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

I have shot a number of Vancouver Island Blacktails with shotgun in the buckshot only area which surrounds me. I had previously hunted deer in Alberta with a recurve bow, so the shot pattern my 12 gauge gives for an instant kill, provides me an additional 6 yards of range. Tracking an arrow shot deer in the rain is very labour intensive, so the shotgun is awesome.
I still hunt with the shotgun where, in the past, I was tied to a tree stand with the bow. Since I started hunting with a shotgun, I have transitioned from a single shot to a double gun. One barrel is loaded with bird shot and the other, buck shot.
I don't shoot at running deer.

I still go to Alberta to hunt now and then, and then take my single shot rifle.
 
Doing drives in thick bush.. we always use a 12 gauge and pick up any grouse and rabbits we see throughout the day as well.

I've seen a few deer hit with slugs and none required more than one shot that's for sure.
 
Personal preference unless in a controlled hunt shotgun only wmu for some. Grew up in a shotgun only wmu and for the last decade I've hunted a controlled rifle/shotgun wmu but typically carry the 20 gauge rifled barrel with open sights and hornady sst sabots still as few shots are beyond 100yrds which is relatively easy with that gun with good knockdown still. My wife carrys her 1100lt 20g with fixed 26" mod barrel and truball slugs over her 243 blr aswell, again her shots are typically within 60yrds and it shoulders/points well at those ranges.
As for the mag capacity do you really need the 5 over the 3, my experience has proved most no with the odd occasion yes. The good ol large bore semis launching an extra 4 rounds unnecessarily when the first was all that was needed, not always the case I know. Dad put many of us to shame emptying that mag with a deer per shot nearly. I do love my semi large bores as well, took my deer last year with dads 30-06 rem semi using speer rn 150gr handloads and bushnell lowpower scope as I'd not had the opportunity up until then to use it really as he just quit the rifle hunt and was his go to. The 2nd and 3rd shots were a miss and a severed leg while it merely dropped 100yrds from the 1st shot being a vital hit. Knew the first shot was good but he ran so I shot.

We push deer to narrow funnels/crossings and the short range target makes the shotgun effective. My personal experience has also proved that more often than not the 1st shot is the one I'll connect on, everything else is noise, mud, a flag and a wee bit of cussing. Maybe as I get older and shift to sitting I'll want my rifle to reach out a bit further, likely a single shot falling block in 6mm with a hex barrel. Love the b78.
 
I hunt in a shotgun-only area, and bought a Savage 220 in 20 gauge rifled barrel. Out to 150 m., it's as accurate as pretty much any other hunting rifle I've used, firing a 350 gr. bullet. I don't feel in the slightest bit handicapped. For walking through the bush, I use a little 14" lever 12 gauge. If I could, I'd rather be packing my 92 in 44 mag or my 1895 in 45-70, but I don't really give it much thought. I don't have a choice, so I do the best with what is available.
 
A shotgun slug can do pretty good up to 70 or 80 yards, and is stopped in the dirt by 200 yards if you miss. Quite popular in semi-rural areas with good deer populations. Makes sense. County of Strathcona has a blackpowder/shotgun season for this very reason.

Having that said, I'd choose a rifle over a shotgun any day of the week. I would not use buckshot unless I was starving.
 
Sabot slugs are ridiculously priced at $4-6 per shot. We have property in rifle areas and non-rifle areas, in the non-rifle areas I carry my muzzleloader...
 
I've honestly never shot a deer with a small bore rifle at 30 paces, but I can't imagine the effect for a 30-06 or 270 at that range would be anything less than a bolt of lightning? What makes buckshot so special?

I always figured the distance gave dramatic results not the load.
 
conor_90 said:
I've honestly never shot a deer with a small bore rifle at 30 paces, but I can't imagine the effect for a 30-06 or 270 at that range would be anything less than a bolt of lightning? What makes buckshot so special?

I always figured the distance gave dramatic results not the load.
Click to expand...

My son shot a yearling buck at 60 yards with a 300 RUM. No meat damage - no big bones hit - but it totally exsanguinated the poor critter. There was blood spray for a good 50 feet around. I've only seen 1 deer shot with buckshot, at about 30 yards, and it ran for close to 100 yards, hit in the lungs. May have been a fluke, but since then, I don't use it. Slugs only.

I shot 3 deer with my 20 and the Remington 3" 350 gr. (the only load it likes), and all 3 dropped within 20 yards, all boiler room shots. Got about the same results with an 870 rifled barrel and 12 gauge sabots'
 
Bushman2087 said:
I have taken a doe with a 12 gauge and a slug. Only would ever use it if at a close enough distance
Click to expand...

I had a BPS smoothbore that would do a large ragged hole at 50 yards using TruBall slugs. Rifled 870 and my 220 I can reach out to 150, but those slugs are lighter than the Fosters.
 
Yes, I would. So far I've only taken a shotgun to situations where regulations didn't allow a rifle (and I haven't gotten a deer on those occasions.) But since I have a shotgun with a barrel rifled for slugs, even if the regulations allowed a rifle I would take the shotgun if I expected to be hunting where terrain and cover meant I'd only be shooting within the effective range of the shotgun. Because my mother's Scottish, I need to use that gun.
 
Most the places i hunt for bear id have no issue carrying a shotgun. I dont hunt deer in those areas but if i did i wouldnt feel handicapped by it. I prefer rifles as im a gun lover and have many. I mainly hunt a muzzleloader only area for deer so i dont even get to use a shotgun.
I do love my scatterguns and enjoy carrying a nice balancing sxs 12ga.
Id like to take a deer and bear with my 10ga browning as well.
Given the chance id pack rifles majority of the time but id still carry a scattergun depending on time of season and terrain. Ive killed deer with slugs and buck shot and rifle and muzzleloader and cross bow. I can and will use anything thats legal and ethical. Rifles are generally the best tool but ive shot enough deer to realize the true benifits of hunting isnt filling a tag. I mean i want to fill all my tags cuz deer are tasty but im alot more willing to watch a deer go by instead of taking a shot im not 100% sure of. Shotguns force you to get close with is to me more sporting and creates new challenges and forces me to become a better hunter and more in tune with nature and thw animals im persuing. Maybe its because i grew up using archery gear but even packing rifles capable of 3 and 400 yard shots i still want to be withing 30 yards if i can. I dont hunt large open areas for big game so getting close is the only way to see big game.

This years opener a nice big bodied 6 point survived simply because it was to hot and humid to drag is carcass out. Watching him in the crosshairs for at least 20 mins was still great whether bow shotgun or rifle it would have made no difference with him broadside at 40 yards in a clearing
 
dan belisle said:
Strathcona County in AB had a shotguns only rule. Dont know if they still do. I put together a rifled barreled Mossberg just for that purpose quite a while back. Pretty accurate for a slug gun. Certainly good for deer out to 100 meters or so. - dan
Click to expand...
I normally hunt with a rifle, but in the controlled hunt area where I'll be in Dec., it's muzzle loader or shotgun only. I have a 20 ga. Remington combo and with the rifled slug barrel and good sabots, I'm confident out to 100 yds. I've nailed 2 deer with it thus far and it hits like a freight train. With good glass or a quality reflex sight, it's excellent for thick cover or brush.
 
I would think taking a deer with a shotgun would be similar to using Black powder. Large projectile with a short distance. No doubt over the years , deer have been taken with both. My dad used a 22 once back in the 50's because thats what they had. ....and yes he did get a dear.

It would be interesting to find out what kinds of guns have been used in the early part of the century to take down Game. Cap N Ball pistol. flint lock, small calibure rifles or pistols.......a stick, a knife, an axe,.. LOL
 
Last edited:
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?
Click to expand...

I'm a rifleman and rifleman only for big game. I only use shotguns for bird hunting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom