Shotgun on a deer stand?

S

Southern Flame

New member
Hey guys,
Anyone here shoot with a shotgun on a deer stand? Someone I know got chastized for using one and losing a buck. The buck was max 30 yds away. (it's real close in the swamp at this particular stand) He was using 00 buckshot with a 12 ga shotgun.

Thx
SF
 
Sounds more like a knucklehead doing the chastising there. Sad that he lost that deer but nothing wrong in using buckshot for killing deer unless you live in a politically correct state that doesn't allow it>>> :eek:

Buckshot often times doesn't leave a real good blood trail. Especially in a thick area. Good tracking skills area a must if you choose to use it also........James L.
 
SF- There are states,and zones in other states, where only shotguns are allowed. The shotgun isn't the problem, especially at 30yds. If someone is using a shotgun with cylinder bore with 00buck he's lucky(?) he even hit the deer. Alot of deer have been killed with buckshot but ya got to check the pattern-use the right choke etc. If someone has access to slugs or sabots then I believe he should use them. Nothing like one well placed shot! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif My 2 cents-Wishbone
 
The fact that the buck wasn't recovered shows there was a problem. The fact that a shotgun and buckshot were used at that range wasn't the problem.
 
I shoot slug guns for deer here in Ohio. Never understood why they allow the use of buckshot on a deer. It's a big enough animal to shoot with a single projectile. My longest shot has been 75 yards with iron sights. My eyes don't focus well on iron sights so that was a really long shot for me. Deer dropped like a rock.
 
I have to agree with Stu on that one. But I wouldn't rip on the guy since I don't have the full story. If I thought I had hit that deer I would have spent the rest of that day and the next looking for it.

One bit of advice that I have heeded: When using buck shot on game don't shoot and wait for them to fall, shoot until they fall.

My $.02

Matt
 
Most folks would be surprised at how many hunters never bother to pattern their shotgun on paper before taking it hunting. Any number of things could have gone wrong. Maybe he tried to shoot through too much brush, maybe he flinched, the deer was moving when he fired so he hit it too far back (gutshot), the deer was further away than he thought or who the heck really knows? We all lose a deer once in awhile though.
 
Jeffo,
Although I would much rather use slugs, I know that there are states that only allow buckshot for deer. From results I have see on my pattern board, I would not be afraid to bet that my own twelve gauge would kill a broadside standing deer every time at 40 yards if I had a clear shot. This is with 2&3/4" or 3" buffered magnum 00 Buck. My BuckKicker tube from the folks at Kicks choke tube company holds that large buckshot into very dense pattern.
 
I'm curious because I am wanting to try coyotes with my 12 ga. I have only a variable choke system, thinking full would be the best bet. For deer hunters with a 12 ga. full choke, would buckshot be a good bet? Is the best shot on a deer the same as with a rifle, in the ribs? What about a head shot?
 
Hey folks . Where I live in Va is the only county around you can use a rifle for deer, and of course I dont hunt in this county often lol. I have been using a shotgun for deer near I can guess for 20 years, and we also use dogs, something else some people have a hard time understanding, most of the land that is hunted here you dont need a rifle, its just isnt that far of a shot! I tagged out with 4 deer last season and hope to get a couple this year also! Oh btw we dont shoot the dogs at the deer , they can keep up pretty well on their own.
 
Oh yeah most of us still use buckshot too, I personally prefer to take a shot between 50 yards and less preferably less lol !
FAW
 
I hunt southern tier ny, shotgun only. Taken all my deer with a smooth bore m-88, rifled slugs @ 60 yards and under. I belive in a good clean shot, and so I will not use buck-shot even if it was legal. One walked right under my stand, it was interesting to observ its behavior as it crossed the old trail. At 15-20 yards I took it down, one shot. This year I got ahold of some Rotweil slugs, looking forward to this season!
 
The hunting unit that I live in is shotgun only...A number of friends say buckshot does real well. All though I have never used it. I all ways use slugs. last year took a doe at 125 yards 1 shot. From a REM 870 smooth bore and just a bead for a front sight. you have to know the gun. The price for slugs and buckshot here are the same. I still only use slugs. But there again thats just me. Good luck.
 
I use 2-3/4 magnum shells in my 870 , never had any problems, like the man said u need to know your gun, me same gun for 17 years
FAW
 
Illinois is a shotgun/slug only State for deer. Buckshot is illegal and rifles are illegal except for muzzleloaders.

We've been using the premium saboted slugs from Hornady and Winchester/Nosler with great results.

I took a nice corn-fed 11 point buck at 27 yards with the Hornady slug and it was an easy one shot kill. Slug entered at point of right shoulder penetrating the front leg bone and a rib, then angling rearward taking out both lungs and breaking the last rib on the way out of the opposite side.

My son-in-law nailed a nice fat doe at 135 yards using the same style slug. One shot through the heart and both lungs with complete penetration.

These new style slugs flat out work! I wouldn't use anything else.

Swede
 
I have thought alot about picking up a 3rd. barrel for the M-88. A rifled barrel for the sabot slugs would open a few 100 (ish) yard posibilities. Plus give me an excuse to get a decent red dot perhaps. I'm thinking not just for deer either. Thing is for years now, all I've ever used was the smooth bore, and have been very sucessfull with it 10-60 yards. Then when its time for some bird, back to camp and switch to the vent ribbed full choke.
 
I spent the first half of my life bashing buckshot, though had never once fired a round of it at a deer. Then I met my father in law, I now know how efficient it can or cannot be. In the right hands and in the right gun good ol 00 buck is VERY lethal. At reasonable ranges in the right gun with the right choke 80 yards is still very obtainable. If you don't know your weapon and your skill level and aren't willing to try a few different combos you will soon join the buckshot bashers. Take the time to figure out the puzzle and the buck will be yours. Big hint (in general and in my opinion the cheaper the gun the better they seem to shoot buckshot), not always just a trend i have noticed. If the gun has a humped back (aka browning early model 5) forget about it, throw rocks at the critter. It seems the the ten or so i've had the PLEASURE to play with don't like any large shot. Buy an old ithaca or a new moosberg 500 and start from there.
 
In my 12 gauge, you are not supposed to shoot slugs… My barrel is set up to shoot buckshot only… The barrel diameter doesn’t keep a slug flying straight… it kinda gives it a little wobble… My 12 gauge is also an old HIGH STANDARD (Flight King), 12 gauge in 2¾… So I would shoot slugs, only if I could! And I shot a 4 pointer last year, while up in a 20 foot tree stand, and the deer was about 25 yards, and I got 3 shots in it, before it took 3 steps, and it was running… and it died right there… never moved again! So buckshot will kill a deer, especially if you are running dogs, and the deer are running! We weren’t running dogs, but a dog happened to bring this one to me! But it was a clean shot and kill!!

Andrew
 


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