Forced to go Bison hunting

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cdngunner

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Well got a frantic call from my mother-in-law yesterday. It seams that my father-in-law got run over by a Bison. (yes in Ontario) They have a heard of about 20 bison. I guess one got out and as he was trying to but it back in the pen he got charged by another one. He got wacked the gate got opened and they all got out. All over the highway and adjacent properties. My mim phoned me because the police said if they pose a danger on the road they would have to be put down. Anyway by the time I showed up most of them had been coraled at another farm. One mother and calf were still on the loose. Talking to the OPP, and may I mention that they were fine folks down in Cayuga, they said that if the last two were not captured by late afternoon,both would have to be put down. Well I had brought along my 30-06 and my 12 guage. Which brings me to a question, never having hunted Bison before. Where do you shoot them??????? I guess I would have been looking for a quick dispatch so they would not run all over the highway. I knew I could get within 30-50 yards of them. I figured a head shot at that distance with a 30-06 or 12 guage slug in the head would do the job. Then doubt set in. I vaguely remember someone on here saying something about shooting them in the ear or eye or something???????? Maybe some of you guys out west can clue me in. For all you guys who are going to be whining about the 12 guage choice, I figured I could esily get within 30 yards, and most of the Bison where only 2-3 years old. Plus the 30-06 only hold 3 shots. So I brought the shotty for back up. Did not know how many I would have to shoot if any.

Anyway some "cowboys" came over with their horses to help motivate the bison back into its pen. Between them and me on my atv we got the job done.
Too bad I was looking forward to getting some steaks.

In case this happens again, any advice for caliber/bulletweight/shot placement for these buggers.Keeping in mind I can easily get within 30 yards of these buggers.
with the 30-06 I brought some Fed premium 165 Sierra boattails. All I had
For the shotty I had Fed premium Barnes ExpanderSabot. Again all I had.

Opinions
 
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my buddy at the packers does a lot of farm kills. he brings a 308 &223.Behind the ear with either does the trick. I haven't had any feedback from the rest of the staff about needing more than 1 shot.These guys would def initly let us know & the razing would be brutal. A J
 
Bison Rifle

I've done in 6 on farm culls down in the Brantford area. Used a 6.5x55 with 149gr bullet. 5 went down at approximately 100 to 125 yards with one shot between the eyes the 6th turned it's head as I shot and required a second round. Found 6 bullets had completely penetrated the skulls and took out sections of the spines. The seventh had gone in the front of the shoulder and angled through the lungs stopping under the skin on the offside. After seeing that kind of performence there is nothing in Canada I'd not try for with my 6.5x55.
 
Shooting a Bison with anything but an old timeBuffalo gun/cartridge would be an affront to all hunters who have any knowledge of the old west or history....a 50/90 Sharps and 100 grs of BP was best for Buffalo in 1876, why would you use any less of a gun now? and they're all less gun.
 
I've got a nice 338 win mag you can use, (with a pile of 225 gr X's loaded) (Or a guide gun in 45-70 for nostalgic sake , well kinda :) )
the only catch, is I have to come with you...
Im only an hour and a bit away...

C'mon, please... :)
 
A friend killed one with my .35 Whelen and a 250 Speer handload. At about 100 yards it penetrated a ~1,400 lb bull through the chest (side-to-side), broke the far leg and dropped him dead in about 10 feet or so.

I get the impression that most moose cartridges would probably work fine.
 
"...have a heard of about 20 bison..." A what?
"...with anything but..." Not when you're rounding up escaped livestock.
Despite their size, buffalo aren't that hard to put down. Plains tribesmen were known to use .36 calibre BP revolvers. Really close, mind you. Your 165 Sierra boattails will do. Head shot near the ear or between the eyes.
 
funny, a buddy of mine just called me to tell me that his dad has a herd on his place that escaped from a "ranch" down the road.
the "rancher" told him that it would cost more to round them up than it was worth so go ahead and shoot them?
i guess MNR doesn't want them in the wild....
a couple hours north of edmonton or i would be there....
 
In BC its required by law to use 180 grain or more for a bullet weight. I saw a movie on here (or another website), guy shot one right in the head and the bison dropped like a sack or potatoes.
 
Your 30-06 will do fine. At 30 - 50 yards a shot behind the ear or a shot that smashes the vertebae in the neck will usually drop a Bison on the spot; I've seen it done numerous times using 200 grain bullets. That bullet weight was required by law in the Northwest Territories, and I'm sure a 180 grain bullet would be just as effective at that range.

Bison are actually pretty darn easy to kill, that's why there aren't many wild ones left. I've heard of guys taking them with .270 Winchesters, using 150 grain soft points, illegal as it is. I use my 338 Win Mag, but only because it makes it easier to justify owning a gun in that calibre; otherwise I'd use a 30-06.
 
from what i've read the way it was done a way back when was like this. on the hump on the back,place your bullet halfway down where the thick hair turns short and fine. idea being a 500 gr cast pill would punch through both lungs, clip the heart and bust the far shoulder on the way out
 
In B.C., it's gotta be a 175 gr or larger bullet, retaining 2000 foot pounds or more energy at 100 metres. While those parametres may leave out some very capable cartridges, I do understand the need to set some rules in order to negate the possibility of the odd idiot making a totally inappropriate cartridge choice.
 
What?????? No .223 available? hee hee hee ... ;)

Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA

p.s. 30-06 would do fine wouldn't it ... so did you get to BBQ some bison burgs?
 
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