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Poacher used .22 caliber air rifle pellet to take down bear in Colorado, authorities say
The Gazette ^ | Jun 23, 2022 | Spencer McKee

Posted on 06/24/2022 7:49:26 AM PDT by SJackson

Authorities are hoping to solve a poaching case that took place in the remote area of Creede, Colorado, involving a bear.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officials are seeking information about the illegal killing of a bear after a sow aged seven or eight was found in the Rio Grande River in the area of the Mountain Views at River's Edge RV Resort on October 1, 2021. It was determined that the bear had been shot, with a .22-caliber air rifle pellet found in its chest cavity. This is a notably small round that was probably fired from a low-power rifle, making it fairly surprising that the shot was able to take down a bear.

According to CPW, the case has been actively investigated since the bear was found. With the case ongoing, authorities have asked the public for help.

"Willful destruction of a big-game animal is a felony in Colorado and can result in a lifetime suspension of hunting and fishing privileges," said Brent Woodward, CPW’s wildlife manager in the Creede area. "Convictions could result in fines ranging from $750 to $3,000 and jail time, depending on the charge."


TOPICS: Outdoors
KEYWORDS: banglist
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To: Yo-Yo

In the Florida Swampland for Sale category...it’s unlikely an air rifle pellet could penetrate a bear’s skin. If somehow it did, meaning someone got real close, it wouldn’t go that deep!


21 posted on 06/24/2022 8:36:01 AM PDT by gr8eman (Qui non laborat, non manducet)
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To: PUGACHEV

And it was a powerful sucker too from what I heard. Air rifles are perfect survival tools. Even the ,ess powerful ones thst you don’t need air co pressure for. If the co trstsnts onmthe show “Alone” had them, it would be a game changer. Some models,you can pump with built,in pump, some you need external pumps, but even the “lowly” .177 cal has takenma great many rabbits, squirrels, woodchuck, fox etc. They typicslly,aren’t as accurate as the pcp type thst can shoot extremely accurate at quite long distances (provided you adjust for pellet drop which is greater than poweder,burners) with massive impact, but they are very accurate out to,50,years or so, some of the more lowerful,ones even further, say around 100 yards or a bit more. Plenty,of gun for semi long shots on smaller game.

My .25 cal, and even my 22 wil punch roght through a 2x4 no problem.

Another great thing about them is that you can legally have them in full auto, and large capacity,mags, nk checks,on buying them, and certsinly,no registration for,them. They are making some,truly accurate and powerful full auto ones these days, but I prefer single shot multi round ones as they are a bit more accurate. The full,auto are still a bit of a novelty, but theynare getting better reliability wise.

I’ve seen some incredible 300,yard shots with .22 cal on things like overpopulated rabbits, ground squirrels, even certain overpopulated monkeys in Africa that destroy crops. There are acouple,of pest control hunters on YouTube over there. For pest control,in barns, the lower power air rifles are perfect as they wontmgo,through the metal roofs or siding. They crank,the power down pretty significantly (another great feature of some air rifles).

I’ve taken my .25 out to 150,yards and was getting a 3 inch spread (I’m not the best shot) consistently. The .25 gets about 40,shots per fill, whereas the .22 gets over 100. Thinking about getting a springer thst doesn’t need to,be filled except after each shot with one pump of the barrel. (Theynare break barrel guns). They get arohnd 1200 ft per second or so depending on pellet. Too much speed really.

Today’s air rifles are not the air rifles of days past., theynhave come a long way.


22 posted on 06/24/2022 8:37:01 AM PDT by Bob434 (.)
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To: gr8eman

Pellet rifles can very easily kill a bear, even after smashingmthrougn rib bones. There are .22 cal pellet rifles thst have massive hitting power these days.


23 posted on 06/24/2022 8:38:56 AM PDT by Bob434 (.)
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To: gr8eman

Forgot to add- th3y can do so from breath distances too. Pellet rifles today are formidable.


24 posted on 06/24/2022 8:40:31 AM PDT by Bob434 (.)
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To: Bob434
Properly placed pellets can take down an animal that large, but it would have to be a lucky shot, not hitting any bone, and hitting a vital organ. They actually have pellet rifles now that will smash through bone and take down caped buffalo even. I have a .25 cal that can be used to take down coyotes (provided the state allows the caliber for larger game), but really a .357 through 50 caliber and higher should be used for larger game

When I first read this, I thought WHAT type of large game are you hunting that would require .50 cal or higher? T Rex? Brontosaurus? What? You need a .600 Nitro for a moose? I was going to lecture you that several under-.30 caliber rifles (.270, .264 WM, 7mm and others) are very effective on black bear. Then I realized that you were talking about pellet guns. The positive side is that a good rant (even if misguided and ultimately unnecessary) can substitute for a morning cup of coffee in terms of getting a person going.

25 posted on 06/24/2022 8:41:14 AM PDT by CommerceComet ("You know why there's a Second Amendment? In case, the government forgets the first." Rush Limbaugh )
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To: SJackson

I think the bear coroner messed up. If the bear was shot with that air rifle, I think you better check the bear’s stomach to see if the shooter tried to cut his way out...


26 posted on 06/24/2022 8:49:15 AM PDT by HeadOn (Love God. Lead your family. Be a man.)
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To: CommerceComet

We used to hunt deer with. 50 cal black powder guns for black powder season. (There are other calibers, but the .50 is pretty popular). YoutuBe has some videos of big game hunting with pellet rifles, and by big game. I mean things like caped buffalo, huge hogs etc. They use the larger cals mainly because the speed isn’t as great as witn poweder burners, but they still pack a huge whollop though. For deer I’m wouod be comfortsble,using anything from .357 to .50 I. Air rifle. For poweder burners, i only use .30,which is plenty.


27 posted on 06/24/2022 8:50:58 AM PDT by Bob434 (.)
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To: MercyFlush

What model air rifle is that? The Benjamin Trail NP XL will reportedly shoot a .177 alloy pellet at 1500 fps, but I haven’t heard of any commercially available .177 air rifle that will get anywhere near 2700 fps. I’d like to learn more.


28 posted on 06/24/2022 8:53:17 AM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: Yo-Yo

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=euf2kMefMYg&t=350s


29 posted on 06/24/2022 8:54:39 AM PDT by gundog ( It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
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To: SJackson

Nice shot!


30 posted on 06/24/2022 9:03:11 AM PDT by Jan_Sobieski (Sanctification)
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To: HartleyMBaldwin; MercyFlush

I think we are being ignored.


31 posted on 06/24/2022 9:03:22 AM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
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To: MercyFlush

Please inform the rest of it was to model pictures would help.


32 posted on 06/24/2022 9:04:16 AM PDT by riverrunner
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To: gundog

Lol.he mis a maniac! And a fantastic shot with a bow on flying birds! His videos are unreal mad skills.


33 posted on 06/24/2022 9:05:45 AM PDT by Bob434 (.)
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To: TexasGator

Possibly. I wonder if there might have been some confusion about air pressure versus projectile velocity, since 2700 psi is not at all out of the question for pre-charged pneumatics.


34 posted on 06/24/2022 9:08:05 AM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: TexasGator

He musta meant 1700- I think,I read certain guns can achieve that but with super light non lead pellets. Waymtol much speed though. 900 to 1000 is best for most pellets, some are even better in high 800’s


35 posted on 06/24/2022 9:08:52 AM PDT by Bob434 (.)
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To: SJackson

I have doubt that my 22 cal pellet rifle could kill a bear if it was close and shot in the side of the head.

Shot it the chest? That would be tough to do.


36 posted on 06/24/2022 9:16:09 AM PDT by Beagle8U ("Per DNC instructions...Joy Reid is busy packing marbles up her @$$.")
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To: marktwain

bear kill air rifle


37 posted on 06/24/2022 9:17:56 AM PDT by riverrunner
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To: MercyFlush

Beautiful Sarcasm!


38 posted on 06/24/2022 9:28:49 AM PDT by 728b (Never cry over something that can not cry over you.)
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To: LibWhacker

This is my Favorite
Bear story.
Bella had a Canadian made
Cooey rifle. A rough finished but Effective
.22 caliber.


39 posted on 06/24/2022 9:28:57 AM PDT by Big Red Badger (We Are JONAH)
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To: 728b

Interesting because I have a 9mm (.357) air rifle. I shoot 180 grain slugs.


40 posted on 06/24/2022 9:32:08 AM PDT by 728b (Never cry over something that can not cry over you.)
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