BlackTail Deer

Ardent said:
It's actually a pretty poor bear stopper. Kills them, but much better choices that don't kick any more if you want to stop them. His .30-06 outperforms it as a bear stopper. No Grizzlies on Haida Gwaii anyhow so kind of a moot point.
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Im gonna disagree , on acount i know an outfitter whos life was saved by a 45-70 when he shot a charging grizz at about 30ft. The country they hunt is extremely thick on the B.C coast. Encounters are commonly 100 yards and far less. The energy of a 45-75 stays in The game at closer distances, rather than potentially blowing right through

At very close range, 45-70 is a fantastic bear stopper. Correct me if im wrong, but i think you can run 300gr bullets in the 45-70 ?
 
Silver Hammer said:
Im gonna disagree , on acount i know an outfitter whos life was saved by a 45-70 when he shot a charging grizz at about 30ft. The country they hunt is extremely thick on the B.C coast. Encounters are commonly 100 yards and far less. The energy of a 45-75 stays in The game at closer distances, rather than potentially blowing right through

At very close range, 45-70 is a fantastic bear stopper. Correct me if im wrong, but i think you can run 300gr bullets in the 45-70 ?
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I shoot the +P HSM Bear Load Ammunition 430 gr when carrying for bear. Pretty potent stuff. Hits like the hammer of Thor.
 
Been out there several times. Initially a Savage 111 .30-06(Federal Fusion 150grs.) then later on a 700 in .260 with some home reloaded Sierra 130 gr. GK. Lotsa little deer everywhere up there.
 
City Boy said:
You should go .... the only thing I missed out on was the season where you can go to see the Totem poles on the southern island; it's only open certain times of the year and you need a guide, but I'd like to go back one day and see them. The dear are small, but the limit for possession is high and I haven't looked at the regs in many years, but they also have elk.
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From what I can gather, the Elk are few (100-150 animals) and in pretty hospitable territory.

Silver Hammer said:
Im gonna disagree , on acount i know an outfitter whos life was saved by a 45-70 when he shot a charging grizz at about 30ft. The country they hunt is extremely thick on the B.C coast. Encounters are commonly 100 yards and far less. The energy of a 45-75 stays in The game at closer distances, rather than potentially blowing right through

At very close range, 45-70 is a fantastic bear stopper. Correct me if im wrong, but i think you can run 300gr bullets in the 45-70 ?
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ljones said:
I shoot the +P HSM Bear Load Ammunition 430 gr when carrying for bear. Pretty potent stuff. Hits like the hammer of Thor.
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Ardent is an outfitter who works in Grizz country. I think he knows a thing or two about caliber selection for the big bears. Just because one outfitter successfully used a 45-70 doesn't mean its the best choice for the job. I'm going to trust his judgement, and if he says something thats fast and violent is a better choice then I'll believe it. Something in the 338 to 375 caliber range that goes close to 3000fps would be my choice.

I love 45-70 fans though. One will tell you it doesn't do much meat damage when talking about deer, and you can eat right up to the hole, others tell you it hits like the hammer of Thor when used on a Bear. I bet it makes a great gopher gun too. lol
 
The bigs mistake I see is guys coming over with high-powered scopes wen almost all shots ar under a 100 yards low power scopes reflex sights and Iron sight are what you need
I have dun well with a sort outlaw SxS and slugs and 38 special mares leg part of the fun is there realy no such thing as being under gun or over gun that's part of the fun to hunt on Haida Gwaii

I din thinking of using a bigbore air rifle next as ammo is cheep and with a hand pump free air

What ever you take make sheer you can take a fast shot off hand 90% of all your shots will be off hand and you have to be fast
 
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Suther said:
From what I can gather, the Elk are few (100-150 animals) and in pretty hospitable territory.





Ardent is an outfitter who works in Grizz country. I think he knows a thing or two about caliber selection for the big bears. Just because one outfitter successfully used a 45-70 doesn't mean its the best choice for the job. I'm going to trust his judgement, and if he says something thats fast and violent is a better choice then I'll believe it. Something in the 338 to 375 caliber range that goes close to 3000fps would be my choice.

I love 45-70 fans though. One will tell you it doesn't do much meat damage when talking about deer, and you can eat right up to the hole, others tell you it hits like the hammer of Thor when used on a Bear. I bet it makes a great gopher gun too. lol
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Ultimately you can carry what you want to carry, and I will carry what I want to carry. The .45-70 is a very versatile round. It can me loaded lighter for smaller thin skinned or +P depending on the use. Also depends what bullet you use as to how it will perform. While Ardent has his choices there are still other outfitters and guides that use the .45-70 as backup. That said we live in a world of choices. I have made mine. You can use whatever you want. Ardent can use what he feels works for him. Oh and them elk are in inhospitable territory. They are a lot of work to get to and get out.
 
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I would not be too concerned about bears on Haida Gwaii just use Commonsense
Yes Morsby Island do have massive black bears bit there is lots of food for them and have very little interest in people
 
ljones said:
Ultimately you can carry what you want to carry, and I will carry what I want to carry. The .45-70 is a very versatile round. It can me loaded lighter for smaller thin skinned or +P depending on the use. Also depends what bullet you use as to how it will perform. While Ardent has his choices there are still other outfitters and guides that use the .45-70 as backup. That said we live in a world of choices. I have made mine. You can use whatever you want. Ardent can use what he feels works for him. Oh and them elk are in inhospitable territory. They are a lot of work to get to and get out.
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Yah, i meant to say inhospitable... And I'm not knocking the 45-70, per say, as you mention its a very versatile caliber. I just think it's over rated as far as a bear stopper goes, just doesn't have the velocity I like.
 
You guys are Over complicating It any rifle and any calber will work
A guy coming over is going to look pretty foolish packing a 45-70 or 375 h&h for deer on Haida Gwaii both will work but why would you want to
The big's Challenge is alway going to be weather and working the tides as the deer move juring low tide and that is wen there most active even if your hunting up high in the mountains
I love going out just after a realy big storm but it can bite you in the ass a rock slide can leave you stranded so can blow downs so pack a saw with you
 
I step away from this thread and holy sheepschit you guys are talking 45-70 and what??
c'mon now....
I took a .308 .... a super tuned , krieger stainless barrelled, nutmeg laminate fat boy stocked M14 LOL
why you ask?
because silly me I let myself get all concerned about big bears. In fact both me and my hunting partner took M14 type rifles in .308.
i felt in the end, even though most of the deer were headshots, I probably would hunt haida gwaii the next time around with something much lighter but with a fast action so I could dump on a bear if i really needed too. We saw bears, Tony bumped into one at uncomfortably close range hiking up the river in naikoon park, had it dead to rights in his sights but it just went the other direction and wasn't seen again. Any bear we saw, didn't want to be anywhere near us.
in my opinion, .308 in it's lightest hunting load would be the most i would carry hunting in the gwaii.
 
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carverk said:
Time of year and weather is what is important not the rifle or calaber
Be well prepared for big winds and rain remember Haida Gwaii is just of the Alaska panhandle and shood pack the same way as you would to hunt kodiak Island
Look me up if you go towards The north end of the Island
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We went in November that year and while I have spent many many years living on the west coast, fishing offshore van isle, hunting coastal inlets ect.... I have never seen storms like what we saw a couple of the days of our hunt. Literally wrath of god type stuff. Was awesome :D
 
45ACPKING said:
I step away from this thread and holy sheepschit you guys are talking 45-70 and what??
c'mon now....
I took a .308 .... a super tuned , krieger stainless barrelled, nutmeg laminate fat boy stocked M14 LOL
why you ask?
because silly me I let myself get all concerned about big bears. In fact both me and my hunting partner took M14 type rifles in .308.
i felt in the end, even though most of the deer were headshots, I probably would hunt haida gwaii the next time around with something much lighter but with a fast action so I could dump on a bear if i really needed too. We saw bears, Tony bumped into one at uncomfortably close range hiking up the river in naikoon park, had it dead to rights in his sights but it just went the other direction and wasn't seen again. Any bear we saw, didn't want to be anywhere near us.
in my opinion, .308 in it's lightest hunting load would be the most i would carry hunting in the gwaii.
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But with a 45-70, you can eat right up to the hole! And it kills bears dead like the hammer of thor! Best of both worlds!
 
I used a 444 marlen once I won't do that agen lost just about the entire front end of my deer would rather use a 22lr then 444
30-06 don't do the damage that my 444 marlen do to Haida Gwaii deer
 
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