RIP Bullwinkle :( RCMP shot him!

Years ago, in the East Kootenays, in the middle of the night, my buddy pulled over to see what the local constabulary were shooting, over and over again, in the ditch.

It turned out that a cow elk had been hit and had her back broken.

The RCMP-issued handguns couldn't put her out of her misery... despite far too many attempts.

My buddy then offered to shoot her with his .270 - which was on his rifle rack in his truck... and they agreed to it.

Remember when we were all responsible enough to have rifle racks in our trucks...?
 
8 ball said:
LOL! That's what it sounds like! Maybe not the most professional job, maybe pistols were all they had?
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Maybe, I love me some moose sausage though and this bullwinkle was looking good for it haha

Epoxy7 said:
9 rounds with a 9mm handgun for a full sized moose? That's damn good. You guys forget that the ammo used is for 2 legged problems, not 4. It's hollow point 9mm. With a small moose calf it takes 3 rounds in the same spot to kill it when going for the brain from the back of the head. With domestic animals you can do the old cross between the ears and eyes to find the weak spot ie the old bolt guns of slaughter houses. Not so with a moose. Their skulls are thick and a sub 1000 fps round isn't going to work too well. Plus when going for the boiler shot, shot placement because much harder as these rounds are designed to twist and cut a random path. Your perfect shot could end up creating the wound cavity in the exact opposite direction. The ear or eye would be the only real shot at getting the brain. As pointed out the brain is very small. These are not target pistols and it's unlikely to be an easy or safe shot.

The carbine also isn't loaded for hunting rounds. Also note that neither one of these is legal to hunt Moose with. There's a reason for this. Also that the rounds used aren't legal for hunting with. Again there is a reason for this.

There are circumstances where a shotgun might not be available. Or once again the correct slugs might not be available. Regular recoil slugs, not the low recoil for humans is horded as it's hard to get. 0 buck is also in the same boat. Most of the ammo i 00 buck which is pretty much useless against a moose. Again, it's not designed for that purpose.

I think the OP should lay off. 9 rounds with a 9mm, or even a carbine isn't bad at all. The idea is to humanely dispatch the animal. Instant would be preferably but even with the right equipment and a perfect shot, we've all seen some weird stuff. These animals are tough. Much tougher than most people give them credit for. With the OP saying only a broken leg. I've seen a Moose with a broken leg run away and only got stopped when it tried to jump a barb wired fence. It was far from stationary with a broken hind leg.

9 rounds, with a 9mm against a full sized Moose? The officer did just fine. Still better than waiting another 20 minutes or more for someone to drop off a shotgun with slugs (if they can find them).
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I'm not saying it was the worst, I'm saying its not the best either, especially considering these guys were all in SUVs (yukons) and I know they should most likely have shot guns in them. I just find it interesting that given the conduct in other events in my area of the RCMP, that this is how they react. The time between their arrival and the shots is also in question. Was probably at least 15 mins.

David K said:
.... It's reasonable to assume that Head Shots were used, and considering the Moose Brain is relatively small,and behind thick fur,skin and bone, and even with the most humane shot placement can miss, and even with prefect shot placement, there is a period of "twitching" which could well prompt the inexperienced to believe the animal was still suffering,and given the fact that 9mm is not by any stretch of the imagine a hunting cartridge of choice, this would be a case of more ( and quickly) is better. ... As to being "salvageable" that's all fine and dandy in theory, but in practice, "challenging". There's transportation and hygienic Butchering, wrapping and packaging for distribution to the Food Banks. It can, and sometimes is done, but definitely not practical at the roadside, unless prior arrangements can and have been made, and authorization approved, and that includes distribution of the salvaged meat ( Public Liability is something that has to be considered ) ... And there's the Motoring Public's, borderline, hysterical abuse at the highway/road being blocked, and they have to suffer any delays! ..... David K :bangHead:
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Unfortunately, liability is the name of the game nowadays. So I kinda knew what the answer was going to be, But as my father in law always says, "its free to ask."
 
XRAYGUY said:
Years ago, in the East Kootenays, in the middle of the night, my buddy pulled over to see what the local constabulary were shooting, over and over again, in the ditch.

It turned out that a cow elk had been hit and had her back broken.

The RCMP-issued handguns couldn't put her out of her misery... despite far too many attempts.

My buddy then offered to shoot her with his .270 - which was on his rifle rack in his truck... and they agreed to it.

Remember when we were all responsible enough to have rifle racks in our trucks...?
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Can't remember, probably because I'm under 30, I dont know how those greenhorns on the side of the road would have responded if I offered to grab a rifle from the house. That and I sold all my guns to a guy named Mike from Canmore.... :D
 
Lots of assuming going on here, mixed in with the pointing fingers. Let me try my hand at some assumptions:

I would assume that the broken-legged moose was temporarily stationary only because it was stunned, tangled up in something or otherwise not immediately inclined or actually trying to hightail it out of there. If a three-legged moose wants to go...he goes. Cops arrive, and perhaps they wait for a shotgun or other more suitable weapon to be brought to the scene...but suddenly the animal regains its senses and begins struggling to rise, or begins to move away. Cops can't take the chance of letting him escape, so they open fire with what's available...and manage to do a creditable job of finishing the animal with 9 rounds of woefully inadequate firepower, quite possibly delivered by shooters with no knowledge of hunting or animal behavior.

How much time elapsed between the first and last shots? Was it more or less time than it took your last moose (or deer, or bear, or whatever...) to expire after your first shot?
 
It's not up to me to question...... I wasn't there...... but I always question why police don't use their shotguns in situations like these..... is there not one in every cruiser? Do they not have slugs available?..... I honestly don't know, but it would be a better option.....
 
fraserdw said:
They are not trained to do this and they shouldn't be doing it. DNR types should be called. Little more than animal cruelty to be pumping this critter full of 9mm.
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You would prefer the animal lay there suffering until someone else could arrive, perhaps a half hour or more later? ...holding up traffic, perhaps trying to pull itself off into the bush? I get your point but I say the sooner dead the better. Shame about the meat.
 
thats where tragedy struck..

Tragedy is what happened to a friend of ours who was killed by hitting a moose on the highway. :confused:

Grizz
 
Grizzly Adams said:
thats where tragedy struck..

Tragedy is what happened to a friend of ours who was killed by hitting a moose on the highway. :confused:

Grizz
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Agreed. A moose getting shot nine times is not a tragedy. If you believe that you are either 4 years old or lead a sheltered life. The moose was suffering and the officer shot him. Sounds reasonable to me. I would feel bad if no one shot it.
 
Superbrad said:
It's not up to me to question...... I wasn't there...... but I always question why police don't use their shotguns in situations like these..... is there not one in every cruiser? Do they not have slugs available?..... I honestly don't know, but it would be a better option.....
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No, not every car has a shotgun. RCMP are issued low recoil OO buck shot and low recoil slugs. Shotgun are usually loaded at the beginning of shift with buckshot. *Sometimes* the member will also carry slugs in his duty bag.

So to answer your question, sometimes and sometimes.
 
Superbrad said:
It's not up to me to question...... I wasn't there...... but I always question why police don't use their shotguns in situations like these..... is there not one in every cruiser? Do they not have slugs available?..... I honestly don't know, but it would be a better option.....
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... Not every car is equipped with a Shotgun, and the generally prescribed round, is or was, the tried and tested SSG ( or close to it ) and seldom are "rifled slugs", let alone being readily available, accessible to the average Constable. Also, the Patrol Carbines are slowly becoming available, and I'm sure had one been available it would have been used in preference to a 9mm Pistol. ..... David K
 
crash277 said:
couldn't be difficult to have a simple training package for them. I don't see why they shouldn't be doing it, I just don't think it should be done the way the OP described.
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they are too busy training them that 10/22 mags are illegal than to train them the actual law and useful things...
 
fraserdw said:
They are not trained to do this and they shouldn't be doing it. DNR types should be called. Little more than animal cruelty to be pumping this critter full of 9mm.
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They are not trained to do this? Not sure where you are pulling that out of, but I do remember a session back in training many moons ago whereby this was taught.

That being said, I have no clue as to why a shotgun with slug was not utilized. Every one of my vehicles has a shotgun and a carbine.
 
I can kill a 1600 steer with a 22 mag 40 grain HP. Moose with a 9 mm HP should not be a problem.
Teach them where to shoot!!
 
vcmm said:
I can kill a 1600 steer with a 22 mag 40 grain HP. Moose with a 9 mm HP should not be a problem.
Teach them where to shoot!!
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Not everyone grew up on a farm or has experience with animals. That being said, I have shot deer at point blank in the back of the head with your aforementioned 9mm hollowpoint only to have them turn around and look at me. I have also killed steers with a .22 LR with solids on the farm. You just never know.
 
saskcop said:
Not everyone grew up on a farm or has experience with animals. That being said, I have shot deer at point blank in the back of the head with your aforementioned 9mm hollowpoint only to have them turn around and look at me. I have also killed steers with a .22 LR with solids on the farm. You just never know.
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True enough, But head shot is still the best chance and should be taught.
 
Actually the brain through the skull is NOT the best place.

The light switch is located at the brain stem and not much there to deflect bullets either, lots of soft squishy bits in front of it.

And if for some reason if it doesn't kill immediately it turns off the power to all the running equipment and extra insurance as the bullet can and usually does pass into the brain.



The one problem is having access but a second or two of patience and you can place a shot there if they are thrashing.

One behind the ear typically works as well.

I cannot speak for the situation as I was not there.
 
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