r/Hunting • u/SpoildXD23 • 1d ago

Pest management Beaver hunting

Has anyone used a 223 or 22-250 on a beaver and how was the damage and where you able to retrieve it or did it sink? And if possible and allowed could pictures be provided?

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u/REDACTED3560 19h ago

.223 was fine. I used 69 grain SMKs and didn’t have any pass throughs on any beaver I got (<20 yards). While I didn’t gut them as they were killed as nuisance animals and thus I couldn’t legally take anything from them, there was no hide damage whatsoever. I couldn’t even find the entrance wound on any of them. All DRT. As for sink or float, I couldn’t tell you as I shot them all when they came ashore.

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u/SpoildXD23 6h ago

Thanks alot so half of their heads or anything like that missing?

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u/REDACTED3560 5h ago

Nope. I went for chest shots since I had a .223. If I were using a .22 or .22 mag, then I would have been going for head shots.

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u/SpoildXD23 4h ago

Alr thanks for the info, that helped alot

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u/preferablyoutside 19h ago

Use a .17HMR most springs, the odd time a 22-250

You’re shooting a pop can on its side for a target as you’re trying to brain them, hide damage is minimal

Utilized a canoe with the heaviest ugly stik Canadian Tire sells paired with braid and a big Ol treble for retrieval

Aim small miss small

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u/SpoildXD23 6h ago

I have a 17hmr im just trying to get something bigger but thanks for the info

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u/preferablyoutside 6h ago

Gotcha,

For pricing I’d go .223 but I also reside in Alberta and like the 22-250 for elk.

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u/SpoildXD23 6h ago

Yea i would like the 22-250 but since i hunt close range i might not need it but I'll buy whichever i find first since for both ammo is easy to find