Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Canada Recommended caliber for Saskatchewan deer.

What rifle caliber do you all recommend for hunting whitetails in Saskatchewan?

nothing wrong with a 270 win, 280 rem, 7mm rem mag or 30/06

You northerly neighbors haven't started armor plating them for fun have you?

Ruger270man;
As a former resident of Saskatchewan sir, I can assure you that the whitetails there aren't any tougher than whitetails or mulies that we've encountered here in BC.

Since that's the case, if I was going back to Saskatchewan to hunt I'd just take the two favorite rifles in the safe, the ones that I shoot the best under pressure and that I know work all the time - especially in cold weather.

In the last good number of years I've begun more and more to not care nearly as much about the size of the hole in the barrel or the piece of brass that holds the bullet.

I do care about the bullet and even more so about how well I'm able to place said bullet in a timely fashion in field conditions.

Hopefully that made some sense to you sir, all the best to you on your upcoming hunts and especially good luck if you're chasing those big Saskatchewan whitetail.

Regards,
Dwayne

I REALLY like the 280 Rem. for big deer!

.243, .25-06, etc. Something that goes boom and puts a hole in stuff will work fine

270.

Gay deer up there...but some of them are big.

And "no" a 300 magnum is not required.

For this years Saskatchewan trip I'll be using a 180 Hornady SP from a 30-06.

There will probably be several 300 WSM, 300 WM and Weatherby mags in camp, but your .270 Win. elk rifle will work just as good on these big deer.

From a few trips up north I've noticed the outfitter's kids were using 25-06, 7/08, and .270 Win

The same caliber that you would shoot Deer with anywhere else in the world

Yup, think bullet and where that bullet goes, rather than chambering.

I have killed deer with .22lr, 30/30, 7.62x39, 20 ga., 257 rob, 6.5x55, 7x57, 303 br, 30-06, 338 winmag. All work but shot placement is critical in all cases.

BC30cal offers sound advice. Pay attention to sound advice.

Randy

Damn, I did'nt think the gay spread all the way to Saskatchewan....

Started in NH. Quite insidious, but none spotted here in NB.

IMO, 243 is a little light to be dependable on the northend of a southbound 300lber. Yet if the buck is unalarmed and broadside, a 243 will drop them as good as anything. A 25-06 with a quality 115-120gr bullet is a big step up. Anything above that and you are golden. Like others have said, shot placement and a dependable bullet are key. Flat shooting calibers are nice in many areas.

If your handle also describes your arsenal, 270guy, use a 130 grain TSX.

the shootist;
I trust that this finds you and yours well this cool final morning of August Brother Keith.

I'd add that our initial tests of the 130gr GMX from Hornady have been very positive as well, so if one is into monometal bullets then there is that option too.

We've been lucky here since a few members of our family hunt, we process our own game and help friends do theirs as well that we get to do semi formal autopsies on carcasses that other hunters couldn't manage in several lifetimes.

Sometimes the results can be surprising, which is why my statement that I don't pay much attention to the hole in the barrel or the cartridge much anymore came to be.

For instance we've seen more penetration on deer sized animals - after breaking major bones too mind you - on the marvelous little 80gr TTSX fired from a .250AI than we got out of two samples of 220gr. RN Hornady fired from a .308 Norma (one moose, one first rack whitetail)

I will say that the monometals don't seem to drop an animal as quickly on average with a picture perfect broadside lung shot where only ribs are hit.

If however as AB2506 said one is forced to shoot at the south end of a north running deer - which if it's been hit already I could see happening - then the monometal choice or a partition will give one an edge over a cup and core.

Anyway, there'll always be a lot of debate on this subject and our opinions are only that - just opinions and worth only what they cost one to read.

All the best to you and yours Brother Keith and good luck on your hunts this fall.

Dwayne

Yep. The only possible reason to "load up" for Canadian whitetails is if one needs to justify/rationalize a new rifle purchase.

I may take the .243 to SK this year.

Any thing shooting a .23 or larger bullet works and is legal. Pick what you got in the safe and make sure you can make a 60-125yard shot. Dress warm and stay awake on stand.

If I was going there, I'd just just take one of the 270s.

I guess you could kill a deer with just about anything out there with perfect shot placement. You're going to be in SK for a few days time and weather/wind, shot angle, and distance will all play a part in your shot. Shoot something that will allow you to make the shot when it counts (something you're familiar with and good at shooting), and something that has the juice to get the job done from a multitude of angles and at a distance if need be. For me, the 300 RUM with 180 BT will do it at any distance I care to shoot and allow for a small margin of error if I should make a poor shot, etc. So bring a 22LR if you can find some ammo and you are willing to accept the limitations, otherwise, if it were my money going into the hunt, I would pack a rifle that will get it done in every situation I might run into.