Jason_W
Member
I was never really a deer hunter when I lived back in the northeast. All the endless sitting and waiting bored me to tears during my precious limited time off.
For that reason, a shotgun was a good choice for me. I could wander around “deer hunting” for a bit, and when I got bored with that, toss in some bird shot and probably actually go home with some meat. The multi-tool was the best choice for my type of hunting.
I note the above to explain my affinity for and bias toward shotguns. However, I’ve never really understood why shotguns are quite as reviled as they are for deer and other larger game. Shotgun Slugs (and to an extent buckshot) are potent at close to moderate range. Are 1oz or heavier, .725” diameter chunks of lead really leaving deer regularly wounded and escaping?
Granted, a shotgun wouldn’t be a great choice for hunting Pronghorn on a plain or deer over a bean field, but in most places, if a hunter is in the woods, 50 yards is likely a typical visibility limit rendering moot a rifle’s flat trajectory.
I can’t help but wonder why in states and locations that were historically shotgun only, the second straight walled metallic cartridges were allowed, deer hunters were tossing aside their shotguns with the same disdain they would have when dumping a girlfriend with borderline personality disorder.
we’re shotguns failing so regularly all those years?
For that reason, a shotgun was a good choice for me. I could wander around “deer hunting” for a bit, and when I got bored with that, toss in some bird shot and probably actually go home with some meat. The multi-tool was the best choice for my type of hunting.
I note the above to explain my affinity for and bias toward shotguns. However, I’ve never really understood why shotguns are quite as reviled as they are for deer and other larger game. Shotgun Slugs (and to an extent buckshot) are potent at close to moderate range. Are 1oz or heavier, .725” diameter chunks of lead really leaving deer regularly wounded and escaping?
Granted, a shotgun wouldn’t be a great choice for hunting Pronghorn on a plain or deer over a bean field, but in most places, if a hunter is in the woods, 50 yards is likely a typical visibility limit rendering moot a rifle’s flat trajectory.
I can’t help but wonder why in states and locations that were historically shotgun only, the second straight walled metallic cartridges were allowed, deer hunters were tossing aside their shotguns with the same disdain they would have when dumping a girlfriend with borderline personality disorder.
we’re shotguns failing so regularly all those years?