Ripper Posted February 15, 2007 Report Share Posted February 15, 2007 In September 2008 I am going to Quebec, for my first Caribou hunt. I am curious as to what gun / caliber I should take with me. I have been told they are not real tough animals but the shots can be long. How long are the average shots that I should expect. If you have been there, what gun did you take, what gun did you wish you would have taken and anything you wish you would have known before you went? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coles Posted February 15, 2007 Report Share Posted February 15, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? do you want to know what kind of rifle to bring from the opinion of an Off The Porch Gang member like myself or a SCOPE member. I myself would bring any type of magnum. but a SCOPE member might tell you to bring a .270. personally i dont know. i have never hunted caribou but its my dream hunt. if i was going i would bring my .300WSM. so i dont really know. thats just my opinion. and im sure you will get a bunch of differnt ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Colorado Bob Posted February 15, 2007 Report Share Posted February 15, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? What do you hunt with now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted February 15, 2007 Report Share Posted February 15, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? Would think a 30 caliber would be plenty of rifle. Think if it were me, I would go with a .30-06 or a .308. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yooperkenny Posted February 15, 2007 Report Share Posted February 15, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? My brother has been to Mirage Outfitters near James Bay for caribou twice now and his Weatherby in .270 did the job quite nicely on 4 animals so far. I'll be going with him this fall and plan to use my Tikka T3 in 7mm Rem Mag. That's why I bought it - to deliver a big wallop while shooting flat if a 200 yd+ shot is required. I plan to use 150 grain Federal Premium w/ Sierra Gameking BTSP which did a great job on my 9 point last fall. I'm sure the 30.06 would do well also. My opinion is that bullet choice and shot placement are more critical than caliber choice. I've read where caribou are classified in the same group as whitetails - medium sized thin skinned game animals. So not like killing an elk or moose but you should be prepared for longer shots. [ QUOTE ] What do you hunt with now? [/ QUOTE ] That might not matter, Bob, if our friend is looking for a reason to buy a new gun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted February 15, 2007 Report Share Posted February 15, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? If it was me going I'd be taking my .300 Win Mag and my .300 WSM. My WSM is a Browning BLR, so it'd be nice, light and short to carry in the bush, my Win Mag is a Remington 700 BDL, so it'd be nice for the open fields etc. You can never have too many guns! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmoss Posted February 15, 2007 Report Share Posted February 15, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? My buddy owns a large caribou outfitter www.jackhumeadventures.com if I were you I would go with a 7MM or 300 Win Mag if the herd is not running full out the shots WILL be long and you want a punch at the end as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted February 16, 2007 Report Share Posted February 16, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? [ QUOTE ] but a SCOPE member might tell you to bring a .270 [/ QUOTE ] Since I own a 270, thats what I would use. Nothing wrong with that caliber! Shoots flat, and has plenty of killing power for them! Oh, and BTW, I am not a member of any silly group here! LOL!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M00N Posted February 16, 2007 Report Share Posted February 16, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? What should influence your decision more than caliber is what are you comfortable with recoil wise to shoot. If you're not comfortable with the recoil your accuracy will suffer because of it and accuracy is the most important thing influencing a good kill with caliber a close second. You can have a huge caliber and if you cannot hit the vitals are going to cause unneeded suffering and wounded animals to happen. Long as you stay with a caliber that at the distance you are shooting has enough power to kill the prey, if the shot is accurate, then you're safe to go. Though caribou are compared to whitetail deer in ease to kill, they are a bit bigger bodied and I wouldn't feel safe using my .243 on them like I do the deer around here. So, I'd stick with the .270 caliber or larger. I know quite a few hunters that took the Caribou hunts and used .270 caliber guns without a problem, even at the longer distance shots. In the groups they went with .270 was the most common caliber with .30-06 the second common. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ripper Posted February 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? Thank you to all, I will take my .280 or 308. Sorry to all the MAG guys, although I have yet to be taken in by the SCOPE members, I know there is no place for me in OTPG. I like my cocoa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tped Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? They aren't that tough and shots can be short or long. Many are killed each year with bows. I used my 7 mag when I went and first one was 3oo yards and second was 50 yards so one of each. I would think anything you are comfortable with from 270 up would be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbonhunter Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? [ QUOTE ] They aren't that tough and shots can be short or long. Many are killed each year with bows. I used my 7 mag when I went and first one was 3oo yards and second was 50 yards so one of each. I would think anything you are comfortable with from 270 up would be good. [/ QUOTE ] I've read of guys killing them with slug guns as well (close range) i dont think it would really matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? Were i to go, I would take my 7mm STW.............not because I've ever seen a need for that kind of horsepower to anchor a caribou. They appear pretty easy to kill. It's just that my STW will put a bullet exactly where I want it about as far away as I want to do it. I would think any reasonable whitetail caliber (.257 Roberts, 25-06 and up) would do the trick nicely. If you have to walk much, I'd think a nice 6 1/2 or 7 lb. rig would be a tad more user-friendly to tote than my 9 lb. STW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? I would go with a 25-06. Plenty power for that size game and easy on the shoulder. Just make sure you've got plenty SCOPE for the lay of the land and keep the cocoa warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robk Posted February 22, 2007 Report Share Posted February 22, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? one with good knock down would be a 35 whelen. best for gemsbok and wildabeast which are animals a little bigger but the whelen would do you proud anywhere you go in north america. also i would look at the 308 and the 30-06 both of them are also excellent choices. the whelen will have more knock down power than the others but a well placed shot with any of the 3 would make for an ideal weapon of choice rob k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ripper Posted February 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? I appreciate you liking a 35 whelen. I don't argue it's knock down power, but I don't think it's the gun I would want for a 300 yard shot at a caribou. I'm not that familiar with it's ballistics but the drop on that bullet beyond 200 yds must be a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Colorado Bob Posted February 23, 2007 Report Share Posted February 23, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? Ripper-----your 280 or 308 will be perfect. Take them both. Use the one with hte better scope as you 1st choice & the other as a backup. CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowana Posted February 24, 2007 Report Share Posted February 24, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? I like the 270 Weatherby. Plenty of knock down power, light recoil and flat/fast shooter. the 300 WSM would also be a great choice. Any deer cartridge will work. What your looking for is that range factor out to 400+ yards. 277 and 30 cal bullets have excellent ballistic coeficients. Look for a premium bullet that is over .450. I would favor the Nosler partition....but thats me. Scope and OPTG will have to live together on this one. The 'ol 30-06 would be and outstanding choice......just not mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyohunter Posted February 24, 2007 Report Share Posted February 24, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? on the hunting show i have seen bow kills, muzzle loader up to mags used, so its pretty much a question of.......what do you want to use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted March 1, 2007 Report Share Posted March 1, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? Hi. I would be fine with a .270 .280. or your .308. they are all perfect for what you want. too_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntinguide Posted March 1, 2007 Report Share Posted March 1, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? whatever you feel comfortable shooting.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njbowhntr Posted March 6, 2007 Report Share Posted March 6, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? What ever you feel comfortable shooting out to 500 yards. I carry my 7mm STW for everything. I have been on 2 caribou and yet to pull the trigger yet. I missed the migration both times. The closest shot I had was about 600 yards. If I had a solid rest I would have pulled the trigger. But when I hit the deck to shoot prone of a rock, I ended up with my feet higher than my head. My back was all crunched up. Did not feel right, so I did not squeeze off the shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest colter Posted March 10, 2007 Report Share Posted March 10, 2007 Re: Rifle for Quebec Caribou?? i would use a 308 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.