Island Deer, what gun & caliber?

If I was looking for a dedicated Island deer rifle for myself, I would probably go with a bolt action .300 BLK with a 16" or so barrel. Although a .223 wouldn't be out of place of course.

If I wanted a more "all around rifle" for also using on moose and elk, a 7-08 or . 260 or .308 or similar is of course a great choice.

Or maybe I would go with the rifle I am planning right now- A Mac Defense in 6.5 Grendel with an 19" barrel. But that isn't off the shelf or very cost effective. :)
 
Point is, you could kill a deer with a 22 in your back yard, I could've hit one over the head with a hammer. Hunting in the back country is a lot different, I would rather have a rifle thats capable. 243 and up IMO.
 
If I was looking for a dedicated Island deer rifle for myself, I would probably go with a bolt action .300 BLK with a 16" or so barrel. Although a .223 wouldn't be out of place of course.

If I wanted a more "all around rifle" for also using on moose and elk, a 7-08 or . 260 or .308 or similar is of course a great choice.

Or maybe I would go with the rifle I am planning right now- A Mac Defense in 6.5 Grendel with an 19" barrel. But that isn't off the shelf or very cost effective. :)
Thats funny, I was just reading about the 6.5 Grendel, seems to have an edge on the 6.5 Creedmore, both would be excellent here on the Island.
 
Or maybe I would go with the rifle I am planning right now- A Mac Defense in 6.5 Grendel with an 19" barrel. But that isn't off the shelf or very cost effective. :)

No comment on the platform, not my cup-of-tea... but the cartridge would be just about perfect.
 
What's a tad more funny is that my Cooey Model 39 has accounted for more deer in my area back in the day than any other rifle I've used on 'em. My 1st. two fell with brain shots through the top of the head as they were munching on Mom's flower bed & both shots were taken at less than 6' from a bedroom window using Dominion .22 shorts.;)
 
What's a tad more funny is that my Cooey Model 39 has accounted for more deer in my area back in the day than any other rifle I've used on 'em. My 1st. two fell with brain shots through the top of the head as they were munching on Mom's flower bed & both shots were taken at less than 6' from a bedroom window using Dominion .22 shorts.;)

:) Good point. Many years ago my uncle handed me my first rifle that he and my Dad had shared. Can't remember the model number but it was a Cooey 22 Senior. He told me a of a few instances where it had been used on Mule Deer in Alberta MANY years back. On one occasion, while he and Dad were re-roofing the roof on their parents homestead house west of Edmonton, a Mulie buck stopped when uncle Carl stopped it with a shrill whistle. Dad encouraged uncle Carl to do so again if need be, while he went down and got the Cooey. One 22 LR 'Wizz Bang' later, the buck was 'resting' comfortably in the front yard. Apparently, this was the second time Dad had used the Cooey on a Deer. Can be done, but there are more appropriate calibre choices out there. I never had problems besting Dad 'punching paper' but not on game :) . That was another story.
 
I wouldn't take a head shot that far, and thats about the max distance ill shoot any animal if im not 100% confident. Spring bear last year really tested my patience, all the buggers were 300+ yards out so I didnt take any shots.

Headshots are effective when well executed but sure aren't my first choice. Longest head shot for me was over 350 yards but it wasn't a shot I wanted to take and I hope to never have to repeat it. :)
 
Longest head shot for me was over 350 yards but it wasn't a shot I wanted to take and I hope to never have to repeat it. :)

You didn't want to take it... but you did... a ridiculously marginal shot... whether or not it worked out for you is not the point... it was not likely a life or death situation for you... letting an animal walk away for another day is an option. On a couple of occasions I have breached my own (personal) code of ethics and taken a shot that I had pre-conceived as a "red light" situation... when I did so, I was disgusted with my lack of maturity and resolve...
 
You didn't want to take it... but you did... a ridiculously marginal shot... whether or not it worked out for you is not the point... it was not likely a life or death situation for you... letting an animal walk away for another day is an option. On a couple of occasions I have breached my own (personal) code of ethics and taken a shot that I had pre-conceived as a "red light" situation... when I did so, I was disgusted with my lack of maturity and resolve...

Well put. Good assessment.
 
You didn't want to take it... but you did... a ridiculously marginal shot... whether or not it worked out for you is not the point... it was not likely a life or death situation for you... letting an animal walk away for another day is an option. On a couple of occasions I have breached my own (personal) code of ethics and taken a shot that I had pre-conceived as a "red light" situation... when I did so, I was disgusted with my lack of maturity and resolve...

Always so negative. So sad.
 
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