Canadian whitetails are among the world’s toughest game animals. Big bodied, mean-tempered and aggressive when confronted, their complete unpredictability makes proper cartridge selection a critical matter before pursuing these Canadian monsters.
Forget everything you may have read by Jack or Elmer, the .270, 30-06 or even 300 Win mag just isn’t big enough to anchor one of these beasts. It doesn’t matter what bullets you use or where you try and hit them… these Canadian deer are tougher and meaner than a hemorrhoidal Alaskan Brown bear on methamphetamines.
In fact, as regulated by the Federal Government, the 270 Winchester is the minimum legal chambering for shooting and hunting the common Canadian Richardson Ground Squirrel found throughout the hills and prairies of Western Canada. These industrious little fellows can grow to four feet in length and typically weigh 70 – 75 lbs. They eat grass, crops, and coniferous trees and have been known to take small children when normal food sources are scarce.
You are probably just safest to leave the Canadian whitetail alone and satisfy yourself by reading the exploits of those crazy professional hunters whose dependence on the rush of adrenaline compromises their own wellbeing. But if you must hunt, any minimum chambering for dangerous African game should also be applied to the whitetail. While legal, I have found that the 375 H&H is probably too small. I have heard stories of hunters taking the big Canadian with this cartridge, but I personally think the more common 300 grain bullet just lacks the weight and velocity to adequately penetrate whitetail flesh. And please do not even get me started on push round versus controlled round feed when hunting these ogres. The former has no place in Canada!
I recall a story told to me by a prospector, years ago, about a group of hunters that pursued the Canadian Whitetail with nothing more than 7 X 57’s. While copious amounts of Canadian Whiskey (also much stronger and more unpredictable than it’s American cousin) were thought to be the source of such foolishness, it was widely speculated that they had created some sort of “Super Bullet†out of iron they had found on the periphery of the Canadian Shield in northwest Ontario. While reports on the bullet composition remain largely unsubstantiated, there were rumors of many wounded and angry Canadian whitetails wandering about. For the safety of hunters, tourists and residents, seasonal closures were initiated throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta to allow the deer a chance to “cool down†and reduce animal/human conflict.
A 30-06?... Hell, that’s what we pick our teeth with after a dinner of Canadian venison ribs.
Well, I hope this helps a bit in deciding your cartridge selection for hunting Canadian whitetails. Cheers, Mike
Posts: 28 | Location: Alberta | Registered: 21 April 2006
That is put so eloquiently Canuck. You know i even read somewhere, that some of the crazier canucks are using 243's and the like to harvest whitetails, I can't imagine doing it, but hell it must some sort of a rush
Posts: 120 | Location: Alberta | Registered: 16 October 2004
by your description of Richardson's Ground Squirrel, you don't mean that obnoxious rodent the Roughriders have for a mascot, who got banned from the game in Calgary ? I guess they're afraid some of the locals may follow your advice. Grizz
Indeed, no human being has yet lived under conditions which, considering the prevailing climates of the past, can be regarded as normal. John E Pfeiffer, The Emergence of Man
Those who can't skin, can hold a leg. Abraham Lincoln
Originally posted by Grizzly Adams: by your description of Richardson's Ground Squirrel, you don't mean that obnoxious rodent the Roughriders have for a mascot, who got banned from the game in Calgary ? I guess they're afraid some of the locals may follow your advice. Grizz
There are no "locals" in Alberta. They are all Saskbites we expelled.
No Murf, We are the brave souls who could see over the stubble, and found better things. And we wanted at least another couple hundred km's between us and Winnipeg. Oh, and i'll take a .500 Jeffery on my next stand hunt, I climb trees 'cause the deer can't.
Originally posted by Grizzly Adams: by your description of Richardson's Ground Squirrel, you don't mean that obnoxious rodent the Roughriders have for a mascot, who got banned from the game in Calgary ? I guess they're afraid some of the locals may follow your advice. Grizz
Gainer the Gopher would be one hell of a trophy. I noticed he was getting pretty thick in the neck, must be getting close to the rut. Definitely B&C material! Cheers, Mike
Posts: 28 | Location: Alberta | Registered: 21 April 2006
That video clip reminds me of the time a buddy was walking along a cliff face trailing a wounded mulie buck. Coming to a small indentation in the cliff he spotted the buck and took a snap shot at it hitting the deer's ear. I was below and laughing as my Bud quickly backed up to let the deer go by on the narrow ledge. I don't think he appreciated my yelling at him to put in the clip and shoot again. Of course the fact we were using muzzleloaders on that hunt made the clip thing a wee bit difficult.
I tried to find it on the map with little luck. I think I hunted just north of there a couple of years back... Kenosee Lake? I'm probably wrong, because the area I hunted sure didn't look like the badlands...lol. Cheers, Mike
Posts: 28 | Location: Alberta | Registered: 21 April 2006
Kenosee Lake is in the south east. The Big Muddy Valley is south central. Look for Bengough or Big Beaver, Buffalo Gap area. Note I didn't say Big beaver gap!
