Hunting: The Agouti

The Agouti

Cleaning the Agouti

Hunting in Trinidad:

First of all, in order to hunt in Trinidad; you must hunt within the hunting season and you must be a holder of a valid State Game License for every species you intend to hunt.

A State Game License is required for the hunting of permitted species in Trinidad, and the Official hunting season runs from October to the end of February the following year. 

It is very important that you follow the regulations and guidelines set out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries and in accordance with the Conservation of Wildlife act.

Below I would give you some brief tips on catching an Agouti.

The Agouti:

The Agouti is a rodent species of the Southern Lesser Antilles, which is native to Trinidad. They are similar in appearance to rabbits but with smaller ears. The adults are about the size of an adult rabbit. They are covered in coarse reddish-brown hair.

1. Items Required:

2. Hunting Coverall with built-in head hood for if rain falls.

3. Gloves.

4. Snake proof boots. (Lacrosse Alphaburly)

5. Fixed blade Hunting knife in hard sheath.

6. Bug repellent

7. First Aid kit

8. Head Lamp

9. Flashlight with spare batteries

10. Hunting License

11. 10 x 10 feet Net

12. Mini shovel

13. Back Pack (big enough to transport the ‘Game’).

2. Where to look:

Agoutis are very timid animals and can often be found under logs in the forest in dens up to 3 meters deep. Hunting Agouti’s with trained hunting dogs is by far the easiest method. But below I will show you how you can catch one without any hunting dogs, all you need is some patience.

3. How to catch:

To catch one you must look at the area, look for signs of activity near the entrance of the den. About 90% of the time the dens may be unoccupied, but if you monitor the daily activity closely you can notice if any foliage has been moved around. This would indicate that the agouti is living there. 

Next, you would need to set a net around the entrance of the den. You can do this by anchoring the net over the entrance with wooden sticks. Once the net is properly secured, average about 3 meters into the den which may be approximately 9 feet behind the den’s entrance hole. Using your mini shovel, begin digging downwards. The objective here is to reach the den of the agouti and force it out of the entrance and into the net. 

4. Handling the Agouti:

Once you reach the Agouti, whether via the hole you’ve dug or trapped in the net; handling these creatures properly is very important. This is because they deliver a very serious bite.  Holding them with one hand firmly behind their head and the other around there two hind legs is the best technique.