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

Because I am not forced to anywhere I hunt, I would not use a shotgun for hunting any big game, but if forced to I would without hesitation, it would just never be my first choice.
 
brybenn said:
Used correctly within its limits buckshot is very effective.

For proof someone in the shotgun section has made seversl videos. I believe the handle was brobee.
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I took my first whitetail with buckshot, a little buck at about 12 yards, he dropped at the shot, it wasn't a bang-flop, more like a tree going timmmbber.
 
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?

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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Yeah sure, why not. There’s a couple thick areas I hunt in with lots of deer activity and a shotgun with slugs would work well, I generally grab a rifle though for hunting deer etc.

As for the 3 shell limit, in B.C. you are limited to 2+1 in a shotgun only when hunting with shot. If hunting with slugs you may load as many in the tube or mag as it can hold.
 
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.
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I watched my buddy shoot a good size muley doe from 15yds with a 180gr pill from his 30-06. It went one hop, then expired, not 10 feet from where it stood. Double lung and clipped the top of the heart. Didn't hit any of the quarters so no real meat loss, just a bit off the ribs on either side.

I can't imagine buckshot could be any more dramatic.
 
Suther said:
One day I will take a deer with a shotgun, but I'm not successful enough to handicap myself like that yet.
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My first deer ever was a mule deer buck in the middle of grasslands with buckshot... poor sob didn’t see me walk right up to him with the sun to my back wind to my face!
 
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.
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I like the fact that it expends all its energy inside the deer, instead of punching through into the dirt. But it doesn't leave much blood trail, so you've got to make a good shot.

I've shot about five with buckshot and my buddies all used it for years as well (we hunted in a town). Only one of the deer we shot ever went more than five paces, and that was because my buddy made a bad shot at point blank range--no idea how, but he only put one pellet in the lungs. Most of these deer were shot at 10 yards or under, and most were bang-flops. Several of them took hits to the shoulder, spine and lungs all out of the same load.

The buckshot you use makes a huge difference. We found the loads using Flite Control wads made spectacular patterns, followed by cheap ol' Winchester silver box #1 buck. Coincidentally, this is roughly what the FBI recommends.

I doubt I would attempt a shot any further than 20 yards. We used it at bowhunting distances. Maybe if I had practiced quite a bit with it, or if I was using my 10 gauge. Certainly would never try beyond 30, but I basically used it at the same ranges I was happy using birdshot on ducks.
 
I've hunted deer with both smooth bore & rifled shot guns but never used buckshot on 'em. The buckshot loads I reserved for raccoon sized pest critters inside 30 yds.
The Federal Premium buckshot with Flight Control wads are me favorite. I"ve had consistent 8" patterns with 'em at 25 yds with my cylinder bore guns.
 
Way back close to the dawn of time I was getting a Cardinal 4 serviced. At the end of my buddy's bench he had his rifle cabinet. I noticed an old model 12 in the rack with a scope mounted to it.
Laughed at John. He asked why I was shocked ? This being 1978 or so. John was originally from Ohio. He quite often went back to hunt with his buddies. He was the first he said to use a scope on a shotgun.
On this occasion he had just came back from sighting in the shot gun. 30 inch barrel I think it was. Using the old rifled slugs. Pie plate at 100 yards with a 3 inch grouping of 3 slugs.
I stopped laughing.

Should I have to make a serious choice of what to use for food or defense there's only one intelligent choice to make.
 
There's a shotgun with shot only area near where I live. I've never used a shotgun for hunting deer and couldn't see a situation that I would prefer a shotgun to a rifle if a rifle was allowed. That said, I've used shotguns with buckshot on multiple bears. Works great at close range, closer the better, especially in the head. As distance increases, body shots dont' work so great.

I did unload behind the shoulder with a 3.5" OO load into a very large bear at about 7 feet, broadside. That killed damn fast. He bolted about 10 yards and just fell over.
 
Just put together and 870 Express with shotgun scope and a 20" rifled barrel. I`ve shot deer with rifle and BP and now I want to try shotgun. We have a shot specific season here. It`s extra meat in the freezer if I succeed.

DF
 
I ran a fully rifled 870 with Hornady sst sabots and the fully rifled 870 had a red dot on it
Carried it for pushing bush shot a couple bucks with it and it worked good
In our area I can use rifle or shotgun
Only reason I got rid of it was that we changed to more stand hunting for our deer using 30-06 or 270
 
With Buckshot one is more limited to the range of effectiveness... It's a good challenge - and it works. On another note - slugs give more range and shoot fairly well out of a gun with a rifled bore for slugs... Also, a bit of a challenge but definitely do-able.
 
I use my 870 Wingmaster when pushing bush. Rifle sighted smooth bore. I actually carried it pushing a bush for moose yesterday too. Im completely comfortable to 50m with it.

My wife uses a 20g 870 with rifled/scope barrel because its the gun shes most familiar with. 99% of her hunting is bird hunting with that gun and a field barrel.

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