Learning to hunt starting small

kaiviti

kaiviti

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I bought a Mossberg 702 Plinkster I took it out today to Waiporous/Ghost River area to shoot at some paper targets. There was another fellow out there shooting as well. He said there was lots of area back there to just walk through for rabbits and grouse. I was told there is better ammo than what I have for shooting rabbits and grouse. I tried looking through Bass Pro's and Wholesale Sports websites but the honest truth is it's all Greek to me.

I bought 500 rounds of Federal 22LR 40 Grain Champion.

Could someone recommend inexpensive ammo more suited for small animals?

Also do you guys think I should be using a different caliber for these animals or is the 22 suitable?

If I should be using a different caliber is the ammo similar priced?

Thanks in advance for anyone who takes the time to reply as I appreciate.

Im a city guy who's interested in shooting and hunting but learning on my own and this site is a god send.
 
with .22 you could start with something like Rabbit

Out here I use .22 for Grouse and that is about it. I would use it on rabbit if I ever saw one, but they are pretty rare to see on the island here.

thats about it I'd say.

If you want more variety I'd consider getting a 12 guage at least that way you can put in different shot depending on what you are hunting up to 00 and slugs for deer, etc.
 
The best ammo is the brand that shoots/feeds best in your rifle. Higher velocity rounds will probably kill more dramatically, but put your Federal bulk pack ammo where it counts and you'll have a dead critter. The .22 rimfire works fine on grouse and rabbit.

If you borrow a buddies 12 gauge for rabbit, make sure you use an appropriate shot size at the right distance.....or you get to hear the sound of dying rabbit.:redface: Game calls got nothing on that sound.
 
.22 is all I ever used for rabbit/grouse growing up. Cheap federal/eagle ammo, whatever your particular gun prefers to shoot. If you are just getting into it, make sure to have your licences, know where/when you can shoot legally and how to clean your game when you get it. Ask around here or watch the videos on youtube for pointers on cleaning game.
Good luck!
 
Your .22 rifle will be just fine for anything coyote sized and down. I use my .22's for grouse in the Fall, but they are a game bird and have a season that requires a license. Your good to go for rabbit's, yote's, gopher, badger, etc. Leave the weasels alone, they do good things, and there is no season for squirrels in Alberta. As for ammo, find a load that will cycle through your auto. For hunting, stick with hollowpoint bullets. If your hunting birds, keep your shots to the head, preventing damage to the breasts.
 
Federal bulk stuff is fine for hunting, cheaper doesn't always mean worse. In fact, for me the federal bulk works better in some of my guns then the expensive stuff.
Within 30 yards you won't notice any change in your groups anyway, especially as a new shooter. But remember, with hunting, shot placement is always key. You don't want a squealing rabbit for your first hunt, it's inhumane and might even put you off hunting.
 
I'm not sure if you can still do this anywhere, but when I was a lad, my father, grandfather and I would take a couple of boxes of .22 shells to the dump and shoot rats. If you want to learn how to hit a moving target, a rat running through trash is always a good challenge, and you never run out of targets. I wouldn't recommend eating them though :puke::puke:
 
In addition to the hunting license recommended above, don't forget that some of the critters you mentioned shooting at have specific seasons in which you can hunt them. Check your local regs. before you start out for "target practice". Good Luck.
 
Waiporous/Ghost River are excellent areas to find grouse and rabbit. I'm actually surprised you found an area available to shoot as most of the land is private!
 
Walking through woods with a .22 as beginner not only brings back memories but I still do it! The .22 has always been a good small game round. I prefer a slower solid point as I tend to get less pass through then with a hyper velocity round. The important thing is that you are getting out there and enjoying some time out in the field. Every time will teach you something, and in the long run it will pay off. Just start with what you have at hand, you don't have to go out and spend the farm in a week......you have plenty of time to do that later:D
If the ground you hunt is rocky or you find that you are getting lots of ricochets I would recomend a good 410 or 20 gauge single shot. They are inexpensive and the fact that you only get one chance to bag a bunny or a grouse will teach you plenty. Also the relatively small bores will keep meat damage to a minimum. Just be carefull of your distance and they are plenty. If you get a Grouse that is wounded and is doing the bacon dance don't shoot it again just pick it up and twist the neck.....fast death and no loss of meat. If you get a wounded bunny chances are you will shoot it again cause not many folks can stand the sound of a crying rabbitt...:(

On the epicural side of things not much can beat the taste of fresh rabbitt stew or a wonderful ''Perdrix au chou''...Grouse with cabbage! It's a simple meal to make that is very much part of our ''hunting culture'' here in Quebec. PM me and I'll send you a receipe...Mmmmmm yummy!

Good on you for taking up hunting, enjoy every moment and you will find a world of exciting moments, great friendships, and a lifetime of joy.

Stay safe:)
 
ages802 said:
Waiporous/Ghost River are excellent areas to find grouse and rabbit. I'm actually surprised you found an area available to shoot as most of the land is private!
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In Alberta rabbits can be hunted any time of year. Each wildlife area has seasons for grouse and you do need the proper license.
 
Thanks for all the replies

I should mention that I have passed the hunter CORE course along with the PAL/RPAL courses. My WIN card has come in the mail, so I just have to pick up the hunting licenses when the seasons start. I have been reading through the hunting regs quite frequently as I find them to be really quite confusing. If I didn't know better I would think that a retarded monkey wrote them. It is my intention to do all things firearm and hunting related legally and by the book.

So far I haven't shot at any live animals. I've only been out to Waiporous with some printed paper targets I found on the internet. The reason I was asking about different types of bullets is because while out at Waiporous we met another person who was shooting as well. He said the bullets I had weren't the greatest choice for using on small game. He recommended something else but I didn't quite understand. From peoples recommendations here it looks like I should be using a hollow point bullet even though I can destroy a fair amount of meat.




ages802 said:
Waiporous/Ghost River are excellent areas to find grouse and rabbit. I'm actually surprised you found an area available to shoot as most of the land is private!
Click to expand...

This is one of my greatest fears. The last thing I want to do is be arrested for firing somewhere I'm not supposed to. This is made worse by the fact that I am only recently moved to Cochrane from Surrey so I am not familiar with any area's at all. I was given some rough directions to Waiporous from a customer at Wholesale sports when I bought the .22 Once we got in the general area we just followed the sound of the gunshots from the other nice fellow who was shooting there already. The fellow shooting there said you could walk up over the ridge and it was all Crown land for about 15km.

What I was also wondering is if someone could point me in the direction of maps or information on whats Crown land and what isn't?
 
just remember bullets kill. hallow or not. if the first one does not do the trick send down another.

Patience Patience Patience !!!!!! you may not see anything. not even a squirrel. thats hunting. ........... for some reason animals u can hunt only show up when u don't have a gun. its like they know!!!!


Tip 4 u - I find this time of year rabbits like to come out and sit on the edge of cut lines in the woods early in the morning to soak up some sun.

To get maps go to county offices. very good maps. pretty much ur best option.
 
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Thinking said:
I'm not sure if you can still do this anywhere, but when I was a lad, my father, grandfather and I would take a couple of boxes of .22 shells to the dump and shoot rats. If you want to learn how to hit a moving target, a rat running through trash is always a good challenge, and you never run out of targets. I wouldn't recommend eating them though :puke::puke:
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Well, I just can't let this one pass by...:D...did you know that Alberta is rat free? We have border patrols that set baits and traps and inspect farms along the borders, and have so far kept them out. We have muskrats and packrats and lots and lots of gophers..... there is the odd rare Liberal that sneaks through, and one or two New Democ(rats) have been observed.... but we've managed to keep the little furry long-tailed variety out!:cool:
 
kaiviti said:
What I was also wondering is if someone could point me in the direction of maps or information on whats Crown land and what isn't?
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Go to Maptown in downtown Calgary and pick up a "county" or land owner map for the area. Crown land will be clearly marked, as will the owners of private land.
 
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