Wolf on the farm - will a .22LR do it?

here in the NWT its illegal to hunt wolf with a .22lr because it is considered Big Game.
The min for big game here is nothing less then a .230 caliber. with the exception of 22-250, .222 and .223 on wolf and wolverine.

Get a bigger caliber and let the animal be killed sensibly. shooting a wolf with a .22lr is stupid. Its inhumane and disrespectful to the animal.
 
I have zero experience with wolves, but people here will know so I asked for opinions. Looks like I may have to send my 6.5 Swede to the country . . .
 
Winchester-1897 said:
Not at any range. 100 yrds would be the limit in my opinion. If it isn't a kill shot and you wound it you may have Peta on your case when its buddies decide to do the old survival of the fitest on him and do a number on him. Of course the Peta women will show up on your farm naked in protest and some are not too bad to look at. :)
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F#$!k 'em! ! ! ! !
 
Grouse Man said:
I have zero experience with wolves, but people here will know so I asked for opinions. Looks like I may have to send my 6.5 Swede to the country . . .
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6.5 swede is a great wolf caliber. I've got some 95gr VMAX's loaded at 3250 fps just for that; they shoot as flat as most 22-250 loads as well, which is nice. Really, any of the 6.5 caliber bullets will do the job very well though.
 
Grouse Man said:
It's calving season and there's a wolf prowling the area. Is a .22 LR capable of dealing with a wolf at any range?
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Uh... not ethically, no. I would recommend a .223 at least.

If you injure it and the thing runs on you, it is your responsibility to make sure you put it down. An injured or aged predator will go after easier prey outside of its usual menu selections. Make sure you don't force this to happen.
 
madluk18 said:
here in the NWT its illegal to hunt wolf with a .22lr because it is considered Big Game.
The min for big game here is nothing less then a .230 caliber. with the exception of 22-250, .222 and .223 on wolf and wolverine.

Get a bigger caliber and let the animal be killed sensibly. shooting a wolf with a .22lr is stupid. Its inhumane and disrespectful to the animal.
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That was going to be my point as well. If your jurisdiction considers the grey wolf to be a game animal, rimfires are out, although here in Manitoba you can use a .22 centerfire.

Grouse Man, your 6.5 with a 120 gr bullet would certainly get the job done.
 
Brutus said:
Getting within effective rimfire range of a wolf, is the kind of fiction we read about, but is never actually done in real life, by us mere mortals.
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I've never done it myself...but had it done to me by a pair of black wolves when I was sitting a very remote bear bait.
they came up the little valley on my right and ghosted up on my 7 o'clock.I couldn't move anything but my eyes to see them and when I had to close them for a sec cuzz of the strain,when I opened my eyes they were gone.
I could never have got a shot of any kind off,but they were dang close.
 
BrotherRockeye said:
I've never done it myself...but had it done to me by a pair of black wolves when I was sitting a very remote bear bait.
they came up the little valley on my right and ghosted up on my 7 o'clock.I couldn't move anything but my eyes to see them and when I had to close them for a sec cuzz of the strain,when I opened my eyes they were gone.
I could never have got a shot of any kind off,but they were dang close.
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Hhhmmm good story for sure! :cool:
 
Too many under estimate the .22 lr. Before saying it's not good enough ask yourself if you would rather be shot with a .30-06 or a .22? If you answered neither, then you know the .22 is enough gun.

A solid lead bullet through the lungs will kill him. I'd prefer a solid over a hollow point myself, and he probably wont drop right there but you can bet next years calves he won't be back.
 
pharaoh2 said:
Too many under estimate the .22 lr. Before saying it's not good enough ask yourself if you would rather be shot with a .30-06 or a .22? If you answered neither, then you know the .22 is enough gun.

A solid lead bullet through the lungs will kill him. I'd prefer a solid over a hollow point myself, and he probably wont drop right there but you can bet next years calves he won't be back.
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And you can be sure that if shooting a wolf through the lungs with a .22LR it will suffer, and most likely for quite some time before it dies.

Your right, he most likely will not be back for next years calves, but he might sit in the bush for a week suffering before expiring. Not my way of putting down an animal, I like to use the right tool for the job and get it done right and even then it is not a 100% sure thing.
 
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How about using the .22LR as a noise deterrent, shooting close to the wolf...until you can get a better/ more capable firearm?

Unless it is a life or death situation for your livestock...then it's "no holds barred". ;)
 
4,688 posts and a .22LR is the only round available to you?

I guess the only answer I can give from my perspective, is that the "Stinger" sub-sonic .22LR are good on Coyotes closer than 20m. I wouldn't want to get that close to a Wolf, so I say no, they are not a humane round for wolf control.
 
You will most likely not get close enough for a long enough time to get a real good shot on this wolf. A .22lr will kill out to 100 yards it is the simple fact that the shot would have to be perfect to do that.(humanely anyway)

Call someone with a real rifle, and some experience. Im sure there is alot of people on here willing to do the job. If I was close Id be there in a flash.
 
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