ATTN: Shotgun Hunters
 

Tomorrow I'm hunting with a first-time hunter (friend of mine) who is going to be hunting with a shotgun using Buckshot. I don't know the first thing about hunting deer with a shotgun. What distance should he be shooting and should he aim for the neck so as not to ruin the meat? Any other helpful tips would be appreciated!

RE: ATTN: Shotgun Hunters
 

Keep it under 65 yards and aim for the chest area.

RE: ATTN: Shotgun Hunters
 

OK, thanks A5Mag12!

RE: ATTN: Shotgun Hunters
 

If he hasn't sighted in his gun tell him to stay home!

No kidding...buckshot equals two round balls of lead traveling at high velocity for 100 yards. He better know his gun's capabilities.

But aside from that, stick him in a tree where he can shoot at a downward angle, aim for the vital chest region, and stick to 60-70 yard open shots and nothing further than 50 yards through "brush".

RE: ATTN: Shotgun Hunters
 

I completely agree with Strut&Rut!!! What is he doing out in the woods if he doesn't for 1..know what the heck he's doing, 2..know what his gun can do, 3..obviously doesn't know a good kill range of his ammo, 4..probably hasn't fired the gun with buckshot in it and knows the pattern of it, 5..I would imagine doesn't know even the slightest clue as to where the kill zone is on a deer and 6..why are you taking him out in the woods with you knowing all of this most likely to be true?????

I'm sorry, but both of you are extremely unethical and should stay out of the woods. Period! One day away from the season and you two are just trying to figure this out now?????? [:@] [:@] [:@]

RE: ATTN: Shotgun Hunters
 

The woulda, coulda, shoulda's don't do you any good now and I am the last person to turn anyone away from this great sport of ours. Since you don't have time to patter the gun keep your shot under 40 yards! Think safety first! Look beyond the target and make sure a stray pellet will not be a threat to anyone or anything else! At 4o yards and under you shouldn't have any problems with the pattern. Shoot for the vitals like you would with any shot! Do us all a favor and pattern the gun with the shot you'll be using when hunting asap! Safety first! To tell you the truth the best move would be to start your hunt an hour late and take the time to pattern the gun before going! Good luck....be smart....be SAFE!

RE: ATTN: Shotgun Hunters
 

Unprepared does not equal unethical. Just because these guys are not experienced with shotguns does not mean they are bad or unsafe hunters, or that they will make bad decisions. Why do you think they are asking for advice?

If I had to go hunting tomorrow with a borrowed shotgun with a bird barrel, with buckshot for ammo, I wouldn't hesitate to go. I must be unethical right?

Give the high horse a rest, he must be tired by now.

RE: ATTN: Shotgun Hunters
 

Stump -
Just so that you know. I am taking this fella hunting for 1... because he wants to learn and 2... because that was the condition for being able to hunt his grandparents property. He has noone with a hunting background in his family. The only firearm he has is a 12 ga. that his folks got him for turkey hunting. He has put his time into shooting the gun and has shot buckshot in it. Unfortunately, I can't tell him much about hunting with his shotgun, because the only time I've used one is to go rabbit hunting. This fella feels pretty confident with his skills with the gun. I was asking for me.

Now, being that I use a rifle to hunt with. All that I anticipated on having to share with him is what signs to look for, calls to use and how to use them, also typical deer behavior. Basically all the stuff that was taught to me years ago. For someone to be passing on the pleasures of being outdoors and promoting the sport of hunting, tell me, how is that being unethical.

I must admit, after rereading my origional post it may sound like all of this is a last minute procrastination. However, it is far from it. Again, I was asking for my own inquisition, not his. I didn't want to tell him, "You hunt the ladder stand overlooking the 2 acre field and I'll sit by the pond" (which the longest shot would be around 100 yards).

That would sound pretty stupid, don't you think? Also, the question about shot positioning was for me and maybe a little for him. He asked me where to shoot on a deer. I told him that I aim for the shoulder or just behind it. I also said that my wound would be considerably smaller than a 12 ga. would be. I told him that I thought he should aim for the neck so that alot of meet wouldn't be ruined. Apparently, I stand corrected on that.

Anyway, even if we didn't belong in the woods. Wouldn't it be more ethical to provide someone who asks a question with a logical answer instead of shooting them down as if they were nobodies.

RE: ATTN: Shotgun Hunters
 

UncleNorby...I'll address your issue first. I agree with everything in the first part of your post 100%, but his post says they are going out tomorrow. So yes I'd say that's unethical. I will forever take that stance because of guys not being able to take the time necessary to be proficient with their weapon and to know even where to shoot an animal to kill it. Hunting is the same time every year. Why is it that there are always posts on needing information so close to season every single year? Laziness. And yes, it's my opinion that you would be unethical in your scenario. For my peace of mind and for the animals that your trying to hunt....I hope that gun shoots a foot high and to the right.
No high horse here. I guess I was just brought up different in regards to my hunting practices that you were. ;)

davidhardegree,
Ok..it's all coming together now. On your behalf I apologize about me flying a bit off the handle. I just simply thought that your season was opening in one day and you wanted all of this info without knowing one bit of it already. Sorry. It just pisses me off to no end about the guys that think they should pickup their bow, gun or whatever weapon 1 week(heck sometime one day) before the season...shoot it twice and think they are ready to roll. Just irks me a little.

Yes I do agree, but to a point. It's my opinion that this info should be known well before the season rolls around. But maybe that's just me and how I grew up and how I was taught to hunt. But I suppose yes, if you don't know....ask. Never too late to know. Best of luck to you.

RE: ATTN: Shotgun Hunters
 

Stump-

At the risk of sounding all sentimental, thanks. I'm glad we're all on the same page. Or at least same chapter.

Good hunting!

RE: ATTN: Shotgun Hunters
 

I think you guys were a little too quick to jump on him. i mean, how do you know how much practicing the kid put in? too quick to criticize for not having any info. davidhardegree-good luck tommorrow

slayer

RE: ATTN: Shotgun Hunters
 

Funny thing really... All the contreversy and the guy didn't even hunt with me. This was yesterday.

I told him I would be at his house at 5:30am and would not knock or call and if he wasn't there by 5:45am I would go ahead and go. I waited until 5:50am and then left. After the morning hunt I went to check on him and his family to see everything was alright. He said he hooked his ipod to his surround sound and set it for 5:00am. However, he said he forgot that it was muted. Ipod, surround sound. I know what surround sound it because of the movie theater, but Ipod. Whatever happened to alarm clocks??? Apparently the Ipod holds 1500 songs that can be down loaded on it and can be programmed to play music at anytime. And get this, it's only the size of a credit card. How in the hell do you keep track of all those songs anyway?!? Oh well, I gave him a hard time because he could've killed his first deer on his first deer hunt. I had three does come up to about 20 yards of me.

RE: ATTN: Shotgun Hunters
 

I'll keep it as short as possible. Your original post said nothin about a borrowed shotgun and I don't know what the people who got bent out of shape were talking about. Someone else said something about two balls??? 00 buck 2 3/4 inch has 9 .32 caliber pellets of lead. 3 inch 00 buck has 15 .32 lead pellets. If the guy is familiar with the function of his shotgun at all he should have a pretty good chance of hitting his target out to 50 yards. A well aimed shot from a 12 guage at 50 yards would normally place several pellets in the deer. You aim for chest. Yeah there's some spread and you might have some meat loss but not as much as you might imagine. I havn't owned a hunting shotgun for years but since I live in a shotgun ownly county I sometimes take my mossberg 590 MilSpec shotgun out in the same area where I usually bow hunt. I figure if it comes within 30 yards It's mine. I coulid actually take a shot at 50 yards with a reasonable expectation of success but I like to be sure. Ok, I said I'd keep it short and I didn't . Take the guy out hunting. If you get a chance give him some pointers on ethics, etc. You have an opportunity to make a profound impact on the way this guy hunts in the future. For as long as he hunts, he will be thinking back to the things you tell and teach him. And what you teach him could be passed down to some other hunter in the future.

David

RE: ATTN: Shotgun Hunters
 

You should be applauded for taking someone hunting for the first time. There are alot of guys out there that dont want to be bothered with newcomers. So I think what you are doing is a very good thing. Keep up the good work. And hope you and your friend get a big one.;):)

RE: ATTN: Shotgun Hunters
 

I totally agree go get em and good luck.

RE: ATTN: Shotgun Hunters
 

To whoever it was that says you cannot pick up your hunting weapon a week before season,
sight it in , and hunt, I completely disagree. I could very easily pick up my shotgun 1 day
before season and make sure its "on", and go hunt. I`ve been shooting all my life and am
extremely comfortable with my weapon.
Now I do agree that this would not apply to a bow. I think archery is a totally different
deal and you need to keep shooting to keep the rust off.

BTW, I`m talking about shooting, not scouting.:)

RE: ATTN: Shotgun Hunters
 

the first thing you better do is take him or her out and practice with the gun. next you do not use buck shot for deer. go and buy some slugs. and practice with them so you know where your shots are going. you will have a better time hunting if you know where your gun is shooting.have a good hunt.