Hunting deer with buckshot

[FL-NC]

I just moved to the Fl panhandle and an elderly widow lady from up the road was kind enough to offer me the opportunity to hunt on her land, which she says has an abundance of deer. Needless to say, I'm thrilled and will absolutely take advantage of the opportunity (assuming the hurricane doesn't take all of us and the deer out). After a short scout and map recon, I have decided that it would be safest to use a shotgun with buckshot if I am hunting from a ground blind due to the roads that surround the narrow but deep property.(rectangle shaped parcel). From an elevated tree stand, I have no issue using a rifle. Regardless, the area is pretty thick, so a shot over 100 yards just isn't there. As far as a shotgun with buckshot- I've never done this. Once I pattern the gun, what would be the max size shot pattern I should accept as being the max effective range? What about effects on the deer? I don't expect the pellets to leave the gaping, ragged exit holes of a centerfire- I assume that means much less optimal blood trails too? Just trying to get an idea of how to go about this to improve odds of success and recovery.

 

[MidRoad]

Buck shot generally spreads 1" per yard. So say 25" at 25 yards. I don't have personal experience because it's not legal here. However I know federal for sure and maybe some other companies make buck shot with "flight control wads" which claim to reduce spread by half, so approx 12-13" at 25 yards. Definitely something to look into. I'd assume it would extend your range a little. Say from 30 yards to maybe 45/50? I'm sure some one more knowledgable than myself can chime in.

Edit- good luck with Irma,she seems like a mean b****

 

[JeeperCreeper]

Only ever blasted around with buckshot for fun, but I do believe alot depends on what choke your shotgun has.

 

[Klint Beastwood]

Buck shot generally spreads 1" per yard. So say 25" at 25 yards. I don't have personal experience because it's not legal here. However I know federal for sure and maybe some other companies make buck shot with "flight control wads" which claim to reduce spread by half, so approx 12-13" at 25 yards. Definitely something to look into. I'd assume it would extend your range a little. Say from 30 yards to maybe 45/50? I'm sure some one more knowledgable than myself can chime in.

Edit- good luck with Irma,she seems like a mean b****

i was going to say something along the 30 yards approach as well, so +1

 

[red rick]

Buckshot is all we use here . It just depends on your shotgun , choke and shell as to how far you should shoot . I pattern my gun at 40 yards and get most of the pellets within a 20" circle at that distance . I like to limit my shots to about that distance . You might want to try a Buck-Kicker choke tube if your shotgun doesn't pattern well with the factory choke . I was kind of lucky I guess because I have a gunsmith that makes choke tubes . He and his son have the same shotgun as I do , so he had a pretty good idea what choke and shells my gun would like and he was right .

 

[Patocazador]

Hunting deer in front of dogs is common here. The gun and ammo of choice is a 12 ga. shotgun with 00 buckshot. You should have a full choke, use 3" magnum shells (15 pellets), and aim for their noses if they are moving. #000 and #1 buckshot work good too if you are close. There are only 10 pellets in a 000 3" shell and 24 pellets in a #1 buckshot 3" shell.

I have found that buckshot is very effective within 35-40 yds. if the pellets hit the head/neck area. Body shots will kill the deer but they can go a long way with just 2 or 3 pellets in the vitals. Having a tracking dog available would be real smart.

Don't try long shots or you will just wound deer.

 

[FL-NC]

Hunting deer in front of dogs is common here. The gun and ammo of choice is a 12 ga. shotgun with 00 buckshot. You should have a full choke, use 3" magnum shells (15 pellets), and aim for their noses if they are moving. #000 and #1 buckshot work good too if you are close. There are only 10 pellets in a 000 3" shell and 24 pellets in a #1 buckshot 3" shell.

I have found that buckshot is very effective within 35-40 yds. if the pellets hit the head/neck area. Body shots will kill the deer but they can go a long way with just 2 or 3 pellets in the vitals. Having a tracking dog available would be real smart.

Don't try long shots or you will just wound deer.

Thanks- I'll keep the range real and aim for the high neck I guess.

 

[T.R.]

I've killed only one deer with buckshot so I'm not an expert. I used an old break action 16 gauge shotgun with full choke firing from a distance of approx 20 yards. At the shot, the doe stumbled before bounding away. It ran about the length of three school buses before laying down. I waited about 30 minutes before approaching and the doe was dead. Upon field dressing, I discovered that the chest organs were badly torn apart from the pellets. It looked like the buckshot pattern was still fairly tight at 20 yards. In summary, I found this old time shotgun to be effective at close range.

I have a place to hunt deer near the Suwanee River of northern Florida but will hunt with my Glenfield 30-30 carbine.

Good hunting to you.

TR

 

[RMc]

Buckshot is a highly effective choice for deer hunting when used within the pattern limitations of the load, choke and pattern tested range.

There are many ways to achieve the pattern density needed, however there is a simple ammunition based approach. Recalling the OP concern for limited danger range, traditional small pellet buckshot such as 00B is appropriate. Just after the turn of the century, Federal introduced the Flite-Control wad to its Premium buckshot line. The speciallized wad does not require tight or custom chokes to gain a tight usable hunting pattern.

This is the 3" 12 pellet 00B version of the Flite-Control round:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...r-plated-buckshot-12-pellets-flitecontrol-wad

I would suggest pattern testing this Flite-Control load first with an improved cylinder choke. The minimum pattern standard I would suggest for establishing maximum range would be the distance that your shotgun will average 6 00B pellets (50%) in the core 10". This minimum pattern should be attainable to some 40 yards - only your pattern testing can verify this level of performance.

 

[FL-NC]

I did some testing last week. My Mossberg 930 with turkey barrel and IC choke screwed in doesn't like buck or slugs one bit (even though it destroys turkey with the x full & turkey shot). My 870 with 20" carlson barrel and screw in IC did satisfactory (put holes in all vitals on a target) at 25 yards with standard Win. 2 3/4" 00, and stacked 3 1 oz slugs at the same distance so I have a buck and slug option with that set up. I may try and get some flite control and try that too, but if i had to go tommorow I wouldn't have an issue using that 870 (even though it kicks like a horse). I also tried some 2 3/4" #3's out of an old 20 ga. Mossberg 385 with full choke and 26" (I think) barrel. It threw an excellent pattern, but the problem is I have no idea what it would do with a slug, and its awful long if I end up in the ground blind- I have 2 tree stands, 1 ground blind on my small hunting area.

 

[ponchh]

My first 20 years of deer huntin was with dogs and I sure miss those days.
28 inch barrel, modified choke, with 3 inch number 1 buck. You will be good to 60 yards.

 

[Captcurt]

My first 20 years of deer huntin was with dogs and I sure miss those days.
28 inch barrel, modified choke, with 3 inch number 1 buck. You will be good to 60 yards.

This has been my my choice too. #1 Buck out of my Modified barrel has been the best combo for me and I tested several chokes, shot size and brands of ammo. The Winchester copper plated buck is nasty if you can find it in #1.

 

[ponchh]

[QUOTE="Captcurt, post: 10653542, member: 1haas been my my choice too. #1 Buck out of my Modified barrel has been the best combo for me and I tested several chokes, shot size and brands of ammo. The Winchester copper plated buck is nasty if you can find it in #1.[/QUOTE]


AMMOTOGO has winchester 3 in #1,

 

[Decoy80]

Living in brushy hills whether using dogs or not we always called it the meat getter. I agree on the 60 yards with 3 inch number one. Once lucky at 65 myself with only 2 pellets penetrating one of those lodged in the heart. The skinned carcass showed several places where it was hit and the pellets didn't penetrate the hide. I think it will be the right tool to use when houses are nearby too. Good hunting.

 

[red rick]

I remember a long time ago , when my dad gave my brother a Remington 1100 20 ga. for his 13th birthday . The first time he went hunting on my granddads farm , he killed a small buck . When my granddad was skinning it he said " I don't think you hit him because I don't see any place where he was hit , I think you scared him to death " . Then he found where one shot had hit him in the head and that one pellet killed him .

 

[Captcurt]

Living in brushy hills whether using dogs or not we always called it the meat getter. I agree on the 60 yards with 3 inch number one. Once lucky at 65 myself with only 2 pellets penetrating one of those lodged in the heart. The skinned carcass showed several places where it was hit and the pellets didn't penetrate the hide. I think it will be the right tool to use when houses are nearby too. Good hunting.

We had a buffer zone around the lake that was designated as shotgun only because of all of the nearby houses. Now it is all WMA around the entire lake and open to rifles. Don't know why they changed it. There are 4 times as many houses in there now.

 

[FL-NC]

Just got back from Academy in Pensacola. Got me some new arrows for the x-bow, and hoped to find some #1 buck or any flight control buck. They didn't have it and didn't even know what I was talking about when I asked.

 

[Captcurt]

I don't know if Winchester will use the same technique on their Buckshot loads that they use on their Longbeard turkey loads, but it could be a major improvement. The Longbeards have a gel, of sorts, that adheres the shot together making for tighter patterns. I have shot a lot of different turkey loads over the years and the LB's are the best that I have seen. Take not Winchester.

 

[Sarge7402]

I just moved to the Fl panhandle and an elderly widow lady from up the road was kind enough to offer me the opportunity to hunt on her land, which she says has an abundance of deer. Needless to say, I'm thrilled and will absolutely take advantage of the opportunity (assuming the hurricane doesn't take all of us and the deer out). After a short scout and map recon, I have decided that it would be safest to use a shotgun with buckshot if I am hunting from a ground blind due to the roads that surround the narrow but deep property.(rectangle shaped parcel). From an elevated tree stand, I have no issue using a rifle. Regardless, the area is pretty thick, so a shot over 100 yards just isn't there. As far as a shotgun with buckshot- I've never done this. Once I pattern the gun, what would be the max size shot pattern I should accept as being the max effective range? What about effects on the deer? I don't expect the pellets to leave the gaping, ragged exit holes of a centerfire- I assume that means much less optimal blood trails too? Just trying to get an idea of how to go about this to improve odds of success and recovery.

Back almost 20 years ago, we found some LE 9 pellet 00 buckshot from Federal ( I think) that would group less than 3 inches at 25 yards out of a cylinder choke 870 with rifle sights.. Think I still have a box or two of it in my war chest

 

[jeepnik]

I've hunted the panhandle of Florida when I was stationed at Eglin AFB. It was shotgun only then.

First observation is that the deer there are smaller than in most places. Terrain has a lot to do with that.

Second, 00 buck worked just fine from a modified choke. As you mentioned ranges are close, and if you do see one at any distance you not to take the shot. You will loose some meat but that's the nature of shot vs bullet.

 

[FL-NC]

Something I didn't even think to try- I have a Mossberg 930 JM Pro model that I have used for 3 gun! To date, I have only used it with #6 or Fiochi low recoil slugs in competition. I think I need to take it out and see how it acts with standard slugs and buckshot. My turkey 930 wanted nothing to do with either with IC screwed in, but may as well try this other one.

 

[double bogey]

Only killed one deer with buckshot, small buck trotting right at me 15yds out. He was looking over his shoulder at the small beagle that was chasing him, and the 2 3/4" 00 Winchester load stopped him in his tracks, literally, his front feet stopped and he did a somersault and never moved after hitting the ground. No shot penetrated is chest cavity, about 5 hit in his neck, and one burned a groove down his side.

The next day I saw one of the other guys knock a doe off the side of a hill about 45 yds out. Wasn't an immediate kill. and I wasn't impressed, but he got the deer. 00 also, but I think 3" load.

This was in Alabama about 25 years ago when I would visit and dog hunt with my uncle and cousins.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Get or make with butcher paper, a few life-size deer targets and pattern your gun at increasing ranges. When you stop getting hits in the vital zone, that's too far. While you're at it, try different chokes.

 

[ponchh]

We use a 9 in paper plate. When your not getting enough shot on the plate that's a problem.

 

[FL-NC]

Get or make with butcher paper, a few life-size deer targets and pattern your gun at increasing ranges. When you stop getting hits in the vital zone, that's too far. While you're at it, try different chokes.

This is what I did. I ended up getting best results with the IC in a 20" 870 for both slugs and 00. Also got a great pattern with a Mossberg 385 bolt 20 gauge with #3. I would prefer to use the 385, but its LONG- I can use it in my 2 stands, but it will be a problem in the tiny ground blind. Still need to try the JM pro.