What caliber to use

[Sourdough]

You know we talk about the caliber we use or like and someone always has something either good or bad about that particuler caliber.  But you know they are all good, within their paramiters.

I read the book about Frank Glasser, "Alaska's Wolfman".  Frank was a Market Huntier, a Meat Hunter for the road commission, Guide, Wildlife Collector for the USGS, and Government Preditor Control Agent.  Frank lived in the wilderness, camping most of the time.  Walking or riding dog sled across much of Alaska.  Frank was able to buy the latest and greatest in firearms and scopes of the day.

Only one time in the book did Frank say he was undergunned.  Frank tried to kill a Grizzly with a .220 Swift.  Frank was hard pressed keeping a tree between himself and said Grizzly, as he kept shooting it every chance he got.  

Now thinking about what I shoot most of the time, Foxes, Lynx, Coyotes, Wolves, Caribou, Moose, and Bears.  I usually carry three guns with me when I go out.  .17HMR, .223, and the old 30-06.

Foxes, .17 HMR works good.  Small hole in and no exit hole.  Can shoot them out to 200 yards no problem.  A .223 blows them in half, same for the Lynx.

Coyotes, a .17HMR just does not stop them, a .223 works good and puts them down in their tracks.  A 30-06 is kind of distructive.

Wolves, the .223 is minimum, sometimes it will stop them and sometimes it won't.  I have found the 30-06 is a much better choice.

Caribou Moose and bears, 30-06 is the minimum.  Yes I could kill Caribou and Moose with smaller guns, but what am I going to do when I run into a Grizzly.  I don't care what anybody says about this or that gun will kill a Grizzly, I will not face one with anything smaller than the old 30-06.    

[wackmaster]

I like bigger rifles.
For antilope on up its a 338 wild cat.
for fox cayote and evry day shooting it's a 25 cal wild cat.
And when the long shot is called for I shoot a bigger heavy 338 wild cat at every thing from rock chucks to elk.

[Sourdough]

Wackmaster:  It's obvious you don't collect fur.

[Glanceblamm]

Good Read Sourdough!

Hunting opportunitys around here are very bland by comparison but I am considering downsizing to the .22 Hornet for Coyotes that are in the calling range of 150yds and much closer by my personal experience of 60yds to 135yds.

The Bear stories are always interesting and have amounted to a fortune in magazine sales along with being a thorn in the side of GBO when posted in the Handgun hunting section

I can recall one mag article where the two hunters (not hunting bear) had got too close to the Sow griz with cubs and immediately started backing off while waving and shouting...They went on to say that at 9yds and being backed up against a creek, she was just too close. When one of the hunters let loose with the 30/06 they said that the only thing that could be seen was teeth & brains flying!

[oldandslow]

I like bigger rifles.
For antilope on up its a 338 wild cat.
for fox cayote and evry day shooting it's a 25 cal wild cat.
And when the long shot is called for I shoot a bigger heavy 338 wild cat at every thing from rock chucks to elk.

Your name certainly fits your post. Anything you mentioned should be whacked with those calibers. 

The biggest thing you will encounter around here is a coyote and the things are every where and lots of them. I don't know what they feed on. We've been out of prairie dogs for the last four years due to hunters with shooting tables in the back of pickups and then plague. Hardly ever see a rabbit. Maybe there are enough rats and mice. Whatever they are eating they seem to be doing OK.

I used to use a .22/250 but the recoil finally got to be too much for my arthritic shoulder and I downsized to a .223. Lots of long shots as the terrain is flat as a pancake. Sometimes you have to let one go as the .223 isn't quite enough gun for the distance.

[FredWT]

I am with wackmaster. I like massive tissue damage.

[Catfish]

I think that sourdough has it about right. You could make good argueement about the different rounds, but what he said is about as good as you can do, especially if your shooting factory ammo.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

   For hunting varmits here in Wy. I have quite a bit of use for the common 22 lr. it is great for shooting gophers in the spring, then for p. dogs, although they are difficult to shoot in great numbers anymore, I like my Hornet, .222 or .223. for the rest of my varmit hunting which is some rockchuck, but not much, mostly coyotes, my three favorites are my .22-250, .25-06 and target .300.....I usually dont bother a great deal with fur...
Sourdough, I am going to look up the book you mentioned, and while I have your attention...Did you ever find any biographies of Hosa Saber(?) the great bear man from Alaska...I think he died in the early 50's but his body was never located. I read some about him on old AM. RIFLEMAN, but never saw a book on his life...he was an interesting rifleman, and bear hunter...He died in SE Alaska as you may know.  His boat was found I believe with the motor tipped up, but nothing else...I often wondered if a bear got him, or if he had a heart attack and fell into the ocean...He wrote one of the three finest bear hunting stories I have ever read....