Brumby Calibre?

WhelanLad

WhelanLad

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Say you were on a Cull for the National Parks an Wildlife Services, they say

"Ay boy, Bring that ol Rifle along an bag of Tucker, i'll pick you up half 7"

You are in Brumby country, So Alpine conditions and terrain, not neccaserily high in Elevation but theres a certain terrain up them parts. shots arnt always long at all and a good stalker gets in close.

What rifle are you going to choose?
and Why



Go.


theres a bit of a story behind this-


WL
 
Well since I only own two rifles in calibres larger than a 22 long rifle, a Winchester Model 71 .348 Win and a Ruger #1 in 22.250 it would have to be my Model 71 with the only ammo I have for it presently being Winchester 200 grain silvertips.

BUT

If I had a host of rifles to choose from I would prefer something lighter weight to carry such as a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in a 270 Win. calibre. I just think the 270 is a great all around big game cartridge with a nice flat trajectory and plenty of oomph without doing tons of meat loss damage. They are a time honoured proven cartridge with ammo readily available just about any location you can travel to and that is important for us non reloading characters who rely on factory fodder.
 
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Years ago when we did a brumby cull here in Alberta the two guys used 45-70 rifles as that is what they had that day but a 30-06 would work well also. Would rather have a repeater as after the first couple of shots they don't actually stand around and wait. They are as wild as the elk and deer here. This was almost 40 years ago and they are protected now. Wasn't any worry about meat damage as if the bodies were taken out they would have been at the most dog food as nobody in Alberta would have eaten them.
 
While stalking is rewarding, on a cull where the mission is to kill as many as possible, a flat shooting rifle like your .270 might save you some time, and increase the number of opportunities you have, yet there is no disadvantage at close range, if you can dial the scope down a bit. So all that is left to decide is which bullet to choose, and that depends on the animal being hunted and the expected range of the shot. That said, your .308 is a versatile rig and Dogleg might say just take whichever rifle has a 10 round magazine.
 
Just big gophers...........izzzzzzzzzzzz..............they?

Something with some pizz-zzaahh.

Kupple come to mind.

308 Norma Mag with some 150 grain pills
or even that lazer 257 Weatherby Mag.

Both zippy'long at remarkable kerr-pow.
 
We was called to put some down once by the local vet, be it 30+ years ago, we took the trusty win 94 in 30-30. Able to do multiple repeating shots, light to carry, ammo not to expensive, good for up to 100-120 yards. Did the job, had to leave the meat behind as the animals were close to starvation, no roads close by and the 2 feet of snow didn't help. I remember it well.
 
Hmmm never realized a brumby was a horse. I really don't know if I could pull the trigger on a horse, feral or not? It's not like it's a feral housecat?! Those I have shot plenty of. Disgusting little critters.
But a horse? Now that presents me with a quandary. Guess my original post worrying about wasted meat is pointless as I am sure culled Brumby won't be getting used to feed any folks ?
 
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the spank said:
Hmmm never realized a brumby was a horse. I really don't know if I could pull the trigger on a horse, feral or not? It's not like it's a feral housecat?! Those I have shot plenty of. Disgusting little critters.
But a horse? Now that presents me with a quandary. Guess my original post worrying about wasted meat is pointless as I am sure culled Brumby won't be getting used to feed any folks ?
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I wouldn't pull the trigger on a horse either. While I won't eat horsemeat if I did I'd eat wild horse before anything that comes from a Canadian slaughter house. A lot of crap gets injected into horses and I absolutely wouldn't trust the industry's inspection process. Canada is a big exporter of horsemeat. I have no doubt that track horses end up eventually on someone's plate somewhere.
 
If only our government had the balls to cull the ridiculous number of feral horses on the eastern slopes.

Nothing like taking a drive down the trunk road and seeing 2 or 3 elk, a deer and 14 000 god damm non-native feral animals.
 
cam1936 said:
If only our government had the balls to cull the ridiculous number of feral horses on the eastern slopes.

Nothing like taking a drive down the trunk road and seeing 2 or 3 elk, a deer and 14 000 god damm non-native feral animals.
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Is there a huge population as you are suggesting? I don't get over to that side of the province very often. I guess if they are a huge problem competing with the native wildlife then I might be able to take part? I thought we were talking about a few that could probably be caught and transported but sounds like it may be a larger issue than I have ever heard of.
 
Emotions of eating horse aside, it's meat compares quite favorably with game, for being quality protein.... My parents where kids in WWII Europe, didn't eat some occasional horse - you where going to be mighty hungry.

Best to you on the Brumby cull, we even have some running around here behind Summerland. If they aren't sick, they will make some fine table fare....

D.K.
 
the spank said:
Is there a huge population as you are suggesting? I don't get over to that side of the province very often. I guess if they are a huge problem competing with the native wildlife then I might be able to take part? I thought we were talking about a few that could probably be caught and transported but sounds like it may be a larger issue than I have ever heard of.
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There are thousands along the eastern slopes. Some very heated debates on the subject on AO.

If there were one or two isolated herds I also would have no problem. But I have literally seen 150-200 head in one day, in one area. It's very rare to take a drive anywhere on the forestry trunk from Waiprous to Nordegg without seeing them by the dozen.

I like horses, grew up riding them, but they are essentially an invasive species when left to roam feral. They compete for graze with Elk and provide food for wolves, which in turn leads to more predation on native animals. Although the crash in the Elk population in the 300 and 400s can't be blamed exclusively on feral horses it sure ain't helping. Also, the lack of peer reviewed science on the subject and action by our government is maddening. Citiots who have no idea other than they know they like horses can't get past the emotion and make a rational decision.
 
I have eaten horse meat many times and enjoy it. My fathers family comes from Holland and smoked horse meat is very common ,There are way to many of them in some areas of the rockys and thy are starving in a lot of places ,thy are also eating all the graze that deer elk and moose need to make it threw the winter ,thy also eat the same grass that is grazed by the beef ranches breaking fences and doing a lot of damage with the sharp hoofs to the natural grass lands ,,there numbers need to be kept in check as thy have no natural predators other then a grizzly when the horses are young .For many years the numbers were kept in check by cowboys who would round them up and sell them threw big sales some went for the meat market and others went on to be riding horses and buggy pullers ,,,now there are some many that culls are the only human way to keep them from starving to death ,,,Dutch
 
Guys, don't turn this into an ethics thread. The question was simple and as long as the hunting is legal we can talk about it here. Whether some agree with it or not.
 
cam1936 said:
There are thousands along the eastern slopes. Some very heated debates on the subject on AO.

If there were one or two isolated herds I also would have no problem. But I have literally seen 150-200 head in one day, in one area. It's very rare to take a drive anywhere on the forestry trunk from Waiprous to Nordegg without seeing them by the dozen.

I like horses, grew up riding them, but they are essentially an invasive species when left to roam feral. They compete for graze with Elk and provide food for wolves, which in turn leads to more predation on native animals. Although the crash in the Elk population in the 300 and 400s can't be blamed exclusively on feral horses it sure ain't helping. Also, the lack of peer reviewed science on the subject and action by our government is maddening. Citiots who have no idea other than they know they like horses can't get past the emotion and make a rational decision.
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My thoughts are that logging is increasing habitat for them. Seems like there's a herd in every cut block at times. Naturally 50 % stallions, which can make trail riding a bit hazardous. Can think of a couple of times I was close to pulling the trigger for keeps.

Grizz
 
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