A properly patterned shotgun with 00B-000B in a 3" or better yet a 3.5" load will effectively kill a deerwithin 0-60 yds, the problem you have is you don't getmany exit wounds with buckshot. Therefore, not much of a bloodtrail.I shoot a beretta model 592 12-gaugewith afull choke and itwill hold a pattern to put 9-10 00B buckshotin a paper plate @ 40 yds.