Hunting Forum

I am planning to start trapping this coming fall, so this will be my first of many questions for you guys. For dispatching trapped animals I am planning to carry my 22 pistol. I also plan to carry my 17 hmr for anything I may "jump" while running traps.  My question is this, if it should be necessary do you think I could use the 17 (loaded with a frangible) for dispatching or do you think it would pass through and do to much damage to fur. In my area I would mostly be coming in to skunk bobcat and coyotes. Thanks in advance, and any other info you have pertaining to dispatching would be helpful

Take a look at these;

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shoo...%3Bpod7014

For animals in a trap 22 shorts will do the deed. After thirty some years of trapping I have never "jumped" a critter other than bedded deer. On occasion I have come up on coons sunning in treetops most unaware I was there a 22lr will bring them down.

If you're out running your lines and you jump a skunk, a .22lr does the trick pretty well. Skunks and coons aren't very fast, and if you're able to, you can actually run them down. For yotes, if you jump them, I prefer a .223.

For anything in a trap, a .22 cal pellet gun works well also.

There are also several commercially available clubs that work pretty well if you are worried about damage to fur. I have what is called a "fish billy" that is sold in some sporting good stores and there is another called a "tire thumper" that is sold in some truck stops. They are all round and polished and will do minimal damage to fur.

Hello from Northern Ontario...
I too am interested in the .17HMR for the same reason.. My last trip to my line, three days ago, I harvested a rather nice beaver and a huge otter so, if you look, you should find?!? I do not hesitate to switch from trap to firearm if the oppertunity comes up but make certain that you can firstly harvest the animal cleanly and have a method of retreaval - I carry a small canoe or jon boat... My firearm of choice now is the Ruger 77 SS in the .22MAG with a 2 to 6 firefly scope. Prior to that and since 1966, I used a Mossberg "Chucker" professionally shorted to an 18 1/2 inch barrel, in the .22MAG and a whole bunch of different scopes until I landed on Bushnell!!! Ammo - I use the Winchester FMJ or the CCI TMJ and this season a Hornaday cannot remember the name but a very light tipped bullet and find all to be very excellent!!! Each time I switch amo, take the firearm to the range and zero at 30 yards, that is the max length in our indoor range... Over the years, I have dispatched everything from beaver, fox, lynx, wolf and even a couple of black bears with the .22MAG and the holes are not a problem because shoot into ear hole or centre of skull, down and slightly above the eye line and angle so that it comes out the chin or mouth... I am thinking of going to the 17 because it nice flat shooting accuracy and can get a FMJ bullet and I watched a friend harvest a nice Timber Wolf at ove 130 yards with the little bullet?!? He is an excellent shot!!! Have fun, Stay Safe and Happy Trails!!!

Just put up 2 XL beavers harvested with the Hornaday .22MAG and both were taken with a shot just behind the eye. The bullet went in clean and stayed with in the skull with no exit hole and two very dead beaver!!! Worked like a charm!!! Cannot say the same for a rather nice rat. .22MAG remains too much firearm. Did put the animal on a stretcher but not going to try that again!!! Had 4 nice grouse for supper the other day. Head shots all!!! Love the accuracy of the .22MAG, my Ruger 77 and Hornaday Ammo, which is not only extremely accurate but very clean!!! Have Fun, Stay Safe, and Happy Trails!!!

P.S. Looking at a Zastava Persision 5 in the 17??? Anyone know this firearm or Manufacture???