Not the guy that built the gun, the guy that built the bullet. And of course, you assume good shots. Gut shot is gut shot.
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Caliber choise for Wolves
- Thread starter 17remhunter
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Ya know that's the way it usually goes cept for most "domestic dogs" get the short end of the stick. Like I said, I don't think there is a SINGLE wolf alive that could handle any TRUE Mastiff, English, Tibetan, Cane Corso, Saint Bernard, et,all… But a wolf is a different breed, in a pack there is no other APEX predator alive other than ORCAS that are more intelligent, cunning and devastating than a PACK of wolves. There is a reason they were shot out in the late 1800's. We all have this type of grandeur about them and rightfully so, they're AWESOME! With that being said what the liberals don't understand is they ARE NOT-cute little doggy's but one of the most lethal apex predators on the planet. They take the largest deer species on a regular basis.
To me a .17 TINY little bullet is just too **** small for such an animal and being the top predators they deserve to be taken humanly no matter how much disdain one has for them. To the OP, use a larger caliber…
Check out WickedPedia's list of wolf attacks. Back in the day when wolves were more common, it wasn't unusual for wolves to attack humans. The scary part is that they would sometimes find more than a dozen dead wolves next to the human remains. Kind of makes you want to have a AR-10 for hunting.
I feel you are on the right track. Any center fire cartridge will work, but within a given distance. .243 or 6mm and up would be a better choice. It's all about accuracies fpe, velocity, and range. In 2022 I am hoping to put a lot of time in wolf hunting. I should be able to reach out 700 yds or so. I will start on P.Dogs to start with to get things in order. Wolfs are on my **it list.
17remhunter
Well-Known Member
BrentM
Well-Known Member
Largest wolf ever recorded in Alaska was 176lbs. Belly was full. Any wolf that tips a scale 120-140 is a monster. Alaska wolf average weight for males is 100-110. I killed a large wolf in september with my bow that had to be weighed in 2 parts. 1 part was the hyde and skill, 2 part was the body. It was several days later when I got off the mountain to fish and game to weigh, so I am sure there was a little dehyrdation. A skull and hyde is around 15-20 lbs. He was 118lbs and stomache was empty, and the last wolf I have any desire to pack off the mountain. It was just gross. If I do it again, it'll be a special wolf that's for sure. Both of these were big as well. I'd guess 110-120ish but I was a long haul and had 2 each time to deal with.
17remhunter
Well-Known Member
Thats incredable.............................Maybe I will use the 6mm CM and leave the 17 at home. The wolves ive been hearing about in Idaho and Montana are around 100 lbs
BrentM
Well-Known Member
That's correct. A 100lb wolf is nothing like a 100lb lab. The difference is staggering. Some of my wolves are 82-86" nose to tail and 30" at the shoulder. They are no joke. They are also not hard to kill but I've hit a few with a 6.5 147 traveling 3000 plus mv and they traveled a long way. People underestimate and overestimate wolves.
17remhunter
Well-Known Member
The pictures of the wolves blew me away...........Massive animanl. I guess If I was using a 17 Remington all that would be found of me is a spent cartridge in the chamber and a bone sticking out of my boot
17remhunter
Well-Known Member
live and learn.............and never be sure of anything
BrentM
Well-Known Member
I think the idea is to cover most bases well. A 6mm is a really versatile caliber and a very good choice. Most people hunt desert poodles with 20 and 224 caliber's and they are fine. A wolf can be 5x the size of a yote/desert poodle. So if hunting them in thicker timber or off of bait etc and closer shots I'd have zero issue with one. For me, they have ranged from 25 ft to 980 yards kills. That is a wide range and why I pack the 6.5 PRC. I really don't want to give up on a opp on a wolf at 1200 if conditions allowed for it. I will take that shot as I have killed yotes at that range. I cannot do that with lesser calibers like a 22 cal. I have a fellow wolf hunting friend who runs a 6 PRC. That thing is crazy.
Well done! We have taken many in Northern Alberta...all over 150 but males, females average as you say 100-120. Lots of huge cattle ranch North so the bounties can run $400-700.00
17remhunter
Well-Known Member
I heard that some group in Idaho is paying $1000 for your wolf kills.....................heard this from the President of the Idaho Trappers association...................anyone hear this
Not to my knowledge but I'm not a trapper but I would think export permits might be real hard to get. The wolf fur market last I heard was way done!
