what is the max distance you will take a deer with a shotgun load with buckshot?

[gman3186]

what is the max distance you will take a deer with a shotgun load with buckshot?

[matouse3]

30 yards- pretty much bow range. Once you get beyond that, I feel like the pattern is pretty open which may lead to a non-lethal hit. Thats just me though, I really don't like buckshot except in a thick area where its going to be a close shot anyway.

[bonnier-admin_2]

I prefer slugs over buckshot any day just don't like buckshot and if I do #4 is my pick

[gman3186]

the reason i ask this question is because i feel most people are not takeing there gun to it full potential we shoot deer in virginia at 100 yards with buckshot i am shooting a 3 1/2 inch and have knocked a deer off its feet at 137 yards with double 00 buckshot and i know we measured it off and did mention the deer was on a full out run i aimed about 2 foot over its head and about 8 foot infront of its nose and out of 18 pellets we found 11 in the deer so get out in the field run diffrent chokes and diffrent brand of sheels and shot some distance i think you will be suprised and the shot pattern.and as for shooting that distance you all may think i am full of it but its only lead let it fly

[lovetohunt]

gman3186

I asked a similar question a while ago. Here is a link: www.fieldandstream.com/answers/hunting/whitetails/what-use-when-hunting-whitetail-deer/i-have-read-about-people-useing-extr


But for me 40 yards.

[Beekeeper]

40 yards and no more...

[shane]

Don't even bother. Just use a slug. There is no good reason to hunt deer with buckshot. Buckshot is the worst name for the stuff. Save it for burglars and coyotes.

[libertyfirst]

I have seen so many deer wounded with buckshot that I feel ill just talking about it! I've used smaller calibers than I should use for deer before and have been very successful, but even with the small caliber rifles I could place my bullet precisely. With buckshot you can only spray the area and pray one pellet will find its way to a vital area. In my circle of hunting friends, buckshot is out! .

[matouse3]

Well said libertyfirst.

[steve182]

I don't hunt with it, but as stated above 30 yds is as far as i'd go.

[libertyfirst]

I've already posted my answer to this question but my brother reminded me of a deer that we found many years ago in a huge swamp by our stomping grounds. Actually I've tried to put this out of my mind but maybe it bears repeating here. The animal that we found was a small antler buck that was still alive but barely. The right rear quarter was oozing pus and the infection was ,to my mind, obvious. There was a total of 8 individual holes in this animals ass end and none had gotten through to the vitals.My father finished this poor deer and my brother and I dug out one of the offending bullets. To no ones surprise, it wasn't a bullet but a lead ball of approximately .25 dia. The animal had to be fairly close to put in 8 pellets and still the miserable results. The hunter has to take the blame for shooting at the tail end of a deer but if it's the way that you choose to hunt I dare say that a 180 gr. 30-06 or a powerful rifle of this type would have properly anchored this animal and avoided the suffering. Shooting buckshot at a deer is not humane.

[jeffo52284]

I have heard 40 yards at the most but slugs are a better choice.

[gman3186]

alot say use a rifle but were we are in viriginia we cant not use rifle and many say use slugs but were i hunt they run dogs and shooting a deer on the run with slug just is not going to happen buckshot is the only option

[hjohn429]

About 0 yards. I will never use buckshot for a deer because I think it is very un-ethical and in-humane.

[NYhunter]

I have not and will not use buckshot because I don't trust it to kill the deer , but mabe for drives at VERY close range...I'm sticking with slugs.It's aganst the law in NY any way.