Big A Loc: Mesa, Arizona

This is an article I found that
I think will be of some interest
to our hunting members !

Natalie Kesper, an 8-yr.-old girl, has been tagging big bucks
(and gobblers) for the past three years ! This year, she bagged her biggest and best (so far) when
she brought down a buck with a rack measurement of 179 and 3/8ths inches ! Her Iowa buck, taken during her state's 'youth season', was bagged with the
help of a 'DeathGrip' tripod, making an outstanding shot at about 40 yards with her
12-gauge shotgun !
WAY TO GO, Natalie !

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Way to go, Lil Anne Oakley! Just Sayin....RJS

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

Gotta love it!!

RuffplayOR57 Loc: Klamath Falls, OR

Thanks for sharing BigA, and way to go Natalie!! Fantastic job and photo. That’s one she should remember for a while

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

Not being a hunter, nor a gun owner, I have to ask... hunting deer with a SHOTGUN ? Only on this forum have I ever heard of this, kinda doubt that it's even legal in Oregon.
Even at only 40yds, the "spread" is going to be at least dinner-plate sized, isn't it ? Seems like the amount of meat spoiled by shot is gonna be extensive, especially if the shot is poorly placed.
IDK, maybe you use steel shot and use an old-school magnetic stud finder, when butchering..lol. Please enlighten me on the practice, as I remember as a child hearing my uncle chastising my cousin for NOT "head-shotting" quail and prairie chicken...."you have some careful work to do before you take those in to your Mom, for cooking dinner... you know how she is about finding shot in meat".

Not to mention the big hole in a nice hide...lol !
So...is this a common practice/gun choice by deer hunters ? Curious....

E.pa.al Loc: Martin's Creek

thanks BigA
Way to go Natalie

Big A Loc: Mesa, Arizona

Using a shotgun for deer is common in the northeast, as the woods are thick with undercover and a decent shot may only present itself at under 50 yards !
Many areas are designated 'shotgun only' due to the population density and close proximity of houses/dwellings/
farms ! In thick cover, buckshot is usually recommended, while in
more open areas (such as power line trails) most hunters use rifled
slugs ! Some shotguns are specialized and are commonly referred to as 'slug' guns, as their barrels may contain 'rifling'
grooves as opposed to being 'smoothbores' !

Grandpa Knows How Loc: Bahia De Los angeles, Mexico

Shotguns have a special round, called a “Rifled Slug”. The slug has rifled edges so it spins like a rifle bullet making it accurate. It’s heavier in weight in most cases making it a very efficient weapon for hinting. Range is short and is the weapon of choice and sometimes by law, when you may have population nearby.

ripogenu Loc: norfolk, MA

they make a shot gun shell with a "deer slug" bigger than a 50 calibre. no spread. BUT 40 yds is a stretch for that shot!

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

My Mossberg with a rifled bbl will shoot 3 rounds in a 2in circle @50yds, with BRI sabot slugs.
In Ct its shotgun only on state land. Rifles allowed only on private land.

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

Some use ‘00’ buck shot which has 9 pellets somewhat near the size of a 22 slug. Some areas as Fred and others have mentioned is designated short range weapons only. These areas are for shotguns and bows. Hope all the comments have helped to clarify.

Iowa Farmer Loc: Iowa City Iowa

I have killed many deer from 100 to 150 yards with my 20 gauge and scope. It is shotgun only state wide in Iowa. There is a 9 inch drop at 150 yards. It's all about knowing your gun and how to shoot it.

Edit: Muzzle loader an handguns are also legal in Iowa.

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

Well... nobody, until now, mentioned a slug as the load. Again, not being a gun owner....why ??? My brain tells me that it's NOT a shotgun, if there IS no SHOT......WTH ?
And why would rifles not be allowed ? Bullet travel distance on a missed shot ? Short range .... what ??....are you hunting in populated areas ? So far, this is making zero sense, ......common, practical, or engineering-wise.
I have fired many guns, owned by family or friends, the majority on a range (one of my first merit badges at Boy Scout camp... Marksmanship) or simply an open pasture, a few times shooting clay with 12ga, 16ga, 20ga, and absolutely frustratingly with a 410....lol.
Can't even understand what a slug has any business doing in a shotgun shell, seems like a work-around alternative to carrying a rifle for deer but being able to switch out shells and proceed to shoot a pheasant, or a duck.
Just an unfamiliar thing, I had no idea existed, beyond maybe, some S.W.A.T. team eccentricity or stopping a charging Rhino...lol.

PS... my buddy Craig would be shooting a deer that was a mere 40-50yd away.... with his "Dirty Harry" gun....eye shot or don't take it.....yeah...he's scary good....trained sniper in 'Nam.

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Different states have different regulations. IA and IL (I believe) are still shotgun only, but I am not sure about their use of buckshot. Buckshot was outlawed in WI a long time ago. A typical 12 gauge slug weighs 1oz and packs quite a punch and the sabot slugs through a rifled barrel are accurate well beyond 100yds...they claim 200, but I am not taking a shot at that range.
WI was shotgun only in the Southern half of the state up to about 10 years ago, but they now allow rifles and handguns statewide.
Congrats to the little girl on that great buck!

Big A Loc: Mesa, Arizona

Sorry ! Accidental send !

Now, I'M confused ! I can understand allowing black
powder firearms in a 'shotgun
only' state, but some magnum handgun rounds have equal
range (or more) as many deer
rifle calibers, so why would they
be allowed in place of a rifle ?
A missed shot (more likely with
a hangun vs. a 'long' gun) would
travel just as far and be as much of a hazard, would it not ?