Raptors? We have hawks around here, more than one might expect. I don't know why we have such a high concentration. Maybe it's because of the old-growth, tall trees. Last year, I saw something on the street in front of my house which startled me- a squirrel skeleton- a fresh skeleton minus the head. Not a single scrap of flesh left on the bones. As the saying goes, "'tweren't Mormons!"

The wife occasionally reminds me that hawks are a protected species. She feels the need to do this because I've told her that if I see a hawk anywhere near our cat, I'm gonna punch it in its hawk head and then stomp a mudhole in its hawk ass. The state won't be able to charge me because I'll surely bleed out on the spot from the clawing I receive.

Regarding sufficient moose medicine, well, I can't recall their name, but in the early 20th century there was a big-game hunter who used to kill African elephants with 7x57mm Mauser. If it works on African elephant, it'll work on moose.


**edit**

Here's the guy: Karamojo Bell

Not pictured on that page: his gigantic brass balls.

"He is noted for using smaller calibre bullets rather than the heavy recoiling, larger calibre bullets that were popular with other big game hunters. Around 800 of his kills were made with Mauser 98 rifles chambered for the 7×57mm Mauser/.275 Rigby (using the 1893 pattern standard military 11.2-gram (172.8 gr) grain round-nosed full metal jacket load), which today is considered to be too small for elephants, and are no longer legal for dangerous African game; Bell preferred smaller calibers because, besides being lighter rifles to carry, they recoiled less and therefore are quicker to the second shot. Bell found that German and English military ammunition was the most reliable, which also encouraged him to use the smaller calibers. His favourite rifles were a bespoke Rigby-made 7×57mm Mauser with which he shot the majority of his elephants, a 'wand-like' Mannlicher–Schoenauer 6.5×54mm carbine, which he abandoned due to failure of the available ammunition, a Lee–Enfield sporting rifle in .303 British and Mauser rifles chambered in .318 Westley Richards."

Ya, but he’d shoot them behind the ear, AKA the Bell shot.

I was confused. I thought he shot them in the scrotum, AKA the Ball shot.

Well, the biggest handguns I have are .50AE, .500 S&W Magnum, and a BFR in .45-70. Reckon one of those would do the job?

flashguy

I’ve run into moose a couple times.
Once on the freeway. Full grown. Definitely bigger than our truck. It turned its rack our way and we threw our vehicle in reverse and got the fuck out of dodge.

The next time was right down the street from our house. It was a calf, about the size of a horse. I was driving, on my way to dog training class with my mutt, and I see a see a horse trotting towards us. Surreal, since I’m in a suburban neighborhood with no stables around, and I recognize the gait isn’t right…finally realize it’s a moose as I’m passing. Luckily, it had somewhere to be, so no issues there! This is NOT a creature to mess with. Had an acquaintance with brain damage after her car was totaled by a run in with a moose.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Raptors? We have hawks around here, more than one might expect. I don't know why we have such a high concentration. Maybe it's because of the old-growth, tall trees.

They are becoming prevalent everywhere especially the Red Tail Hawk. It does not matter if it is a treed area or not.
I live in a fairly unique area. I can be in the heart of downtown and drive in any direction for 15 minutes and will be in the midst of nearly treeless horse farms, then travel another 10 minutes and be in some deep forests, it I travel south from downtown the trees areas go to the river that are palisades with hundreds of feet drop offs to the river.
Red tails are absolutely everywhere. We have a 20 mile mostly limited access loop that somewhat separates urban and suburban areas of town. You take the time to drive the entire loop I bet you would see at least 20 red tails perched on the street lights along the way. They watch the grass median for little critters.
I see more red tailed hawks than I do cardinals or blue jays.

Our subdivisions are loaded with Peregrine Falcons. I love watching them fly between the houses. They are so blistering fast.

Growing up one would see Raptors on occasion but only in the woods especially if there was some decent water ways.

Awesome picture parabellum. That is one impressive animal.

That moose has the look of an animal that knows it doesn't have to prove anything to anybody.

Yeah, my twenty bucks would be put on the moose.

Also, I think 5.56 would work...



...provided you could launch 30 rounds of it a single burst and then follow it up with a couple of 40mm grenades


"SAY 'HALLO' TO MY LEETLE FRAND!!!"

Has anyone heard or read what the "high powered" rifle was that killified the beast? I'd guess that is of interest to our folks here, just like the failure of the .380. Another interesting point hinted at was how many of the .380 shots hit the thing and where. Remember, a mis isn't going to kill it unless it scares it to death. Tiny little handgun rounds don't usually do that.

I also must admit to ignorance of what a high powered rifle is. OK, I know one when I see it or worse feel it in my shoulder. I also know some of the unqualified pistol rounds when I see them. I could be wrong. A while back an Alaskan guide did killify a grizzly with a 9mm at close range with a single shot from a Smith model 39. Makes you wonder if the brand of gun really matters...

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
A G20 loaded with fifteen 220 grain hard cast flat nose cartridges would make a nifty backup, but when there's a pissed-off moose thirty feet from you, you'll want the .375 H&H.

Dang. I just sold my 375 (M70 pre 64)

If I recall, that show Wild Alaska Something with the cute Phred, seemed to show a Marlin lever in 45-70 quite often. I think...

quote:

Originally posted by pbslinger:
Can you shoot a moose to protect your dogs?

That thought crossed my mind, knowing it's not unheard of for dog sledders to cull a fair number of their dogs at times.

Probably okay in the eyes of the law.

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:
Well, the biggest handguns I have are .50AE, .500 S&W Magnum, and a BFR in .45-70. Reckon one of those would do the job?

flashguy

Yes, but you need a trailer for the BFR.