Anyone use a shotgun for deer?

[TrophyTracker]

In another forum,they are talking alot about slug guns,I thought I'd ask around here.

[pgajb]

Sure- rifles only became allowed here a few years ago- at the ranges I can reasonably shoot in the Northeastern woods around here ( <100yds, more likely less than 50), the only real advantage I find in carrying my .30-30 is that it weighs not nearly as much as my 870 (and the recoil is practically non-existent compared to shooting slugs!)- except for one really crappy shot nearly 20 years ago, no deer I've taken with a shotgun has ever gone more than 10-20 yards, with most dropping immediately-

[TrophyTracker]

That's cool.I like using my Rem 7600 when I hunt up that way,it carries light,shoots fast,and feels like an 870 in my hands.Where do you hunt most?

[dgarbus]

I've actually started using a muzzleloader for regular season here in NY. Unfortunately, in the county I hunt in, its either that or a slug gun (no rifles allowed).

[TrophyTracker]

NY is crazy like that.I get confused there. I plan on hunting turkeys there in spring.I have friends who own a farm up there that's close to the county line and the next county over has completely different reg. I'll just stay on the farm!

[pgajb]

It is confusing here in NY- we're right on the edge of "no rifles allowed" territory as well- I do like having an "excuse" to add a rifle (or 3?) to the gun collection, but all in all, if we were again limited to shotguns only, I don't think I'd find myself at a serious disadvantage. As I mentioned before, it is just a bit painful to hold an extensive shooting session to figure out which shoot best-

[TrophyTracker]

The pain in the shoulder is not bad compared to the pain in the wallet with shell prices these days!lol

[shaman]

I have two. The first one is a smoothbore Rem 1100 with rifle sights that shoots the Remmie Sluggers into a cloverleaf at 50 yards. The other is a Mossberg 500 with a rifled barrel and a scope that shoots 3" Brenneke into the same hole at 50 yards.

I hunt mostly in Kentucky now but I cut my teeth on Ohio's shotguns season. If you think like a bow hunter and set up for those kind of distances, you will not be at a disadvantage. In 25 years of deer hunting in dense woods, I've only had to pass on one buck that was too far out for a shotgun and made me wish I'd had a rifle.

I still try to get out at least 1 day a season and walk the woods with my 1100. As a still-hunting weapon, with deer popping up at 20 yards, there is nothing better coming up to my shoulder for a quick shot.