BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[johndoe1527]

I was wondering what weopon I should use for caribou hunting?

[txbritman]

You can use just about whatever weapon you desire; rifle, muzzle loader, or bow, can't use a handgun in Canada though. Just about anything that will work for deer, with the exception of on the very low end, will work for caribou. Most hunters use rifles with which they are cable of taking fairly long shots, out to 300 or even 400 yards, which are sometimes the only shots presented by that big bull on the open tundra. However, shots this long are generally not neccessary to take a bull, proven by the fact that bow hunters are very successful on caribou, though that is a great challenge and not as high a success rate, at least in terms of a kill, as with a rifle. If we narrow your question down to bow or gun, then we can talk more specifics as to calibers, bullets, etc...

Good luck on your hunt. Where are you going?

[johndoe1527]

I will be going to Alaska and I was thinking of useing a 30-06. What gun do you suggest?

[kevin davis]

i used a .300 win mag, because i also hunted moose. a .270 or .30-06 will fold thm up just fine.

[txbritman]

The 30-06 you are thinking of using will work just fine. You can use 150, 165, or 180 grain bullets, with 165's being just about right, but any of them would work if you have a load in one or the other that you already are used to. Caribou aren't the toughest of game to kill, but they are bigger than a deer, so you will want to use a bullet that offers a good compromise of expansion, penetration, and downrange performance. Ballistic tip bullets can work but really aren't the best, nor are bonded bullets neccessary. Nosler Partitions are great as are the Winchester Fail Safe's and XP3's, but those are just the ones I am familiar with and there are many other good bullets. Good luck and have a great hunt.

[Goat hunter]

I have hunted caribou sucsessfully twice in Quebec and my advice, especially if your trophy hunting is find a good flat shooting rifle and practice,practice,practice.Caribou country is flat and barren and it seems the best bulls were always the farthest away.I saw bulls drop out to 600+ yards.Some good performers were the .300 ultra mag.,.270 short mag.,7mm RUM,7mmSTW just to name a few.The four bulls I shot fell to a .300 Weatherby mag.There was no tracking involved.Remember practice,get in shape and be prepared to cover every inch of skin ,it gets but cold up there!

[atomikall]

30 odd for sure man all the way it will do the job and more its the most agile weapon there is. Stick with it it wont let you down.

[tim]

I have killed 4 caibou in my life. They are smaller than an elk and bigger than a deer. 3 of them was with a .270 win. The smallest with a .338 win mag.

farthest shot was 200 yards.

[jim muir]

rifle-.243 and up what ever you shoot comfortably. muzzle loaders and bows are always an option and if you're hunting in the usa ask an outfitter about pistols

[maddenwh]

Question: Do people really take 300-400 yard shots frequently on the tundra? I know it's flat (i've been to Alaska, but only to fish), but doesn't the wind blow like crazy fairly often, thus making long shots more difficult? I don't know as I've not been to the tundra but once many years ago.

If it is the case that it is windy often, I would think that a heavier grained bullet would work better... maybe your 30-06 with at least the 165 grained bullet. I know about shooting in the wind, as I am from the Texas panhandle, but I might be wrong about the wind in Alaska. I just know that Gnome, Alaska is one of the only cities in the U.S. that is on average windier than Amarillo, Texas. Heavier bullets with reasonably fast velocities work the best (if it's too slow, the wind has too much time to push on it, and if it's too light, the wind will steer it off course).

You really can't ever go too wrong with the -06, but I bet that 338 win mag would be better on those longer shots. Also, what if a friendly bear shows up to take your trophy? Always better to have too much gun.

[Widux]

I hunted them for years (12)with an 06 and later with a 300(13)-not necessary but you are often in Grizz country and 300 better stopper for them--Shots can be as long as you want- but me I always tried to get ahead of them and waittill they were close--also never never went too far from camp-- tough carry on Tundra.

[Widux]

I hunted them for years (12)with an 06( 165 gr Core Lokts) and later with a 300(13( 180 noslers)not necessary but you are often in Grizz country and 300 better stopper for them--Shots can be as long as you want- but me I always tried to get ahead of them and waittill they were close--also never never went too far from camp-- tough carry on Tundra.

[H2ODOG]

I have been caribou hunting a few times and have never seen or shot at a bull over 200 yards. I"ve used my 7mm mag and a .270 when hunting them....both do very well. 175 grainNOS for the 7mm mag which was too heavy IMHO. A 150 grain would be just fine. For the .270, I used a 140 grain BTSP and it took down the bou just fine with one shot. Its all about being comfortable with what you shoot, and you don't need a big heavy caliber to hunt em.

Get ahead of them like WIdux says to. If they are walking away from you, you will have a difficult time catchin up. The tundra is nasty to walk in and they walk twcie as fast as you do at ease.

Take GOOD raingear. First trip to Alaska it rained 11 of the 10 days we hunted :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: It was miserable. Don't take any cotton clothes cept for underwear. Remember Kotton Kills. GO all Fleece and GOOD Raingear can't be stressed enough along with good boots. You will be walking a bunch.

Kill as close to camp as you can. One pack we did was 6.5 miles by GPS. I hoped the bears ate everything we couldn't pack out the first day, cuz it was the most miserable day of my life. Worst than packin out a moose.

[Taku]

Well, perhaps one thing to consider is the type of caribou you are going to be hunting. Alaska will have both Barren Ground and Woodland Caribou...and the Barren Ground Caribou are significantly smaller.

I've shot a Woodland caribou from about 200 yards with a 30.06 and the animal was picked up and thrown back about 12 feet. For me, the 30.06 is a little big....I like the suggestion above of a .243 or .270. I've shot plenty of Caribou with a .270. If you're hunting Barren Ground Caribou a 30.06 is unnecessary.

What is necessary, for sure, is that you practise as much as you can with the gun and bullets you plan to use.

just my 2 cents ::-k

[Redhawk1]

I used a 300 Win mag with 165 gr, Barns X bullets. My shot was 300 yards. I hunted in Alaska in 2004 on a self guided hunt on the Northern sloop of the brooks Range. 10 day drop hunt, no guide.

We had a big Grizzly come into our camp the 2nd day, what an adrenalin rush. He left without incident, thank god.

There were 3 of use that went and we saw thousands of Caribou and all of us got a nice one.

I like the 300 Win Mag for them long shots, and it works great with the up close shots as well.