Wolf caliber and round?
- Thread starter Whitetails45
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In the dense forests of northern idaho and montana I would recommend a semi-auto in .223 or .243 with a wide angle scope or even open sites. I have only caught glimpses of parts of wolves never one standing broadside in the open.
Ranger Rick
Well-Known Member
Alpha, where do you live? Unfortunately in Idaho, wolves are still protected too much. I wish we had a no tag, no limit for these killers. It is also required to have proof of gender attached and brought to an F&G station or office. Parts of Idaho also have seasons.
sourdough44
Well-Known Member
Years back I read an account where the guy used his 223 for wolf hunting. He got a shot, midlin range, ended up with blood & no wolf. Yeah, it may of died later.
I'd be at the 243 level minimum. While at it, use a suitable, 'big game' bullet.
I'd be at the 243 level minimum. While at it, use a suitable, 'big game' bullet.
BrentM
Well-Known Member
That can happen with any caliber. We've had hunters hit them with a 338 and lost the wolf. Didn't think it was possible but saw it twice and I lost one with a 308. On another note I've killed all but 3 with a match bullet. Wolves aren't magic, they are actually easy to kill if hit correctly
300sendero
Well-Known Member
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You can buy 10 tags a year and I think it might have been bumped to 20 for hunting. Only time off is a couple months in the summer. I hope you're tagging out every year because I bet only a handful of people do. Other than the middle of summer being closed that's pretty close to wide open season.
100% in agreement my friend Matt Vaughn in Alaska his whole life has killed a boatload,either calling or over bait,all shot drt with a CZ 22 hornet,no runaways,just dead wolves that make him money.
Bingo!
Use the gun you shoot the best, at the ranges you expect to encounter, and make your shots go where they need to be.
aushunter1
Well-Known Member
Nothing wrong with the old .243 with some 90gr's!
Want to go up a bit more, 270 Win.
Everyones crapping on about CM this & PRC that, when no one for years had any issue bringing preditors down with the tried & tested cartridges
Want to go up a bit more, 270 Win.
Everyones crapping on about CM this & PRC that, when no one for years had any issue bringing preditors down with the tried & tested cartridges
BrentM
Well-Known Member
Nothing wrong with the old .243 with some 90gr's!
Want to go up a bit more, 270 Win.
Everyones crapping on about CM this & PRC that, when no one for years had any issue bringing preditors down with the tried & tested cartridges
scandanvians seems to think the 6.5 is tried and true. Most people in the US now feel the 6.5's are plenty tested. I mean they've been in use for decades. There are a few who struggle with understanding ballistics tho and they hold to the notion a 6.5 is some weird fad. I do agree the 243 is a nice cartridge, it's even better when it's updated to the 6mm creed and flinging 108's.
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My friends in Idaho who get tags have been using 243 and 6mm 26 inch barrels with 80gr spbt launched up around 3400 fps. His wife got a monster two years ago. I wish that I had the picture to post. It's butt is on the ground and she has a hold of it under the front legs and the head is as tall as her and she is 5'6" It's much bigger than her. I think that time they were snowmobiling up around Stanley Idaho
Calvin45
Well-Known Member
No experience of my own but the big thing seems to be that they be regarded as a big game animal like deer and not a varmint.
BrentM
Well-Known Member
Only reason they are considered big game is to be on the list of things the game department can issue tags for and charge fee's. Additionally, the feds wanted the species protected and therefore one of the stipulations is to list it as big game and control how, when, where, etc the animals are hunted. It has NOTHING to do with caliber selection but you are still required to follow lawful methods of take and firearms restrictions.
We are talking about 80-120 lb thin skinned animals with small bones..... there is absolutely nothing magic about wolves.
