Hey guys, a friend of mine wants me to participate in a wolf hunt to take down a pesky wolf that has been getting to close for comfort... he lives just outside of the city, the wolf was spotted chasing one of his dogs last week and he wants him gone for good.. I'm fairly new to hunting as an adult, hunted with my dad a lot when I was young but just got my pal last year and started purchasing firearms, currently I only have a 22 lr a couple 12 gauge shotguns and a marlin 1895 sbl in 45-70.. I've read a few posts about people taking wolfs and other smaller game with the 45-70 and was surprised to read that in most cases I read using a 300 grain projectile that the animals only had a 45 caliber hole through and through... I'm fairly confident that as long as I'm within 100 yards a can drop anything with my 45-70 although I just got it and haven't actually hunted with it yet... I know it may be overkill but its all I have for now... does anybody see any reason why I should not use my marlin to take this wolf? Am I going to destroy the pelt? Thanks in advance for any input
taking a wolf with a 45-70?
- Thread starter owensgreg
- Start date
Of the guns you listed, the 45-70 is your only choice.
But be very careful where you shoot it. You say it is near a city and a 45-70 is very dangerous for ricochets.
A high power 22 bottle neck cartridge gives the least danger of a ricochet, because the bullet blows up on the first thing it hits, but a 45-70 bullet will keep bouncing forever, like a rock skipping on water.
But be very careful where you shoot it. You say it is near a city and a 45-70 is very dangerous for ricochets.
A high power 22 bottle neck cartridge gives the least danger of a ricochet, because the bullet blows up on the first thing it hits, but a 45-70 bullet will keep bouncing forever, like a rock skipping on water.
Thanks and not overly worried about ricochets as we will definatly be far enough from town and where he is there are lots of hills so will most definatly have a good backstop.. as far as hunting wolf... anybody have any advice as I've only hunted grouse..
I would try to borrow a rifle from a friend or father. Getting within 100 yards of a wolf might not be too easy, If you had something that would reach farther it would make your job easier. Anything based off a 308 or 30-06 would be a good choice.
cdn1canhunt
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- southwestern ontario
If you are in northern Ontario you need a tag to hunt wolves 2 tags per hunter per year!
By experimenting with you sight-in and adjusting your zero, you can definitely stretch the range past 100 yards, but of course you need to learn the trajectory and actually practice at those ranges to make it work. 200 yards will be easy. The damage to the pelt will be less than you would see with a .270, .308, etc., likely .45-cal going in and .45-cal going out. We're way past the prime season for the fur, so you may or may not decide to keep it, but the cleaned, whitened skull sitting on a bookcase will make a cool souvenir of a cool first-time hunting experience.
cdn1canhunt
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- southwestern ontario
Your best bet would be to set up a bait site and blind or possibly try calling but wolves are known to travel vast territories. The bait site and standing guard at first and last light may be your best bet??
^^^ I was actually thinking of what could be done with the scull last night when my buddy and I were talking!!! And as for the tag for wolfs... know I need a tag to go along with my small games license... I'm not ignorant to the laws... I've done a lot of reading/researching on CGN, government websites and others as well as local laws and regulations... I've done my best to understand and the vague rules and regulations that have been set in stone.. also should add my 1895 is not scoped it has a ghost ring rear sight... I'm sure with practice I would be comfortable shooting the 45-70 to its furthest potential since that's only about 300 yards before gravity really starts taking over however as I stated earlier where we will be hunting is covered in hills(were right on the canadian shield), I say 100 yards because that's going to be the furthest away I can picture myself being since the hills are short, steep and close together... definatly appreciate the input guys thank you
Yes we were talking about setting up bait and I just brought up maybe using a call and was just looking at some at a local store... what kind of call would be best, wolf howl type call or a animal in distress type call? Again fairly new only hunted grouse but have had great results in that and hope the luck will continue with the bigger game as I make my way up to moose one of these seasons...
And as far as borrowing a gun "Suther" my father has past away and the guns were destroyed before I could get a license t posses... but thats a whole other sad story in itself... as far as a friend I could borrow off of I don't foresee that happening don't really know anyone I would even ask with anything better than what I have... unless they changed something overnight and I could use a ar15? Lmao... please? Just say its alright n show me the new regs? Oh yea never mind were in Canada...
And as far as borrowing a gun "Suther" my father has past away and the guns were destroyed before I could get a license t posses... but thats a whole other sad story in itself... as far as a friend I could borrow off of I don't foresee that happening don't really know anyone I would even ask with anything better than what I have... unless they changed something overnight and I could use a ar15? Lmao... please? Just say its alright n show me the new regs? Oh yea never mind were in Canada...
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Wouldn't be my first choice but it beats the hell out of a sharpened stick.
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
Grab a couple boxes of HSM bear load and sight er in, you will have 1 hole in/out if you don't hit any big bones and should be pretty flat shooting inside of 200 yards.... Its not too friendly on the shoulder at 1700+ fps but it gets the job done.
Lol its my 45-70... my buddy has a winchester 94 in 30-30 he will be using... however I am pretty excited about the possibility of getting to pull the trigger on something other than paper.... as far as the availability of ammunition is extremely limited.. at my local canadian tire they have boxes of Winchester ballistic silvertip 300 grain for 38.99 and my local gun shop has remington express rifle 305 and 405 grain lead tip copper jacketed boxes for 65.99(last week I bought a box for 52.99) for a box of 20!!! I can understand uping the price if you got a new shipment in at a higher price but I bought the last box sold out of that same inventory for $13 less a week before!! When I asked why they wouldnt say anything but the market price went up... I walked out of the store without buying anything... probably never will now... I've already saved close to $1000 purchasing off the sponsor sites instead of locally in the last year... I've been trying to get my hands on a couple boxes of hornady 325 grain leverevolution bit cant find it locally... will probably order a few boxes from a sponsor site to hold me over untill I can get my hands on a reloading station...
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
Ya that's about the cost of it here too... I bought a box of the Hornady a lil while ago an it was $50 a box... Used to be way less than that... I reload for 45/70 with bullet barn bullets pretty cheap.
You can still find it online for 40 a box from some site's but shipping makes it pretty expensive.. I might try to get some from the states on my next trip hopefully soon... but my next firearm purchase will definatly be a reloading station once I get some cash together
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
Some motivation for you.... A 9oz can of trail boss is around $30-$40 an at 14gr per charge you get around 250 rounds out of it... Bullet barn .405gr cast TLG's are still listed at 200 for $69... Add some primers in there for good measure and your shooting a comfy 1100fps load for around $11-$12 per box if you are saving your brass.... Just sayin.
It doesn't take much to start reloading. $45 press, $40 set of dies, a scale ($40) and components (bullets powder primers brass) and away you go. Other stuff is useful but at $50 a box for ammo you are looking at recovering your costs in like 100 rounds.
