I started using buckshot when I moved to MD and hunted Sika Deer on the Eastern shore. I won't use em again. I had to shoot the deer three shots to get him to go down before entering a place where water is deep with tall reeds. That was 8 years ago. Since then I have only used slugs, and have took them up to 100 yards (couldn't attemp with buckshot), and when properly placed, the sika doesn't go far. Also with buckshot, you might be jump hunting and usually hit something you don't want to hit, like your backstraps, or hinds.