Cartridge size minimums for big game in BC

[ROY-alty33]

I'm quite certain that I am going to answer my own question here, but thought I would ask for some advice.
After last years Texada Island hunting trip and the absolute mauling of those little deer with my .308 (not to mention the .300s my buddies brought), I said to them that I was thinking of picking up a little .223 or even a 22-250 for our trip this year.
They tried to tell me that in order to hunt big game in BC the caliber had to be larger than .22. Now a .243 may not be bad, but I want a .223.
So here I am, looked it up in the regs and found out that the only stipulation for Deer was a centrefire cartridge. Am I right or is there a section of the regs that I am missing?

 

[Gatehouse]

Unless hunting bison, the only stipulation is that you must hunt big game wiht a centerfire. No rimfires allowed.

You can shoot any game in BC with a .223 except bison.

 

[BC Bigbore]

You can shoot any game in BC with a .223

Correct, you can. I seriously think that with the exception to coastal deer, cougar and wolf, the minimum size caliber for big game in BC should be .243/6mm.

 

[25tikka]

I shoot a .223 for Charlotte deer regularly with no problems. I have used 50gr horn sp. and 60 gr partitions and will try the 53 tsx. My kids also shoot deer including whitetail with the .223.

 

[MD]

You're right. Any centre fire.

My father regularly killed deer on Vancouver Island with a 22 Hornet.

Like you, after breaking one in half with a 308 I bought a 243.

 

[Amphibious]

what bullets are you usinf in your .308s to mess up deer that bad? 243 runs at higher velocities for the most part. id be far more concerned with loosing meat to a .243 then to a .308.

 

[Calum]

6.5x55 Swede.

 

[MD]

Mine was 31 years ago and I didn't know the difference at the time between bullet performance of a 150 grain bullet compared to a 180 grain bullet.

Still don't regret returning that borrowed 308 and getting my only brand new rifle ever, that Remington Model 700 243.

Killed numerous bears and deer with that gun.

 

[todbartell]

if you go with the 223, load a good bullet like a 53 TSX or a 60 grain Barnes.

 

[BC Bigbore]

For smaller deer species or popping a full size muley doe in the hay bale yard at 10 paces, a .22 centerfires will work fine. My b!tch is all the idiots I see hunting with .22-250's and .223's that swear by them for elk, moose and big-ass muley and whitetail bucks. A .243 or .25-06 doesn't kick and is a way better choice if recoil is an issue.

 

[bone-collector]

Im thinking along with Calum here and anphib, if you wasted them deer then you definetly need to look at your hunting methods Vs caliber choice , I shot many texada deer with a 300wm and lost ZERO meat, problem there is the island is not big nuff for a 300 haha, a 223 could wind up wounding those little buggers as well,, a 6.5x55 in a tikka T3 would be a sweet little sitka killer, but then so would a 30-30 seeing most shots are well under 100 yards, we even pondered taking a 357 or 44mag lever action rifle at one point to try out, going for the slow short range calibers just for the fact that so many people are hunting there at once

 

[ROY-alty33]

Thanks for the help guys...maybe a cheap (inexpensive) savage in .243 maybe in order.
As for not wasting any meat I tried not to. With a well placed head shot at about 50 yards, however the bullet entered through the eye and followed the spine down and out the front shoulder. It ruined one whole quarter.
ETA: I was shooting cheap Federal 150gr. soft points. I wonder if spire or other poly tips would be better?

 

[bone-collector]

I used 168Gr out of my 300wm, gun was a lot much like I said but it was all I had ready to go at the time, 1 of the folks in our group had a 243 did a great job and accurate, on top of that you would have a rifle you could use for mule deer and whitetails as well , you also have to remember a yote or wolf is something you just shoot meat damage is of no concern, I learned after deer #1 that those little buggers dont take kindly to being hit anywere in the meat , I am gemeraly AGAINST head shots as it leads to alot of wounded game in my experience but these little deer dont leave much room for shooting otherwise

this was our pole at the end of day 3

 

[bisonhd]

30-30 was once considered the hottest thing in big game cartridges. I can't recall any significant meat damage or deer run off's on several Blacktails I've taken with it. The 223 is really going to be limited in range just as much as the 3030.

I shot a 243, admittedly before the wave of premium expansion controlled bullets came along, and found it very distructive compared to 30 cal cartridges of more modest velocities. The 270 used to make some nasty holes as well.