Is it worth toting a 7 pound .22lr on a backpack hunt?

[Chris in TN]

For small game (snowshoe hare, blue grouse, ptarmigan, pine squirrels)?

A couple years ago my dad and I stuck a shotgun in the truck before our trip and while we were waiting on our meat to be processed we spent a day in some national forest and came back with a blue grouse. I thought it was really tasty.

Obviously there's a lot of time I wouldn't shoot one while hunting elk, but on a walk back to camp through a 'dead' area, or on the hike out, or during scouting trips before season opened.....I can see the appeal. The cost is either a) an extra 7 pounds (based on what I already own) of .22lr to tote everywhere, or b) the risk of leaving a rifle (with a NFA can on it) in the car during longer backpack overnight portions of the hunt. The latter can be mitigated with a decent case with a cable lock but there's still a risk.

Based on where I'm planning to take my daughter I fully expect we'll see blue grouse and snowshoe hares and I think ptarmigan are a possibility. The question is, is it worth the bother, or is it even counterproductive because I'll end up tempted to shoot one fifty yards before we top a ridge where elk are bedded? Or do I split the difference and take a .22lr pistol with the can and just limit myself to shorter shots than I might make with a rifle?

If we were committed to truck camping or staying at a cabin this wouldn't even be a question. I'm just really leery of adding weight to a potential backpack trip, or adding the risk of theft with a car parked out in the woods.

 

[Antares]

You do you, but I would struggle to justify a superfluous extra 7oz on a serious backpack hunt. 7 lbs?! Not a chance in hell.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

If cost is an issue, get yourself a heritage rough rider .22 pistol. Otherwise, get a sweet .22 pistol with a threaded barrel and be a cool kid (spoiler, I'm not a cool kid).

 

[Cannonball]

Keltec P17 with can loaded would be 1lb

 

[hereinaz]

I wouldn’t carry it, but in the truck is fine.

 

[flyfisher117]

7lb rifle? Nah.

Couple pound suppressed .22 pistol? Hell yeah.

 

[TradLife406]

Buy a 22 pistol. I'm thinking about getting the Taurus for $300. Supposed to be really good.


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[lil' bear]

Last year we kept a ruger takedown in the truck. Ended up shooting a couple grouse with it. But for backpacking I wouldn't carry a rifle. Get yourself a taurus tx22 pistol. Cheap, and they shoot well. Mine will cycle the Aguila subsonics. But struggled with the fragmenting cci subbies.

 

[atmat]

There ain’t no way I’m packing 7lbs on a backpack hunt.

Most days I’d be too tired by the end to even fuss with a grouse on the walk back, honestly.

 

[yfarm]

killed one by throwing a rock at it, was tasty that night rolled in pancake flour and fried.

 

[Fowl Play]

Can your daughter pack the rifle herself -- sounds like you are really bringing it for her anyways? No way I would pack an extra 7 lbs on a serious backpacking elk hunt myself. I regularly throw a grouse arrow or two in my bow quiver, but that's a couple ounces at most.

 

[Chris in TN]

Can your daughter pack the rifle herself -- sounds like you are really bringing it for her anyways? No way I would pack an extra 7 lbs on a serious backpacking elk hunt myself. I regularly throw a grouse arrow or two in my bow quiver, but that's a couple ounces at most.

To whatever extent we pack in to hunt, I will be toting her rifle already. She can carry it while actually hunting. The .22lr would be added to what the two of us have to haul around one way or the other and I suspect I'd end up with it just for logistical reasons if not for weight.

I should have mentioned - I have a perfectly serviceable host .22lr pistol already. So that's not even an issue I have to worry about. Total package weight with a loaded magazine is around 1.5#. I may just do that and leave the rifle at home.

 

[Chris in TN]

There ain’t no way I’m packing 7lbs on a backpack hunt.

Most days I’d be too tired by the end to even fuss with a grouse on the walk back, honestly.

Storytime:

I killed my first deer, in Colorado, as a young teenager, and it really had an impact on my life. The deer was small and not memorable in particular. What was most memorable was a) the one I missed, b) the sheer number of deer we saw - this was late 80's before the big 90's population crash - and c) the amount of snowshoe hares and cottontails EVERYWHERE that year. It was a peak year for rabbits and they were EVERYWHERE and all these years later I regret not having the means to eat a couple of them.


Later in life I was able to enjoy fried rabbit over a campfire and the 3 minutes it takes to clean a rabbit was worth it, IMO.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

I would take a .22 pistol

 

[Diamondback]

Marlin 70 Papoose 22LR you break down inside pack out of way and weighs 3lbs.
Henry AR 7 also breaks down at 3lbs.

 

[Fowl Play]

To whatever extent we pack in to hunt, I will be toting her rifle already. She can carry it while actually hunting. The .22lr would be added to what the two of us have to haul around one way or the other and I suspect I'd end up with it just for logistical reasons if not for weight.

I should have mentioned - I have a perfectly serviceable host .22lr pistol already. So that's not even an issue I have to worry about. Total package weight with a loaded magazine is around 1.5#. I may just do that and leave the rifle at home.

Are you bringing a rifle too? So you'd be carrying 3 weapons? Up to you on how far your backpacking etc. But I would definitely give thoughts to the weight and how it would affect your big game hunt.

That being said, It is nice to be able to take small game on a hunt, especially if the big game hunting isn't going well -- it can really be a morale boost. Make sure you pack some cooking supplies, spices, etc. to actually cook it well. Maybe even a cooler in the truck with butter, etc. It sucks spending allot of time cleaning a grouse or rabbit, then trying to choke down said overcooked animal with no seasonings (speaking from experience), let alone convincing your daughter to do it.

 

[Chris in TN]

Are you bringing a rifle too? So you'd be carrying 3 weapons? Up to you on how far your backpacking etc. But I would definitely give thoughts to the weight and how it would affect your big game hunt.

That being said, It is nice to be able to take small game on a hunt, especially if the big game hunting isn't going well -- it can really be a morale boost. Make sure you pack some cooking supplies, spices, etc. to actually cook it well. Maybe even a cooler in the truck with butter, etc. It sucks spending allot of time cleaning a grouse or rabbit, then trying to choke down said overcooked animal with no seasonings (speaking from experience), let alone convincing your daughter to do it.

I don't have a tag and she'll be the only hunter, so I won't have a rifle, unless I bring a .22lr.

I could easily bring the preps for a fried rabbit/grouse meal. She loves venison heart and I am greatly looking forward to the prospect of fried elk heart over a campfire.

 

[vladkgb]

Bring a 22lr revolver and run CB short rounds. They're very quiet and will take out all the small game you mentioned.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

I carry a MP22 with a can and standard velocity ammo. Call it my bush chicken special.

 

[Hnthrdr]

.22 pistol suppressed or look at black mt arms 5.7 “pistol” with a brace, weighs like 2lbs
I’ve killed grouse with a rock and a stick, so generally the shots are not very far. Snowshoe hair have cool pelts, but are survival food IMHO and I would say the same thing about pine squirrels. Grouse are fantastic though