Anybody using a 17 HMR for Beaver
- Thread starter Lorne
- Start date
gunrunner100
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- NW Ontario
Last beaver that I shot was with a good old 22 LR from my 77/22. This one wasn't protected, no Kevlar!
I've thought about it, but at todays fur prices, the damage from a 7.62x39 "protected tip" round does very little damage of concern for me. Plus my SKS dosen't cause me any great concern as far as abuse through the rigors of trapping. I imagine the 17 would be adequate provided
1)You have a good angle to assure penetration to the vitals
2)You don't hit the water just in front of the beaver before entry, as I feel this may cause a fairly nasty entry wound(if you worried about larger holes)
The above, at least concerning the 17, is no more than speculation from someone who has given passing thought to the subject.
Best, cheapsk8
1)You have a good angle to assure penetration to the vitals
2)You don't hit the water just in front of the beaver before entry, as I feel this may cause a fairly nasty entry wound(if you worried about larger holes)
The above, at least concerning the 17, is no more than speculation from someone who has given passing thought to the subject.
Best, cheapsk8
Kirby said:
Whaaaaatttt???? Damn - somebody should have told the last few hundred I've done in, to duck!
The only way you're gonna protect beaver in Canada is if you buy them all nice little Kevlar vests.
I've shot them, snared them, trapped them, and dynamited them, and I think they're still gaining on me! Canadas national rodent is tough to get ahead of.- Location
- wetaskiwin,alberta
Lorne,
I have trapped/shot hundreds of beaver a few years back when fur was paying my bills.I have shot them with22 long rifle,22 mag,.222,22hornet,downloaded22-250,220 swift.7mm mag(down loaded again) and in the last years 17 remington. The best caliber without a doubt was a 17 rem,now with the 17 hmr out is is possibly the best cartidge available for this task.Over the last 4 years since I have obtained the little 17,alot of beaver have been harvested with it.I do not believe that there has been a exit with a headshot on any beaver.A ear shot is absolutly devastating.I will however say that a few more dead beaver will sink,not as many as with a 22 mag but you will loose a few .Overall use it will confidence,it is a winner
bulletsmith
I have trapped/shot hundreds of beaver a few years back when fur was paying my bills.I have shot them with22 long rifle,22 mag,.222,22hornet,downloaded22-250,220 swift.7mm mag(down loaded again) and in the last years 17 remington. The best caliber without a doubt was a 17 rem,now with the 17 hmr out is is possibly the best cartidge available for this task.Over the last 4 years since I have obtained the little 17,alot of beaver have been harvested with it.I do not believe that there has been a exit with a headshot on any beaver.A ear shot is absolutly devastating.I will however say that a few more dead beaver will sink,not as many as with a 22 mag but you will loose a few .Overall use it will confidence,it is a winner
bulletsmith
madtrapper143
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Steep Rock Lake NWO
I started using the .17 HMR on my trapline last year. Results on beaver were impressive to dismal. A beaver's head is a heavy chunk of stuff. I am going to use my .44 Marlin carbine this year with 240 gr solids. (cast lead won't shoot worth sh-- in that micro goove barrel) pelt damage with the .17 HMR was minimal. With the .44 I will have to put a stitch in each .44 (.429") hole. Not a problem. I found the Hornady V-Max peformed better than the CCI offerings. Good luck on the spring trapline!
cheers Darryl
cheers Darryl
riden said:
I thought they were a pest, and along the lines of gopher, didn't find out till I worked for ducks unlimited that they are protected. Guess its because they are the national symbol or some crap. you can even be charged if you remove their dam! just saying its not a good thing to shoot one infront of a CO...
Kirby
Kirby.........if that is what DU taught you we are alll in trouble. Beaver can be trapped by a registered trapper in all the provinces I know of. In some provinces landowners themselves can shoot problem beavers without a trapping licence.
I like beavers but they are a big problem everywhere. Most provinces also require that you get a premit from the fish & game branch before blowing dams. That is partly because you can flood people out downstream when they blow the dams.
They are not protected.
I like beavers but they are a big problem everywhere. Most provinces also require that you get a premit from the fish & game branch before blowing dams. That is partly because you can flood people out downstream when they blow the dams.
They are not protected.
- Location
- wetaskiwin,alberta
Kirby,
in alberta on private land,you can shoot beaver but not trap, 365 days a year.If you wish to trap the problem beaver you need to get a damage control permit from Fish and Wildlife.As a landowner who has several miles of river property,beaver are a real problem and in fact shot on sight.
in alberta on private land,you can shoot beaver but not trap, 365 days a year.If you wish to trap the problem beaver you need to get a damage control permit from Fish and Wildlife.As a landowner who has several miles of river property,beaver are a real problem and in fact shot on sight.
- Location
- Colorado Springs, CO
Hey, I never met a Beaver I didn't like, oops wrong one. We think of them as vermin here in Colorado, DOW, doesn't though, they think there aren't enough, God I would love to be able to pop them little buggers as you Bulletsmith. PITA Dams. Les
Mountain Beavers are a protected species.Kirby said:
We have no mountains down here.
Beavers are pretty much a nuisance animal in most of the east.
They are trapped if the fur prices make it worth while... and shot year round in defence of property.
Kirby said:
You've been misinformed Kirby. They're not protected in Canada or BC for that matter. You can trap them. You can destroy them if they're causing property damage. You can remove their dams but not with explosives.
Salty said:
In Ontario if you are a licensed trapper and have a trapline with a beaver quota, you MUST trap at least 75% of your quota or risk loosing your line.
.22mag works good, as does .22lr. The 17 should be good also if your close and the water isnt to deep. Sometimes the buggers sink.
Kick out a section of dam to get the water flowing. Then sit back and wait. Like flies to sh*& they just cant resist.
I've taken some at the cottage for a friend, they were taking down trees all around the cottage and dropping them wherever, two came within two meters from the actual cottage. Although his daughter works for the MNR or Oceans and Fisheries, He thanked us for taking care of the problem
