

Then he mentions that he crossed the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky. His next entry about food says, "bought a possum".

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mlwilson/nti07083.html

He obviously was a man of few words,...wasn't prone to elaborate,..but my guess is,..he settled in Western Kentucky because it was the first place he came to after leaving Virginia that had something besides possum on the menu.

He didn't mention drinkin' until he entered the "possum latitudes" either.

At face value,..possum was cheaper than beef,...but a man had to get up offa dollar for a dram of brandy to wash that nasty sumbitch down widdout pukin',.....so all in all, beef vs. possum was a wash.

,...kinda fun to read when this part comes along.

October 7th, Wednesday, we came on to the board yard (Kingsport, Tennessee) crossed a bridge, toll $1.00 and bought beef 37 1/2 cents and coffee 25 cents.
October 8th, camped at Beach Springs, two mile from Rogersville, Tennessee
October 9th, Friday, saw a road to nowhere near Mooresburg, Tenneessee bought 14 pounds of bacon 75 cents. In afternoon came to Bean Station where Muster Day in progress, and watched a horse race.
October 10th, passed through Rutledge, Tennessee did some shopping at Blain's X-Roads (18 miles northeast of Knoxville). Built a fire of logs 16 feet long under a large white oak.
October 11th, on road before sunrise, went 10 miles before stopping for breakfast. Came upon a dwelling house, separate kitchen and smoke house that were burning. A totoal loss. Covered 17 1/2 miles.
October 12th, come to the Clinch River (Northwest of Knoxville) crossed river six times before coming to the westbound wagon road. Made camp four miles beyound the river.
October 13th, bought potatoes for 6 cents and more fodder. Camped where a bridge is about to be built, 6 miles from Montgomery, Tennessee.
October 14th, forded Poplar River (New River) paid $1.50 to go through gap in mountains (Cumberland Mountains). Evening camp in a cane break houses very scarce. The night was cold.
October 15th came to a cabin bought fodder, corn 25 cents, butter 10 cents, and potatoes 12 1/2 cents. Camped in a new ground by the cabin.
October 16th, arrived at Jamestown, Tennessee crossed another mountain range (Montgomery Mountains)
October 17th, came to Beaver River. Found an assortment of supplies for sale. Bought beef 6 cents, potatoes 6 cents and brandy $1.00.
October 18th, camped at Brundem's store at noon, camped for the night one mile beyond Albany, Kentucky.
October 19th, Monday, passed Mr. Brian's store. Camped on a hill approaching Burkesville, Kentucky.
October 20th, crossed the Cumberland River, came to Burkesville, hand a rung replaced on a barrel 5 cents, two pounds of coffee 25 cents. Camped by Church Creek.
October 21st, passed through Marrowbone. One wheel broke. Fixed it partly. Bought supplies soap and oats 12 1/2 cents.
October 22nd, same wheel broke. Located a blacksmith. Replaced the iron wheel tire and tightened it for 50 cents.
October 23rd, passed through Glasglow, Kentucky. Bought supplies, Six miles beyond Glasglow bought a possum.

The guy who made my shooting bag for my muzzleloaders thought a possum flap would look cool.
I do too.

Are you married to RWE?

How do you feel about eating lobster and crab ?

Gus, PM me your address then expect a big box full of live grinners in the mail. No sorting as to size and I will put a big chunk of dead crap in the middle so they will be fresh when you get them. Bon Appetite'

Off topic. Has anyone noticed how you see possums along the road and they are whole or mashed up? However on rainy nights they look like they blew up or just fell apart. How does that work? Just one of those things one notices, and has time to ponder, when driving late at night.

I never saw or smelled one of those critters crawl out of a dead cow. Makes a difference.

How many (fill in the blank)s does it take to eat a possum?? 3.......................................1 to eat and 2 to watch for cars..

Because armadillos aren't and they must precede.

Was at a coon hunters meet once watching hounds do a water race and they had possum cooking...passed on that myself.

only thing nastier than a grinner is a chicken

About the only thing my dogs DO kill....









Pretty much every one they see.

Maybe I should bring 'em home afterwards...

Bow, i was referring to Gus having said he had eaten them and that they hadnt affected him.

Seriously? They believe the first mammal was a little critter called Didelphidon. Didelphis is the genus of Possum! They've been around since the dinosaurs and while the catastrophic event that snuffed the lizards was going on, prehistoric possum partied on. The dentition of a modern possum is a marvel of evolution. Like a Swiss army knife. Very adaptable and versatile animal. Can live anywhere and eat anything. They are better equipped to survive than we are!

E's not dead, e's just sleeping. E's pining for the fiords.

Theres nothing a black bear loves better than to kill a few sheep and let them fill up with maggots. Thats when it will fatten up.

Aren't you afraid the dog will get rabies?

pretty uncommon for possums to carry rabies....their body temp is lower than most mammals by several degrees and the virus has a hard time surviving....not impossible but ild be far more worried bout skunks coons and such than possums carrying it....