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What cartridge has accounted for more deer kills than any other?

JerryBobCoJerryBobCo Posts: 8,227 Senior Member
My guess is the 22RF. There's no telling how many deer have been poached by people shooting a 22.

What is your guess?
Jerry

Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
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Replies

  • MichakavMichakav Posts: 2,907 Senior Member
    Have to agree on the .30-.30
  • breamfisherbreamfisher Posts: 14,060 Senior Member
    Off-hand, I think you're both right: .30-30 for legal kills, .22 RF for poaching.
    I'm just here for snark.
  • bullsi1911bullsi1911 Posts: 12,359 Senior Member
    knitepoet wrote: »
    Well, to my understanding way back when, during the 30-30's hey-day, did they even HAVE seasons and bag limits?

    I figured a lot of the meat hunters of yore went out and killed something whenever they needed meat :uhm:

    No real bag limit or seasons on poaching, either.
    To make something simple is a thousand times more difficult than to make something complex.
    -Mikhail Kalashnikov
  • BigDanSBigDanS Posts: 6,992 Senior Member
    We had this thread years ago. The 30-30 gets my vote.

    D
    "A patriot is mocked, scorned and hated; yet when his cause succeeds, all men will join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." Mark Twain
    Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
  • Grizz1219Grizz1219 Posts: 424 Member
    22 LR for poaching.. but think the 30-06 has taken more deer at this point... At the time the 30-30 was THE gun, there were far less deer and far fewer people...
  • MichakavMichakav Posts: 2,907 Senior Member
    Grizz1219 wrote: »
    22 LR for poaching.. but think the 30-06 has taken more deer at this point... At the time the 30-30 was THE gun, there were far less deer and far fewer people...

    I think you underestimate how many .30-.30's are still out there being used every season.
  • JermanatorJermanator Posts: 16,244 Senior Member
    Michakav wrote: »
    I think you underestimate how many .30-.30's are still out there being used every season.
    It is like everyone and their brother is out there with one. Lots and lots of people have 30/30's around here.
    Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.
    -Thomas Paine
  • MichakavMichakav Posts: 2,907 Senior Member
    Jermanator wrote: »
    It is like everyone and their brother is out there with one. Lots and lots of people have 30/30's around here.

    Same in PA.
  • Ranch13Ranch13 Posts: 820 Senior Member
    I'ld bet it's a toss up between the 30-30 and the 30-06.
  • FlashoverFlashover Posts: 390 Member
    Lot depends on what part of the world as well. If asked in regards to area of the world I am in...303 british would get the nod with 30-30 a distant second. In regards to poachers?...I haven't been around that scene in years but was always a .303 british enfield cut down and beat to within an inch of it's life to use as a "throw away" rifle. As a kid, I remember traveling around back roads with my Dad collecting beer bottles for returns out of the ditches and us finding several old .303's that people tossed when rangers were close by.
  • orchidmanorchidman Posts: 8,415 Senior Member
    Down under it would be the venerable 303..............in fact it would apply to any of the old British Commonwealth countries.
    Still enjoying the trip of a lifetime and making the best of what I have.....
  • beartrackerbeartracker Posts: 3,116 Senior Member
  • MichakavMichakav Posts: 2,907 Senior Member
    Ranch13 wrote: »
    I'ld bet it's a toss up between the 30-30 and the 30-06.

    I definitely agree it's between the 2.
  • shushshush Posts: 6,259 Senior Member
    Bit of lateral thinking; 12 bore ?, slug or shot.
  • FreezerFreezer Posts: 2,664 Senior Member
    in The US hands down the 30-30 folowed by the 06.
    I like Elmer Keith; I married his daughter :wink:
  • TeachTeach Posts: 18,428 Senior Member
    Ford F-150!
    :tooth:
    Jerry
  • shootershooter Posts: 1,186 Senior Member
    Freezer wrote: »
    in The US hands down the 30-30 folowed by the 06.

    :that:
    There's no such thing as having too much ammo, unless you're on fire or trying to swim!
  • NNNN Posts: 25,228 Senior Member
  • RazorbackerRazorbacker Posts: 4,646 Senior Member
    Jermanator wrote: »
    It is like everyone and their brother is out there with one. Lots and lots of people have 30/30's around here.

    They're fairly ubiquitous here but I dunno. The 30/30 had a head start for sure but the '06 has been around a long time now and in a lot of different action types. And I would think Western hunters have probably eschewed the "thuty thuty" for some time now. And now we have all these Remchester super short long action magnums. Which is not to say they're challenging the 30/30 but just to say there are so many more options these days and what people are using to hunt deer are so spread out. Which is good I think.
    The conventional wisdom is the 30/30 but I don't know how we can know. In my state when you check a deer, all you put on the tag is weapon type used, i.e. modern gun, archery tackle or Muzzle loader.
    So unless the other 56 states track cartridge used, we'll never have a definitive answer.

    On the .22 thing for poachers, I can't say. I've never talked to a poacher as far as I know. But years ago we were having this discussion so we put a doe's head on a fence post and a buddy shot it with his .22 short. I can assure you that a shot between the eyes from that round would do the job.
    Teach your children to love guns, they'll never be able to afford drugs
  • JerryBobCoJerryBobCo Posts: 8,227 Senior Member
    ubiquitous?

    eschew?

    other 56 states?

    I nominate this for one of the best posts of the year. Even Obama would be proud.
    Jerry

    Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
  • LinefinderLinefinder Posts: 7,835 Senior Member
    JerryBobCo wrote: »
    ubiquitous?

    eschew?

    other 56 states?

    I nominate this for one of the best posts of the year. Even Obama would be proud.

    :that:

    Mike
    "Walking away seems to be a lost art form."
    N454casull
  • LinefinderLinefinder Posts: 7,835 Senior Member
    Well, I don't know about all time, but myself.....

    1 with a .30-.30
    1 with a .308 Win
    ~30 with a .270 Win.

    .270 wins. Again.

    Mike
    "Walking away seems to be a lost art form."
    N454casull
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,177 Senior Member
    There is no way to ever truely know.
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • beartrackerbeartracker Posts: 3,116 Senior Member
    Zee wrote: »
    There is no way to ever truely know.

    You think??? :that: :jester:
  • RazorbackerRazorbacker Posts: 4,646 Senior Member
    Linefinder wrote: »
    Well, I don't know about all time, but myself.....

    1 with a .30-.30
    1 with a .308 Win
    ~30 with a .270 Win.
    .270 wins. Again.

    Mike

    Except this is a big game thread, lol:punch:
    But I do like your take on the topic so I'll play
    1 with a 12 ga slug gun
    5-ish with a bow
    probably 6=8 with a ML
    2 with a .300WM
    1 with a .45LC
    1 with a 8mm RM
    Out of a total of between 50 to 60 the rest with a .30 '06 including a Muley

    Next...

    Edit: I was racking my brain tying to remember them all while I wrote the above, and now I've remembered 3 one morning with a .338 WM. There may be more. I'm still thinking.

    Edit #2: I remember 2 one foggy morning with the .300WM. Not adding to the overall total just remembering different hunts
    Teach your children to love guns, they'll never be able to afford drugs
  • orchidmanorchidman Posts: 8,415 Senior Member
    Linefinder wrote: »
    Well, I don't know about all time, but myself.....

    1 with a .30-.30
    1 with a .308 Win
    ~30 with a .270 Win.

    .270 wins. Again.

    Mike

    My 222 has shot well over 30 deer and 2 large bulls.

    My 7mm08 has shot around 20-25 deer. ( maybe more)

    Heck, my .22 has shot 2 deer.

    My 270 has shot none.

    270 loses. Again.

    ( Maybe one day I will take my 270 hunting..................but we dont have coyotes or squirrels over here) :tooth:
    Still enjoying the trip of a lifetime and making the best of what I have.....
  • LinefinderLinefinder Posts: 7,835 Senior Member
    Except this is a big game thread, lol:punch:
    But I do like your take on the topic so I'll play
    1 with a 12 ga slug gun
    5-ish with a bow
    probably 6=8 with a ML
    2 with a .300WM
    1 with a .45LC
    1 with a 8mm RM
    Out of a total of between 50 to 60 the rest with a .30 '06 including a Muley

    Next...

    Well......I guess the .30-06 beats the .270 after all. I might have to get one. Hmmm........are they hard to find? I hope so, 'cause I don't want to be seen carrying anything boring......:jester:

    Mike
    "Walking away seems to be a lost art form."
    N454casull
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,177 Senior Member
    Orchid,

    Be sure to cut holes in the bag over your head before you put it on.
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
  • LinefinderLinefinder Posts: 7,835 Senior Member
    Alec,

    Having a .270 and not taking it hunting is like having a sister and not taking her to the prom.

    Mike
    "Walking away seems to be a lost art form."
    N454casull
  • ZeeZee Posts: 28,177 Senior Member
    Dude,

    You're on a roll tonight!
    "To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
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