Is Buckshot really suitable for Deer?

Question

I've posted several answers in the past week or so expressing my opinion that buckshot in most cases is not suitable for harvesting deer.

This has prompted some lively and very polite (thanks guys) off-line email conversations that have been rich in information and thoughtful opinions.....so much so that I'm inspired to bring the topic up as a public question because there are some very differing opinions here.

Personally, I have had several experiences with buckshot used by hunting partners that have led me to my opinion. Tracking a wounded animals for hours and then losing that track..... or in one case, giving up from heavy snowfall and exhaustion are not exactly moments in the field that I'm proud of, but it happens. I just see the potential for this situation so much more likely with buckshot as opposed to rifle, sabot ot slugs.

So please share your opinion and experiences and your state laws too. Thanks, DJ

Really excellent, thoughtful answers folks! Thanks to each of you.

I am going to concede that for prepared and experienced hunters and at suitably close range, buckshot can be used effectively in certian circumstances.

Good points in favor from "17hunter" when dogs are allowed and used, and from "juggling_chef" who is a bow hunter that crosses over into firearm season but using the same stand and techniques a bowhunter does, thereby ensuring close and lethal shots.

The big problem as I see it for the general hunting public is the continued myth that "you don't need to aim with a shotgun" and the disipline to stay within your range.

For these reasons, I'm going to take the position that it's not advisable or recommended to use buckshot in the places it's still allowed UNLESS the hunter is very experienced with it and observes his extremly close range limitations.

Answer 1

DJ. I tend to agree that buckshot really isn't great for deer. I have helped track many young hunters' deer after having been shot with buckshot. I have also seen some pretty disappointed hunters after hours of following a diminishing blood trail for hours. (I know some states only allow shotgun hunting and there's nothing that can be done about that.)

So here's why I don't care for it:

1. It takes an experienced hunter to place that one single BB into the right vital spot(I am not saying that there is only one BB, but that's all it takes.)

2. Parents tend to put the shotgun in junior's hands for some silly reason that makes them think it is not as dangerous as a real rifle. They are setting them up for disappointment.

3. Many times the shot is broken up by brush, thus limiting the pattern's usefulness.

4. Many of the hunters using Buckshot fail to check their pattern or match the choke to the ammunition. More disappointment to be had.

Speaking of disappointment, my first trip hunting was marred by a buckshot incident. I was leaning against a fallen log where my Dad had seen some sign of deer when I heard something crashing through the woods. A nice 8 point stopped about 30 yards in front of me and I let him have it from my single shot 12. He ran leaving a good blood trail and I sat to wait for my Dad like I had been told to. While waiting I heard another shot across our fence line. Dad got there and we followed the trail of blood for about 150 yards until we hit the fence line. On the other side of the fence was a pile of entrails. With "my" blood trail leading right up to it.

We went back to camp and Dad decided to take me into the town and see what was hanging in the freezer at the local ice house. We walked into the converted freezer truck and among the many does and hogs was an 8 point with a peppered hide. My Dad went inside and asked who shot it. A rather drunken hunter claimed he had gotten it with a 30-30. The sheriff was listening in and we all went out to take a look. The sheriff stuck a pocket knife in one of the holes over the deer's lungs and popped a "00" pellet out. He looked at the man and said "you stole this deer from a 10 year old kid." He then told us there was nothing he could do.
Needless to say I developed a good grudge against that man and buckshot that night. Since then I have hunted with a .25-06 or .30-06.

I just feel that a good rifle can't be beat in the deer hunting game. If they can't use a rifle in their state, then use a slug or the largest pellets allowed in your state "00" or "000". Why lose the animal and subject yourself to the grief.

Answer 2

Deer Hunting With Buckshot

Answer 3

I would say that there is no question that a good dose of 00 or 000 buck is going to be sufficient to kill a deer at a close range. The question to really ask here, I think, is why. On the market today, we have a host of slugs available that are even more adept to taking down a deer, and at much longer ranges than should be attempted with buckshot.

Buckshot is certainly suitable, but I wouldn't see any reason to choose it over a slug.

Answer 4

There is a place for everything. If you are hunting deer with dogs or in real thick cover then there is nothing better. Is it effective? I've seen scores of deer killed this way, and it is probably why hunting deer with dogs is now so limited. Buckshot will kill deer. I sure wouldn't want anybody shooting at me with buckshot. It's probably why the sound of a 12 Ga. pump action is so feared.

As to your experiences with hunting partners, some have been known to think that buckshot eliminates the need for good marksmanship. Aim small. Hit small.

Answer 5

I don't hunt deer but my family has property in prime deer territory and my dad, relatives, and friends are hunters.

I have heard some stories about buckshot causing horrible injuries to deer, but not killing them quickly enough for them to be trackable.

To me, buckshot seems pretty sloppy in general. The shotgun is best against moving targets, like doves or maybe turkeys, where you need that spread. If you're hunting deer, you shouldn't be trying to take one down while it's running. Whether you use a rifle or a shotgun, you're risking a sloppy shot.

I am not against the harvesting of deer, just not a fan of doing it myself. However, with any of the larger game animals, I feel that using a rifle and aiming for the heart is a more prudent choice than going for a hail of buckshot pellets. Sabots or slugs are a better choice, but I would prefer the accuracy of a rifle.

I guess shotguns are better in one way; the shot has a much shorter lethal range, so there's less chance that you might miss and have your round whip out into a cow pasture and hurt someone else's livelihood.

Answer 6

I see both sides of the coin here, there's a reason it's called buckshot, shot used to take bucks with. On the other side, there's got to be a good reason why the vast majority of states have outlawed the use of buckshot on deer.
Inhumane? Possibly
Effective? At very close range, yes.
Are there better choices in a shotgun? Resounding YES!
I think most hunters are ethical and humane, no REAL hunter wants to cause undue pain and/or suffering of their game, we all strive for a quick and humane kill of our prey. Buckshot at one time was the only shell available for shotgunners to use on deer, advances have been made since then, new loads are available, slugs, sabot's, rifled slugs etc are all far more effective at humanely taking prey v/s shotshells. You youself have experienced what none of us want to, losing a wounded animal while tracking the blood trail, ask yourself, would this have happened if the hunter had used a slug or sabot? Probably not.
The evidence straight across the board points more in favor of using slugs and sabots v/s shotshells.
I'm starring this question, I expect some lively debate and some great answers here!

Answer 7

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Is Buckshot really suitable for Deer?
I've posted several answers in the past week or so expressing my opinion that buckshot in most cases is not suitable for harvesting deer.

This has prompted some lively and very polite (thanks guys) off-line email conversations that have been rich in information and thoughtful...

Answer 8

Buckshot may be effective at 25 yards, but to be really reliable, keep within 20 yards, or better yet 15. Most buckshot loads spread and thin out drastically past the 15-yard line and even the best loads group the shot reliably only out to 20 yards or so.
The idea is to have a tight cluster of big pellets, preferably 00 or even 000, for maximum shock value, not to have a wide dispersion and hope one lucky pellet will find the mark. Likewise the smaller pellets will not reliably penetrate and break bone.

After personally testing a wide variety of different factory loads in different guns, barrels, and chokes, one of the most consistent loadings in any brand proved to be the 3", 15-pellet 00-buck premium shell with buffered, nickel-plated shot, fired thru an improved-modified choke-tube.

But since buckshot should be aimed, not just pointed like birdshot, you may as well use a slug which has far more power to put-'em-down-where-they-stand.

Answer 9

I use to live in Delaware where Buckshot is legal. I was taught how to deer hunt by my Uncle Pete and he always used 12ga. 00 Buckshot. The reason why is most of the woodland available for us to hunt was so thick you rarely get a shot over 35 yards unless you hunt in a farmers field, Buckshot was your best option. I was taught never take a shot over 40 yards with buckshot. I killed 84 deer in Delaware all with buckshot and dropped them DEAD IN THERE TRACKS EVERY TIME. You always need to know your limits with any weapon and ammo. I’m a skilled bow hunter, shot gunner, and now I love my Winchester 7mm short mag. I reside in Maryland.

You cannot use a rifle in Delaware.

Answer 10

A single projectile (rifle bullet) is good for just about any range. It does the same amount of damage to the meat at 10 yards as it does at 100 yards.
Multiple projectiles( Buckshot) are limited range, but will kill a deer just as effectively. However, at close range it will damage a lot of meat, and at longer range may not even put enough lead on the target to scare the deer.
Therefore, I do not recommend it.