2 Caribou with a Handi in .243

[gustmouse]

Well, I got back from hunting caribou in northern Quebec several days ago. I took 2 nice bulls with a Handi in .243 caliber.
Both shots were from about 75 yards. The first bull was trotting in my direction with a cow. I saw them about 400 yards out. I knelt down in the high blueberry bushes. When the bull filled my scope set at 9 power, I touched off a shot. He ran for another 20 yards and then dropped.
I hit him right behind the right front shoulder. The cheap Federal 100 grainer finished him quick! This was very fun since it was my first caribou.
The second bull was taken later that day. We were climbing a small ridge and viewed a bigger bull from behind a large bolder. After some indecision from the other hunters, I moved up and shot the bull hitting him in the left shoulder. While our guide was quartering the animal the 100 grain bullet was found in the opposite shoulder just below the skin. Most of the other hunters were using a magnum of some sort. But one other hunter also used a .243 One of his caribous was shot at over 350 yards and killed with one shot. So needless to say that I’m happy with the little handi in .243. It’s simple, shoots good and being a break action it can be put in a “safe” condition easily!

[Spanky]

Congratulations!!  That is a fine looking animal!!

Spanky

[Mac11700]

Awesome...

Excellent shooting...and to think some feel the 243 is underpowered for those little whitetail deer too...

Thanks for sharing

Mac

[chad1043]

Nice shooting. Never underestimate the power of the .243... Great job!

Chad

[DalesCarpentry]

Well, I got back from hunting caribou in northern Quebec several days ago. I took 2 nice bulls with a Handi in .243 caliber.
Both shots were from about 75 yards. The first bull was trotting in my direction with a cow. I saw them about 400 yards out. I knelt down in the high blueberry bushes. When the bull filled my scope set at 9 power, I touched off a shot. He ran for another 20 yards and then dropped.
I hit him right behind the right front shoulder. The cheap Federal 100 grainer finished him quick! This was very fun since it was my first caribou.
The second bull was taken later that day. We were climbing a small ridge and viewed a bigger bull from behind a large bolder. After some indecision from the other hunters, I moved up and shot the bull hitting him in the left shoulder. While our guide was quartering the animal the 100 grain bullet was found in the opposite shoulder just below the skin. Most of the other hunters were using a magnum of some sort. But one other hunter also used a .243 One of his caribous was shot at over 350 yards and killed with one shot. So needless to say that I’m happy with the little handi in .243. It’s simple, shoots good and being a break action it can be put in a “safe” condition easily!

   Wow very nice. That makes me feel better. I will have to hunt White tail this year with my 243. You said that one was killed at over 350 yards. Was that one also with the 243?        Dale

[LaOtto222]

Nice shooting, and nice Bull.   Thanks for sharing your experience.

[rbergum95]

congratulations on the 2 bulls and nice shooting.

[GRIMJIM]

Awesome caribou. The terrain in the picture looks just like the area in northern quebec I went to. I only got one bull though. I'm so used to hunting whitetail I shot the first animal I saw, a nice sized cow. I didn't know the number of animals I would see and didn't want to get skunked. The guide asked me "Did you want to shoot a cow?" I told him I wanted to make sure I brought home some meat. Two days later I got my bull.

Are you getting a mount done?

[gustmouse]

Thanks Guys!
It was an awesome hunt. We had to stay an extra day in Montreal because of the weather. Also we had a snowstorm on the first full day. So the 5 day hunt quickly turned to 3 1/2 days. The day after the snow we saw about 40 animals. The Leaf River herd really hadn't got into the area yet. But the 2 other hunters and myself were able to shoot 4 nice bulls. Thanks to our great Guide we were lucky to be in the right area on the right day. We basically hunted two Islands with 100 foot high ridges across from each other separated by a narrow part of a lake. So we were able to see animals crossing the ridges from either side. We would see caribou, get in the boat, cross the lake run up the ridge and hope to get a shot! 3 of the animals were taken this way. the last was shot later in the day on the side of another ridge at a different location. We had to work for them but all 8 hunters in our group tagged out. The longest shot was over 350 yards by our youngest hunter, age 13 with a .243!  A couple of the guys had the animals caped. But I just took the "Bones" We had a great time and we all can't wait to go again. I may even, that's if I can work something out with my job, work at the camp as a helper/guide next year! The people who worked at the camp were great. When we flew out we felt like we were leaving family behind!

[ALLANGT]

Awesome...

Excellent shooting...and to think some feel the 243 is underpowered for those little whitetail deer too...

Thanks for sharing

Mac

.243 is barely big enough for 'yotes.

[Rustyinfla]

 Well I sure am glad you were using that .243 on those little caribou and not on some giant whitetail who knows what would have happened.

             Rusty <><

[sanso1]

I always knew a 243 would be capable. I bought one just because the ballistic chart is outstanding for 243.. it has a 308 case doesn't it? 100grains of lead @ 3000fps

[myarmor]

Congrats on a good hunt. And good work with your 243. They are, for the most part, easy to shoot with low recoil and accuracy can be amazing. Don't let those little pills fool anyone. They penetrate and kill very well.






-Aaron

[rex6666]

some one has some awesome yotes. my uncle used a 243 for years on elk and killed one most every year. of course those were the days be fore elk and deer evolved in to super
sub species. and required large magnums (or do the shooters require the large Magnums)
that is some good shooting and looks to be a great hunt, could you elaborate on the services
you used to book the hunt.

[The Goose]

All I can say is wow! Great job and a great photo.

[teddy12b]

That's a hunt I've always wanted to go on.  Could you tell me who the outfitter was?  Do they have a website?

[Sourdough]

If you do your part, and it looks like you did, the .243 will do it's part.  How much damage was done?  My neighbor's daughters both shot their Caribou in the neck, at around 80 yards.  They lost almost all the neck meat due to hydrostatic shock.

The only problem with the .243 is that most people can't do their part.  They can't hit the little sweet spots they need to hit.

[gustmouse]

The outfitter was Leaf River Lodge. The season runs from August 1st to the last day of September. We booked our hunt over two years before we went! Which is normal. But we did have 4 spots open at our camp for the week we went. There was some some damage done by the .243 on the caribou I shot, but really didn’t loose much meat. But the other hunter who used a .243 with Remington corelocks did a lot of damage to one of his caribous front quarters. I shot Federal 100 grain softpoints because they shoot better in my rifle.

This is a photo of my second and larger caribou shot with the .243

http://www.leafriverlodge.com/index_.php?page=en1

[handirifle]

nice looking bou's.