Much of eastern and south/east VA is Shotgun only. You can use a ML. I rarely hunt over that way, but have a few times. A shotgun with slug or buckshot is certainly adequate to kill deer or bear, just not long range. Many of the area's that are shotgun only run dogs also. There are plenty of deer and other game. The bulk of the land is flatter, shotguns/ML's don't have the carry distance that a CF rifle does - in theory its safer.