Would you ever choose to use a shotgun for deer hunting?

Our Manitoba hunting guide says a shotgun must be a minimum of 20 gauge and shoot a single projectile. I guess that's where I got the notion that buckshot isn't allowed for deer hunting in Manitoba.
 
While I would generally prefer a .30-30 for the country I hunt, I'm happy enough with the shotgun-only since I haven't met a deer yet that will stand up to a rifled slug inside of 100 yards, where the majority of our shots are taken. If I know I will be on a stand where further shots are possibly, I'll bring my blackpowder instead. Round restrictions never bothered me since you should be sure of your first shot, but I would also never use buckshot in my home area, slugs are far more functional.
 
Capacity doesnt matter to me. I use a single shot 20 gauge slug gun because I am in a shotgun only area. Most of my shots are under 50 yards so distance isn't really a factor. Given the choice I would use a rifle instead, mostly because of the rifle being lighter.
 
I wish they would let us use 'straight wall' rifle cartridges during the shotgun controlled hunt like they have started in some of the counties south of the border. Straight wall rifle cartridges like 357Mag, 41Mag, 44Mag, 444Marlin & 45-70Gov.
 
CzyHorse said:
I wish they would let us use 'straight wall' rifle cartridges during the shotgun controlled hunt like they have started in some of the counties south of the border. Straight wall rifle cartridges like 357Mag, 41Mag, 44Mag, 444Marlin & 45-70Gov.
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Hmmm. T’would be an excuse to finally get that Marlin 336 I’ve been drooling over for years...
 
Sniper_485 said:
If I had a choice I would bring a rifle. If brush was a problem I'd bring 180+ gr slugs in a .30 cal, a .338, or .45-70.
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Word around the campstove is that works.
Scientifically...um nope. Pretty much any bullet gets knocked off course by twigs.
If you are cool with your 'boiler room shot' turning into a 'gut shot' or a miss...crack on.
And I've shot a few with a shotgun. Got tight; no really tight bush right outside my door. Which is kinda weird cause I've Beavertail cactus growing in the ditch coming to my house. Creek brush, Bullberry bushes and willows... ideal for a short pump action 12 ga
 
steelgray said:
I get it that there are lots of zones where you have to use a shotgun to hunt deer. However, if you are an area where you are allowed to use either shotguns or a rifle, would you ever choose to use a shotgun?

I can see a minor argument can be made In favor of choosing a shotgun on the basis that - at least where I hunt - the brush is very thick and when the deer are moving, they are flying through the bush - and one shot can be encumbered by branches and trees etc. However, I know that, at least in Ontario, one is limited to 2 shot shells in the magazine and one in the chamber - even on a manually-operated shotgun -and I see that as a real "deal breaker".

Are there areas in Canada where you can legally hunt with more than 3 cartridges? Why would you ever use a shotgun in deer hunting if you had a choice?
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Serious question - have you ever killed a deer? I'm not flaming, it's a real question. After a few seasons of experience you'll answer your question yourself.

There is zero chance in my experience that you'd get off three good shots at a deer flying through the bush. If your plan is to rely on firepower rather than marksmanship, I'm telling you you're having a fever dream. It's just not going to happen that way.

At very close range (>15 yards) buck is devastatingly effective on deer, but it still requires the same care in shot placement that a rifle does. I view hunting with buck as if I was hunting with a bow - they require the same care in use, have about the same effective range and kill in the same way, ie solely through exsanguination. I've killed deer at living room distance with a blackpowder coach gun and home made 4 buck, but that was knowing I had a VERY short effective range AND after a few months of working up loads at the range. Would I have taken a rifle instead? Absolutely. Would I let the lack of a rifle stop me from hunting? Absolutely not. Know your tools and work within their - and your - limits.

I would not hesitate to hunt deer with buckshot, but I would also spend many hours on the range and many $ in ammo ensuring I absolutely 100% knew my effective range. I would also NEVER pick a shotgun if I could use a rifle. That decision is simple physics and physiology.

View buckshot hunting as bow hunting, and you won't get yourself into trouble.

The three round shotgun limit doesn't apply to all provinces - it's actually a federal migratory bird regulation, but Ontario simplified things there by applying it to all shotgun hunting. There are several provinces where you can load whatever's legal per the Criminal Code. Despite being unfettered where I live now, I've still not found it's of any practical advantage. Crows and coyotes move awfully fast...
 
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flashman2 said:
Serious question - have you ever killed a deer? I'm not flaming, it's a real question. After a few seasons of experience you'll answer your question yourself.

There is zero chance in my experience that you'd get off three good shots at a deer flying through the bush. If your plan is to rely on firepower rather than marksmanship, I'm telling you you're having a fever dream. It's just not going to happen that way.

At very close range (>15 yards) buck is devastatingly effective on deer, but it still requires the same care in shot placement that a rifle does. I view hunting with buck as if I was hunting with a bow - they require the same care in use, have about the same effective range and kill in the same way, ie solely through exsanguination. I've killed deer at living room distance with a blackpowder coach gun and home made 4 buck, but that was knowing I had a VERY short effective range AND after a few months of working up loads at the range. Would I have taken a rifle instead? Absolutely. Would I let the lack of a rifle stop me from hunting? Absolutely not. Know your tools and work within their - and your - limits.

I would not hesitate to hunt deer with buckshot, but I would also spend many hours on the range and many $ in ammo ensuring I absolutely 100% knew my effective range. I would also NEVER pick a shotgun if I could use a rifle. That decision is simple physics and physiology.

View buckshot hunting as bow hunting, and you won't get yourself into trouble.

The three round shotgun limit doesn't apply to all provinces - it's actually a federal migratory bird regulation, but Ontario simplified things there by applying it to all shotgun hunting. There are several provinces where you can load whatever's legal per the Criminal Code. Despite being unfettered where I live now, I've still not found it's of any practical advantage. Crows and coyotes move awfully fast...
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“ There is zero chance in my experience that you'd get off three GOOD shots at a deer flying through the bush. If your plan is to rely on firepower rather than marksmanship, I'm telling you you're having a fever dream. It's just not going to happen that way.
”

And yet, it doesn’t stop folks from trying. Every opening day, I hear at least a couple of distant “BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG... BANG”

I always wonder what last 2 second delay and final shot are about. Like, “welp, only got one left, might as well send it.”


I shouldn’t talk though. We actually had one of our guys do it in a bout of buck fever. Young guy, second(?) year hunting with us, hiking up a tight trail and a buck crossed and stopped on the trail about 15 yards in front of him. He raised his gun and froze. The deer bolted, then he fire 5 rounds of 30-06 into the dirt where the deer had been standing. Retelling the story, he was as confused at his own actions as we were. (For the record, he’s a fisherman now, no longer interested in hunting)
 
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