Anyone ever use a shotgun with slugs for moose? I was playing around with some slugs today thinking about spring bear hunting and the thought crossed my mind as most moose I come across in the fall are less than 50 yards a slug gun would be just fine. It's something I haven't heard much of. I'd surely pack a rifle for longer shots
Shotgunning moose
- Thread starter brybenn
- Start date
I remember a post from some years ago where the person was talking about 200+yd shots on moose with his 20ga slug gun, rifled barrel shooting sabot slugs. The moose was dead in the pictures so it seemed to work just fine.
That's bizarre. You can shoot a moose with an arrow, but not a slug!?
- Location
- Western Manitoba
I read that poachers in Africa parks take elephant with 7.62x39 AK rifles - as OP suggests - about no reason it won't work? Sooner or later, pass one through or into the vitals and the thing will die - is just about how long does that take to happen and can shooter keep track of that animal until then? One shot = one kill, or 62 shots = one kill, and a few messed up poachers to show for the effort - might or might not be worth it to try??
Last edited:
In BC the only big game you can take with shotgun (20 ga or larger), buckshot (#1 buck or larger) or slugs, smooth bore or rifled bore is black bear, mule deer, white tail deer, bobcat, cougar, wolf and wolverine. You may not use a shotgun for bison, caribou, elk, moose, mountain goat or mountain sheep nor grizzly when we could still take them, although salmon and steelhead river fishermen regularly carry 12 gauge shotguns for bear protection. And yes, all are legal with a bow with some pull weight, broadhead and in the case of bison, arrow weight restrictions. Non hunters in offices in Victoria and Vancouver set the regulations, who knows what their rationale is?
I know a slug will easily kill a moose. I was just curious if anyone actually hunts moose with a shotgun. I always planned on carrying my double rifle in 4570 for close shots at moose if I decide to hunt one but now Im flirting with the idea of a shotgun when in the thick patches where I usually stumble upon the moose insert while after bear
- Location
- West Central Alberta
I'd stick with your .45-70 if I were you, better accuracy and more range.
I can tell you with certainty that a 12g sabot slug within 100 yards will instantly lay a large bull Moose on its side, dead without a quiver. I don't know how some of these provincial regulations came to be. Of course 12g is not for long range, which is where alot of Moose are taken, but not always
A 1 ounce slug has massive energy but is on the ground within 200 yards. I've never shot a moose with a 12g slug but with rifle I've shot more moose at less than 30 yards than further than 30 yards. Moose is not going to go very far when hit with a slug. I've shot one deer with a slug, and all I saw was hooves going over backwards.
No, because, while I've encountered moose at close range, sometimes too close, I want the extra reach of a rifle if I need it.
I've shot bear and deer with slugs. I've never hunted moose as I prefer bear meat and Ontario's moose tag system is let's just say less than stellar.
A 12ga foster slug perhaps. Federal trophy copper 12ga sabot slugs start at 2000fps and are still going 1619fps@100yds. Drop is significant but with laser range finders that's only a problem if you're not putting in the work to figure out your drops at distance.
I have no reason to use a shotgun, nor can I legally as stated above (I'm in BC), but if I had to it sure seems doable.
I have carried my chiappa double badger 20/.22 when close to camp scouting and keeping an eye out for rabbit ect. and just in case.
But didn't get a shot off.
I would not be concerned about taking a shot in a reasonable range though.
But didn't get a shot off.
I would not be concerned about taking a shot in a reasonable range though.
