Small Game Hunting while Elk Hunting

[Brado16]

Last year we saw quite a few grouse hiking into our hunting spot in Colorado and it sure would have been nice if we had a slingshot or a 22 with- they sure would have been a tasty change from Mountain House dinners. Does anyone carry a lightweight trail gun or even a slingshot with while elk or mule deer hunting the backcountry for small game? I have been looking at 22's from Ruger 10/22 take downs to Ruger 22/45 lite pistol and even the Savage Rascal which is a youth 22 that weighs a mere 2.66 pounds. Im thinking if I shoot subsonic ammo it would be quiet enough not to push any big game out of the area unless they are within 100 yards of us. Most of the grouse we see are a good mile from where we camp and we hunt another mile past our camping spot. I have a SilencerCo Spectre 2 Suppressor in Jail right now and won't have it in time for this year's season but 2017 will be a different story so thats why im leaning towards picking up another 22 with a threaded barrel that I can still use for 2016 season. Anyone else do something similar??

 

[5MilesBack]

I just carry an arrow with a judo point on it for grouse. But I rarely shoot them unless I'm on my way back to camp.

 

[justinspicher]

I also carry a few judo points, but I rarely have the discipline not to take a shot at a grouse.

 

[Brado16]

We rifle hunt CO so unfortunately do not have the opportunity to take a shot with arrows but I could see bringing some judo points or a small game heads along on an archery hunt would make for some fun. I could see how it would be tough to discipline yourself not to take shots at these grouse.

 

[OG DramaLlama]

I'm a big fan of having the Ruger 10/22, without suppresser, around base camp for some opportunistic grouse hunting. No camp dinner tops fresh grouse, IMO. However, I am pretty fortunate to find the grouse in areas close to camp and miles away from my elk/deer spots. I typically will hunt them on a morning or afternoon when a decompress/relax is needed from several grueling days in a row. Another option, if you are a bow hunter, is to carry an arrow in your quiver dedicated to small game. Since my bow is at #72, I have passed on this option but know others who have success with this.




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[camping1601]

My first elk season I lost one arrow and broke two others shooting small game. At like $15 each that put it stop to small game hunting for me. LOL

 

[paleraider]

First year I went elk hunting I had a slingshot in my pocket. Yet I ended up slinging and arrow at one of them and lost the arrow. So I am not really into doing that again.

 

[justinspicher]

I shoot a 65lb recurve and have yet to lose or break an arrow. Better find some wood so I can keep my luck up!

 

[gelton]

I also carry a judo point. One year rifle hunting we saw a ton of grouse and the next year I bought a small game license during archery in the same area and didnt see a single grouse. I did shoot at a squirrel but missed. The year after I didnt get the small game license and could have shot 2 or 3 grouse...thats about how it goes, right.

 

[5MilesBack]

My first elk season I lost one arrow and broke two others shooting small game. At like $15 each that put it stop to small game hunting for me. LOL

You need some tougher arrows. Never lost or broken one on grouse. But I did bury a judo point 3" into an Aspen tree shooting a grouse on the limb. Shooting 70lbs at 32 1/2" draw with a 500+ grain arrow does that. Had to use the saw to cut the tree to get it out.

As far as the discipline goes, it's easy for me. Will I be cooking it up in the next hour or not? If not, then I don't shoot them. Although I have thrown a few breasts in a ziplock in the cooler and taken them home too.

 

[PathFinder]

I pack a Cold Steel big bore blowgun to entertain and feed myself on some hunts. Costs under 100$, only weighs ounces, and very effective with a little practice.

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[Felix40]

I pack a Cold Steel big bore blowgun to entertain and feed myself on some hunts. Costs under 100$, only weighs ounces, and very effective with a little practice.

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I've shot a blowgun a lot and I think taking down a grouse is going to be hard. Only way to do it would be a head shot. I've seen them take arrows and still fly.

As for the OP, I sure would hate to bust an elk by shooting a 22 at grouse. If you could shoot some subsonic shorts you may be ok. It's easy to say that where you see grouse is a long way from where the elk are but you can't really know. A couple years ago me and one other guy walked 100 yards out of camp and bumped a bedded bull because we were being loud and trying to hike to "where the elk were". On the other hand...with a 22 you could wreak some havoc on grouse. Half a dozen grouse every day of the hunt would almost be better than an elk!

 

[charvey9]

I have a Cricket single shot .22 with subsonic ammo. Sounds like a pellet gun. I mainly used it when I did some trapping, and have shot a few critters with it. When I bought it had plans of buying one of these Ruta Locura kits so I could take it back country hunting, but have not got around to it yet.

Pack Rifle Kit

 

[airlocksniffer]

I always pack a judo point as I nearly step on grouse every time I'm out. A slingshot is a good idea. I've also considered making some snares for rabbits and such.

 

[Brado16]

I have a Cricket single shot .22 with subsonic ammo. Sounds like a pellet gun. I mainly used it when I did some trapping, and have shot a few critters with it. When I bought it had plans of buying one of these Ruta Locura kits so I could take it back country hunting, but have not got around to it yet.

Pack Rifle Kit

I have seen the Pack Rifle Kits before and while intriguing not sure if its something I would use a whole lot besides in the backcountry.

 

[charvey9]

I have seen the Pack Rifle Kits before and while intriguing not sure if its something I would use a whole lot besides in the backcountry.

Yeah, that would be my only purpose. If I were going to be packing in somewhere I knew I could get a lot of small game during hunting season it could come in handy.

 

[Brado16]

Anyone have experience shooting 22 CB's from a 22LR? I think that just might be the ticket for subsonic and quiet with decent accuracy to 25 yards or so??

 

[BroodBuster]

I have a hard time recalling any elk camp that did not include grouse/jalapeño poppers.

In fact the reason I was originally invited into this elk camp was because I owned a bird dog. I met a few of the crew on a steelhead river and was invited to camp to grouse hunt "plan B" and report back any elk sightings and load up on grouse. Only took me a few years to figure out buying a bow and kenneling the dog for the week was the better plan .

Last year I drew back three days in a row on mountain qual. Never got a shot. Them suckers are quick!

I'm probably going to add a Savage .17 HMR to the arsenal this year for outside of bow season as I have a bad habit of shredding breasts with my shotgun and at 14 my Britt is slowing down.

 

[PaulR]

I usually (OK, always) take a few rounds loaded up with a roundball and some trailboss when rifle hunting elk or any other big game. Pretty easy to Kentucky windage it out to about 30 yards or so. Don't think I'd take an extra firearm but the weight and bulk of a few extra rounds is no big deal. Granted, if I wasn't packing in, I'd probably just bring a shotgun.

Also take a Flu-Flu arrow or two with a small game point when archery hunting.

Paul

 

[fltlndr]

You need some tougher arrows. Never lost or broken one on grouse. But I did bury a judo point 3" into an Aspen tree shooting a grouse on the limb. Shooting 70lbs at 32 1/2" draw with a 500+ grain arrow does that. Had to use the saw to cut the tree to get it out.

As far as the discipline goes, it's easy for me. Will I be cooking it up in the next hour or not? If not, then I don't shoot them. Although I have thrown a few breasts in a ziplock in the cooler and taken them home too.

I'd love to find an arrow that doesn't break when it hits solid rock at 10 yards! You must be shooting aluminum or an exotic alloy!

It's tough not to take a shot a grouse and a judo point definitely works better (and is less expensive) than a broadhead. At $15-$20 per lost/broken arrow, it doesn't take long for that grouse breast to cost more than a ribeye.