Deer with shotgon

[Bryan_Buckmaster]

I have been invited to hunt with my father-in-law over Thanksgiving. The area he lives in is requires the use of a shotgun. I have never hunted deer with a shotgun and need advice. I have two shotguns. One is a single shot 10 gauge with a long barrel my Dad bought for me as a child. The other is a automatic 12 gauge with a shorter barrel (actually my Dad"s gun). What is the best ammuniton to use? Should I use a choke? All advie greatly appreciate.

[elk killer wannabe]

Bryan,

First of all, your dad bought you a 10 gauge as a child? Wow, most people get .410's or 20 gauges.

But anyway, I hunt in Ohio with a shotgun with slugs. I would recommend the 12 gauge over the 10 gauge. It will give you a follow up shot which is often necessary. Also, even a 12 guage is more than you need. You should see the exit hole a 12 guage slug leaves! Some people buy rifled barrels for their shotguns which give them better accuracy than a smooth bore barrel but in most cases the smooth bore is accurate enough.

I also used to hunt deer in Virginia with a shotgun and where I hunted we had to use buckshot. I personally am not a big fan of buckshot on deer. You have a very short kill range and beyond that you might just wound them. Some counties in Virginia allow slugs or rifles, just not the one I was hunting in.

If possible, go with the slug (Remington Sluggers work fine). If not go with a large size buckshot like 00 or 000 and try to resist taking a shot beyond 30-40 yards.

Good luck.

EKW

[Yooper]

Definitely go with the 12 guage. Try several slugs to see what works best. Sometimes Breneke's work great and other times not. Unless you've got a rifled barrel, don't mess with a sabot slug, it won't work. Breneke's or just plain old Sluggers work fine. The more open the choke, the better too.

If you're using buckshot, stay within that 30-40 yard range as was said. Look at the new Hevishot buckshot in 00 and use a modified choke if that patterns best. I am no fan of buckshot but in the "thick stuff" it'll work.

Check the regs too because some states will allow a Muzzleloader in shotgun zones. That'd be better yet!

[midwest safari]

Bryan,

Illinois does not allow rifle hunting, so hunters are limited to shotguns, muzzleloaders and revolvers. I have hunted deer with a shotgun for 20 years. I have always used a twelve guage. Illinois does not allow buckshot. Slugs must be used.

If you do not have a rifled barrel, then a modified or improved cylinder barrel with slugs will work. Prior to my rifled barrel, I shot Winchester Super X rifled slugs from an 870 Remington with a 20" improved cylinder barrel. I harvested many deer in the 30 to 60 yard range from a tree stand. My hunting parter has used Breneke shells for 20 years and loves them. I can only remember one deer he lost after hitting it with one of those slugs.

Good luck with the hunt. Illinois' first season (3 days) ended yesterday. I am guessing the harvest was high in my county because one of the meat processors stopped taking deer at noon on Saturday.

Midwest Safari

[hootie]

I agree that a shotgun is great but a muzzleloader is even better if it is legal.

With the new sabot slugs you can shoot out further too with good confidence. Of course you have to have a rifled barrel.

I've taken several whitetail with my 12 gauge remington model 1100 smoothbore and rifled slugs. Recent technology increases in muzzleloaders and sabot slugs have me leaving the 1100 in the gun safe.

[Bryan_Buckmaster]

Thanks everyone. Both of the shotguns have smooth barrels but it seems that the 12 gauge is the way to go. I am taking off half a day today and half a day tomorrow to practice. I live in North Carolina so I only use my shotgun for Turkey hunting (just started that last year and I still suck at it). I am a much better shot with 30-06. This should be a new experience and I am looking forward to it. I will be hunting in Virgina so I will look at the local regulations really closely. I am going at lunch to buy some slugs and 00 buckshot to practice with both. Thanks again. I really appreciate the advice.

[OhioDeerHunter]

Bryan,

You should see the exit hole a 12 guage slug leaves!
EKW

I just shot a deer with a 12 gauge and the exit wound was actually smaller than the entrance

[Flatcoat1]

Bryan,
Here in Indiana we cannot use rifles. I have used a shotgun for over twenty years. Good advice is to practice with several different slugs. Don't worry about the three inch shells, they kick better but are not always more accurate. I like to sight in at 25 yards - you didn't say if you were using a scope or open sights. Most shots will be under 60 yards. I have used back-up shots many times but only needed it once - killed a tree once on a back-up shot! Good luck.

[Bryan_Buckmaster]

The gun has open sights. I have only a couple of days of practice with the 12 gauge so I won't even consider a shot over 50 yards. I tried several slugs yesterday and will try a few more today. I am really getting pumped up for the long hunting weekend.

[elk killer wannabe]

I just shot a deer with a 12 gauge and the exit wound was actually smaller than the entrance

Wow, that's surprising. I hunt in Ohio also and I think all the ones I have shot have had exit holes about 2 inches in diameter. I aim for a double lung shot so it doesn't ever hurt any meat unless I hit high.

Oh well...dead is dead right?

[Flatcoat1]

Buckmaster,

Well, how did you do?

My wife took her first shot at a deer Sunday. Missed an "easy" shot. I have been there too. I do not think I will get rid of her, there is always next year to try again.

Flatcoat

[Bryan_Buckmaster]

I am going to change my login name from Buckmaster to WormKiller. I missed low twice this week end. I definately need a lot more practice with a shotgun. I suck. It was gret fun though. I am going to practice more this year so I am ready next year. Fortunately neither deer was a trophy so I wasn't too disappointed.

[buckeye buckhunter]

i have been hunting deer in ohio for 25 years and have taken many deer does and about 15 buckeye big bucks. for 20 of the 25 years i have been using breneke 12 gauge slugs. last wed. i was shooting at a minimum 180 class deer. at about 85 yards . i shot the deer stumbled it had trouble getting over a downed fence it was walking when i lost sight of the deer needless to say i was pumped. i went to where i last saw the deer to look for blood and couldnt find any so i went back to where i shot it to my surprise i found hair not white hair brown hair and in this clump of hair was a breneke slug with the wadding still atached so if you see a 180 class deer in ohio with a big bruise on its side its mine. i started doing some looking at my slugs i looked at some brenekes i had from last year and the brass is higher and has about one quarter inch more powder than the ones from this year i always thought breneke made a quality slug until that day. so it is my opinion that the deer are becoming bullet proof or breneke is starting to develop junk i think its the latter very dissappointed

[luie b]

Use the 12 gauge. For chokes just put the most open choke you have. Buy slugs that are 2 3/4. Try to shoot deer within 50 yards.

[aristico]

Look at the date of the post I have a feeling he already decided what to use :-)

[oneshot 1]

i have been hunting deer in ohio for 25 years and have taken many deer does and about 15 buckeye big bucks. for 20 of the 25 years i have been using breneke 12 gauge slugs. last wed. i was shooting at a minimum 180 class deer. at about 85 yards . i shot the deer stumbled it had trouble getting over a downed fence it was walking when i lost sight of the deer needless to say i was pumped. i went to where i last saw the deer to look for blood and couldnt find any so i went back to where i shot it to my surprise i found hair not white hair brown hair and in this clump of hair was a breneke slug with the wadding still atached so if you see a 180 class deer in ohio with a big bruise on its side its mine. i started doing some looking at my slugs i looked at some brenekes i had from last year and the brass is higher and has about one quarter inch more powder than the ones from this year i always thought breneke made a quality slug until that day. so it is my opinion that the deer are becoming bullet proof or breneke is starting to develop junk i think its the latter very dissappointed

Yea I'm looking at the date.But I had this problem with 12Ga. Slugs after using 20Ga. for years with no problem.

I shot at two Deer one day,found lots of Hair but NO BLOOD.I followed the line that the first Deer ran I gave up.Then shot a second Deer same thing.I searched on a Grid through the woods.Finally found Blood and my first Deer 10 yards.Found the second Deer close by.

I called the Slug Manufacturer and asked why I had better Luck with 20Ga. than 12Ga. They told me with light skinned Deer unless you hit more than just Rib Bone they will lots of time hold Blood in and run until they are about to drop,where they will let the Blood go.This is with a 12Ga. Slug.

Were as with a 20Ga. it may not exit but break up and mess the insides up doing more internal danage.

This is one reason I'm thinking twice about ever using my New 12Ga. on Deer.Even though everyone says I'm crazy.

Just something to consider.

oneshot