Wolf pack image from game camera in Northern Wisconsin.
Posted on 12/04/2025 6:55:35 AM PST by marktwain
In the winter of 2014, an adult female wolf was found dead in northern Minnesota, on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation. When the necropsy was performed, the cause of death was determined to be from a single wound from an ordinary pellet gun. Described as “low powered”, the pellet was almost certainly either .177 or .22 caliber. Although this incident occurred in 2014, I only learned of it this year. Ordinary pellet guns have been powerful enough to kill humans and even a black bear.
The wolf was a lone female who had been driven out of the pack on Isle Royale. It had a radio collar as part of the Isle Royale study. Researchers said the wolf had almost been killed twice, in fights with another female wolf, presumably, to keep her out of the pack. During the winter, ice had allowed the wolf to reach the mainland, 18 miles from Isle Royale.
It was suspected that the wolf was shot not far from where it was found on the Indian Reservation. Investigators speculated the shot was intended to drive the wolf away, rather than to kill it. The pellet entered between two ribs and punctured an artery, leading to death. The Isle Royal pack was on the edge of extinction, with only eight members left in 2014. It was reduced to one animal by 2019. The moose population was also down, as it had nearly eliminated aspen on the island, subsisting on the far less nutritious balsam pine.
The wolf probably weighed about 70 lbs. Wolves are not particularly hard to kill. A .22 rimfire in the same area would have easily penetrated wolf ribs if the bullet encountered them, causing serious bleeding in the thoracic cavity. Death usually occurs within minutes.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
Wolf pack image from game camera in Northern Wisconsin.
Wolves multiply to fill up the available habitat. The female wolf was driven from the shrinking habitat on Isle Royale. Wolves in the lower 48 are rapidly filling up available habitat and destroying game populations in the process. People who have to live with wolves soon realize they are bad neighbors. The reintroduction of wolves in the lower 48 will be recorded as one of the worst game management debacles in the history of game management.
I don’t think a .22 is considered a “pellet”
The key to defense is the willingness to shoot the wolf. Any wolf that is not afraid of people should be killed. This is how the wolves learn to respect people, and to avoid them. When a member of a pack is killed, the rest of the pack learns from the event. Even if none are near the event, they will find the remains and associate the scent of humans with the death of the wolf.
There are .22 pellet rifles, air powered.
When the necropsy was performed, the cause of death was determined to be from a single wound from an ordinary pellet gun.
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That’s good data. Nice to know large bore weapons aren’t required. I had thought Wolves were extirpated long ago. A bounty should help get their numbers back down
“I don’t think a .22 is considered a “pellet””
I have a .22 pellet rifle.
.22 pellet guns exist. They’re fairly rare but they’re out there. They make one in .45 that can easily kill a deer
In these United States, air rifles are commonly sold in .177 and .22 caliber. Air rifles in .25 caliber also exist but are much rarer. Regardless of caliber, air rifle projectiles are generally referred to as pellets.
Take a look at the air rifle section on, for example, the Cabela's website. Modern air rifles have come a long way from that Red Ryder BB gun you played with eons ago.
Not now ... they're quite common, in fact. Very close in numbers offered for sale to the .177 cal.
What the hell is going on up in that crazy state? The Minnies and the Sammies have become one big fraud organization. Time to lock Tiny Timmy the Swanlaker up. The boy is nuttier than Kmalalala Harris.
They need to ban AR .177’s.
I have several .22 and .25 caliber PCP (pre-charged pneumatic) pellet guns. The .25 is equivalent (muzzle energy) to a .22LR. There are pellet guns up to about .50 cal.
But it is a caliber....
They need to ban AR .177’s.
https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/rifles/17-hmr.html
ICYMI Lewis and Clark took along air rifles to 3xplore the north west territory, and that’s how they survived.
There are .22 caliber pellets. Google it.
I knew someone that had a medium sized alligator on their lakefront beach. To get it to leave they shot the alligator with a .22 pellet rifle. I think the shot hit it in the neck and killed the alligator instead of just stinging it.
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