Beaver hunting

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Stw81

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General beaver hunting question. Do dead beavers always float when shot in the head ?
I myself think it depends on the amount of fat on the beaver and the water temperature
This question is for shooting them with a 22 long rifle only
 
Ya ive heard they dive down and hold onto whatever they can if theyre wounded. In the summer months i find most sink regardless of what or where i shoot them with. A friend of mine said they will never sink if you hit them in the head with a 22 long rifle. Was just curious as to what others have found
 
I only head shoot with a 17 hmr.Maybe body fat is the factor as our season does not open till October?I can tell you the 17 is a big upgrade for head shots on the beaver.
 
They usually float and kick around on the surface for a while if the shot is good. Got to get there quick though. I gets pretty western when you flip one into the boat that’s “kinda” dead.
 
starvin said:
They usually float and kick around on the surface for a while if the shot is good. Got to get there quick though. I gets pretty western when you flip one into the boat that’s “kinda” dead.
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Been there a time or two with my partner screaming shoot it again !It's in my dam boat.Times you don't forget.
 
If u can get them behind ear and knock them out they will stay a float. If u miss the spot good chance they will splash around and dive. Might get another chance if they come up for air. Other time they stay down. They also might float a couple days later from the gas build up once dead. 22 mag works a lot better or even the 22 hornet
 
I've had them stay under over night with a .22 and with half the head blown off with a .222 They always float up over night.The instant kills are either hit in the base of the skull swimming away and I prefer CCI Stingers. Also had good luck with .223 FMJ in ponds and lakes.
 
Dad shot (& trapped) a lot of beaver. The city of Medicine Hat used to call him to do the nuisance work.. he was handy.
He swore by 22 long rifle in the rear part of the skull. He had a 22 magnum already... he swore by 22 LR... but exit wounds were also a thing... he skinned and dried the pelts for sale... exit wounds were a problem.
 
Cant say that I remember a tried& true rule as to weather they would sink or float no matter how they were shot, some floated after thrashing around a bit others sank you didnt know until the event. But I do remember being up to my belly button or tits in slough water with the ice edge out 100 ft from shore many times feeling around with my bare toes for that furry feeling and grip it to start it to the top....all for a $30 buffer that we still had 8 hrs work on to get it stretched on a board....Wouldn't do that now for any amount of money...but back then that was how we financed our wine purchases and more .22 shells.
 
Friend of mine is a die hard beaver killer (over200 a year) and although he tries hard to kill them on the bank with a 204 he prefers 22 mag for swimming flat tails. Base of the skull and hopefully they float. If they sink come back the next morning and %99 of the time they will be floating there.
 
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