Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Serious Deer Talk Forum Do you use buckshot when stand hunting (elevated or ground blind)?

The latest generation of buckshot patterns very tight with conventional buckshot sizes and extremely tignt with very large 3 pellet loads and within range usually results in a DRT kill. Given this do you use that big multi-pellet smoothbore when stand hunting?

I've never used buckshot but we hunt some corps of engineer land down around Demopolis and use riffled barrels on a shotgun. I shoot 20ga 3" hollow point winchesters. Wouldn't hesitate to shoot 150-200 yards. Has LOTS of knock down power. I've actually started using it as a brush gun instead of my 44mag. Only drawback is they kick like a mule.

uh, no. Thats what they make rifles for...

I killed a pile of deer with bucshot over the years while dog hunting. Given the choice of hunting from a stand with rifle or shotgun, I would take a rifle 100% of the time.

I sometimes use buckshot and a 12 gauge when hunting now. I hunt a very thick swamp edge where my longest shooting lanes are 50 yards either way. Sometimes the deer are 35 yards and its hard to see them if they are not in my lane.
When Im hunting those stands I use a 12 gauge and 3 inch 00 buckshot. I killed a big nine pointer in there at around 25 yards three years ago,..that Id never have been able to shoot with a rifle. I hit him with that 00 buck..it just ROLLED him.

Haven't used buckshot since I was a kid running dogs.

I use 00 3". Kills them dead. It is a great choice when and where shots are close and fast.

ok IF you have the self control NOT to shoot at longer ranges...unlike a rifle that works from two feet to way out there.....

and before ya start I was killing deer with buckshot while you were still pooping in a diaper......

I not sure but I believe Buckshot is only legal in Counties that allow dog hunting. Not sure?

I also like slug guns in the thick too..like Troy said..only where you can shoot close range though. Over 50 yards and Ill always grab a rifle.

In south carolina I hunt where you just ease along in the swamps and its REAL thick. You can usually get right up on deer in there. You dont see them until they start to come up out of their beds. When they do I just let er rip with buckshot and hit em quick..I can usualy hit them before they go 10-20 yards...and if they dont go down Ill hit em again.
Id never be able to that with a scoped rifle..they get up and out QUICK.

Ive never heard that! Im pretty sure it is legal. I sure hope so. as I prefer it when hunting in thick areas.

Here is a good example of a Buckshot/Treestand combination working on deer - DRT with 20ga. buckshot at frame 3:25

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvDMN4PlcZA

A 2011 decision by the Alabama Conservation Advisory Board lifted the statewide ban on buckshot during stalk season. Previously buckshot was only legal in areas and seasons open to dog deer hunting.

In returning the ammuntition/firearm decision to the hunter, the C.A.B. recognized the popularity of buckshot for stalk, and stand hunting thick cover in many areas of the state.

Not a worse blood trail to follow than a buckshot deer. Why gamble on it when you can hit them with a slug or rifle know they will be laying there. I've killed several and lost a few that were "sure things" in the past with buckshot. I don't even consider using it anymore.

Did you establish a maximum range by pre-season pattern testing at increasing distances to establish a minimum acceptable pattern?

So, a slug or rifle insures the deer will be laying right there? My tracking dog would beg to differ!

at 50 yards and less its like you hit em with a truck..they just get blown off their feet. Ive never had any even get up, much lesss run of. Most have been right around 35 yards or less though

Thanks RMcL for clearing that up. I had not heard that.

buckshot is great for home defense when someone breaks in the house blast them back out of the house9 hits like 38 specials at one time.