Okay...my thoughts on some of the posts here...

As to buckshot not being effective or lethal, I have to disagree just using my own limited experience. If it is patterned correctly, it can be devastating. My choke will put 9 out of 9 pellets in 6-inch circle at 25 yards and 9 of 9 in a 10-inch circle at 40 yards. That will most certainly do the job, and has.

As to there being no advantage to using buckshot over a single projectile at a quickly moving deer, I disagree there as well. Having a 6 to 10-inch spread to work with in the vitals area is a huge advantage, IMO. If you're slightly high, low or to the rear with a single projectile, you could be looking at a huge tracking job or a lost deer. That same shot with buckshot would be a heart or lung shot.

As to not taking (running) shots at deer being spooked from their cover, I can agree and disagree, depending on the situation. If it is a broadside shot between out to 30 or 40 yards, there is no reason not to take the shot, IMO. The deer is JUST beginning to run, they're not at full speed, and if they are broadside, well, that's just what you want. Now if they're quartered hard or facing away, I definitely wouldn't take the shot. I wouldn't just shoot in hopes of hitting part of the deer, so let's get that one out of the way.

As to shooting buckshot at quickly moving deer not being ideal, quickest, most humane way to take a deer, I can agree with that. However, you have to look at things in context. NORMALLY, I would not use buckshot because for me, it would never be necessary. I'd be in my bind waiting for an excellent shot at a deer I want to take. I want that deer to go down hard and not get up (but I want to reemphasize that CAN happen with buckshot!!). So I'll use a .308 or a 12ga slug. But in the context of this/these hunts, they are POPULATION CONTROL hunts. The DCR/DMAP is telling the hunters in these special hunts to KILL AS MANY DOES AS POSSIBLE. Now, that doesn't mean to me you should take unethical shots...not by any means. However, it changes things up a bit as to what kind of shots I'm will take vs. what I would normally take. You have to think, WHY are they telling us to kill as many as does as possible? What are the ramifications of an out of control deer population? Starvation. Malnutrition. Mamed, suffering or slow-dying deer that got away from a motor vehicle accident. Humans getting killed or seriously injured from motor vehicle accidents. And I'm sure there are many more. So, in a case where I'm hunting for reasons of population control, there ARE certain risks I'm willing to take that I normally wouldn't. And one would be taking a good shot at a spooked deer with buckshot.