IM looking to give deer hunting a try went last year with some guys that didnt work out very good didnt learn anything..it was everyones first time last year so none of us knew anything….when you hunt deer with shot gun do you sit or drive.. i have a rem 870 with a 28″ barrel would this be ok for deer hunting..what kind of slugs would i have better luck with….can i still get my license for this year??
thanks for the tips
alan
Hey Walleyes, i’ve slug hunted for a long time then i got into bowhunting for deer. I’ve learned alot from bowhunting now hunting deer with a shotgun is a whole lots easier. The best advice i can give you if your not use to driving is scout around for a timber next to a field with a creek near by. If you can find a corner in this area where they all come together and you see plenty of deer prints just get a good comfortable chair and dress warm and just sit and wait. A deer will come by, this is what bow hunters do to get thier deer from the ground or a stand in a tree. theres a reason why they come through that area and they will come again. i use federal slugs and thier accurate. give this a try, be patient and one should come by you especially if theres other hunters pushing deer off in the distance and just sit and wait. useing a pair of binoculars is ok too and if you hear something move very slowly when turning your head to look and see what it is. sudden movements are easily seen by a wary deer. good luck and be patient!
Hey Walleyes, i’ve slug hunted for a long time then i got into bowhunting for deer. I’ve learned alot from bowhunting now hunting deer with a shotgun is a whole lots easier. The best advice i can give you if your not use to driving is scout around for a timber next to a field with a creek near by. If you can find a corner in this area where they all come together and you see plenty of deer prints just get a good comfortable chair and dress warm and just sit and wait. A deer will come by, this is what bow hunters do to get thier deer from the ground or a stand in a tree. theres a reason why they come through that area and they will come again. i use federal slugs and thier accurate. give this a try, be patient and one should come by you especially if theres other hunters pushing deer off in the distance and just sit and wait. useing a pair of binoculars is ok too and if you hear something move very slowly when turning your head to look and see what it is. sudden movements are easily seen by a wary deer. good luck and be patient!
All good tips, Mossydan. If there’s one thing that hunters and fishermen like more than partaking, it’s passing it on.
I would add that if you are driving, plan it carefully, get arial photos off of http://terraserver.microsoft.com or just a good topo map from the county conservation board and know exactly where everyone is going to be and where they are headed. Posters don’t move until the drivers come through. As a rule of thumb, the deer won’t go where you think they should – this is normal and don’t let it frustrate you too much.
If I’m stand hunting, I’ll wash my clothes in detergent, then run them through a cycle with baking soda to kill odors, as even odors from the detergents will spook deer. This is especially true in the winter when the air is crisp and snowcover has eliminated much of the normal smells of the fields and woods.
Your barrel will work, but for about $100 you can get a dedicated slug barrel with regular rifle sights. It’s a good investment to make. I also shoot a red-dot sight and would recommend it to anyone (although the holosights are pretty darned cool as well).
The one tip that makes for the most successful hunts and cannot be stressed enough: Talk to the landowners in the area. For the most part, if you’re in farm country, they’ll be happy to share info. Nobody spends as much time out there as these guys and they are our absolute #1 resource for information.
I’m sure I’ll think of more, good luck out there.
All good tips, Mossydan. If there’s one thing that hunters and fishermen like more than partaking, it’s passing it on.
I would add that if you are driving, plan it carefully, get arial photos off of http://terraserver.microsoft.com or just a good topo map from the county conservation board and know exactly where everyone is going to be and where they are headed. Posters don’t move until the drivers come through. As a rule of thumb, the deer won’t go where you think they should – this is normal and don’t let it frustrate you too much.
If I’m stand hunting, I’ll wash my clothes in detergent, then run them through a cycle with baking soda to kill odors, as even odors from the detergents will spook deer. This is especially true in the winter when the air is crisp and snowcover has eliminated much of the normal smells of the fields and woods.
Your barrel will work, but for about $100 you can get a dedicated slug barrel with regular rifle sights. It’s a good investment to make. I also shoot a red-dot sight and would recommend it to anyone (although the holosights are pretty darned cool as well).
The one tip that makes for the most successful hunts and cannot be stressed enough: Talk to the landowners in the area. For the most part, if you’re in farm country, they’ll be happy to share info. Nobody spends as much time out there as these guys and they are our absolute #1 resource for information.
I’m sure I’ll think of more, good luck out there.
Walleyes,
Slugs?? Every gun I have ever hunted deer with liked different slugs. My advise there is start cheap. Most smooth bores will shoot the regular $1.95 per 5 Federal or Remington slugs.
Tag?? You can still buy your tag for deer. Just go to your local sporting goods store or WallyWorld and they can set you up.
My only other advise is GLOW LIKE A PUMPKIN, you can never have enough ORANGE !!!! 
Good Luck !! 
Walleyes,
Slugs?? Every gun I have ever hunted deer with liked different slugs. My advise there is start cheap. Most smooth bores will shoot the regular $1.95 per 5 Federal or Remington slugs.
Tag?? You can still buy your tag for deer. Just go to your local sporting goods store or WallyWorld and they can set you up.
My only other advise is GLOW LIKE A PUMPKIN, you can never have enough ORANGE !!!!
Good Luck !!
I have a question. Although we were 10 for 14 this year, there were no quality bucks in our hunt. Some mature does but the rest were fawns and spikes. The farmers I hunt with feel any reduction in the herd is better for their crops. Personally, I am worried about the lack of 1.5 and 2.5 year old deer we saw this year. Between the coyotes and hunters taking fawns, it seems their population is down.
My question is about wind direction. We hunt in stands until about 0900 then start driving the heavy stuff. Cattails, red willows, all the nasty stuff. We can drive the younger deer to the posters but the big boys (except for a few)tend to go around us in the tough stuff. The drivers normally don’t shoot because we post to the side and behind them as well as in front. But after 7 of us have been hunting together for 40 years, we still have the same discussion. Do we drive into the wind or with it? We have had good and bad luck doing it either way because deer are so unpredictable. Deep rut seems to make buck shooting better if the posters will lay off the does that come out first. But other times the wind seems to make a difference. Any recommendations?
I have a question. Although we were 10 for 14 this year, there were no quality bucks in our hunt. Some mature does but the rest were fawns and spikes. The farmers I hunt with feel any reduction in the herd is better for their crops. Personally, I am worried about the lack of 1.5 and 2.5 year old deer we saw this year. Between the coyotes and hunters taking fawns, it seems their population is down.
My question is about wind direction. We hunt in stands until about 0900 then start driving the heavy stuff. Cattails, red willows, all the nasty stuff. We can drive the younger deer to the posters but the big boys (except for a few)tend to go around us in the tough stuff. The drivers normally don’t shoot because we post to the side and behind them as well as in front. But after 7 of us have been hunting together for 40 years, we still have the same discussion. Do we drive into the wind or with it? We have had good and bad luck doing it either way because deer are so unpredictable. Deep rut seems to make buck shooting better if the posters will lay off the does that come out first. But other times the wind seems to make a difference. Any recommendations?
hi Walleye,
lots of good suggestions, I’d have to add, get lots of shooting practice, especially when learning to shoot slugs. KNOW where that slug is going to hit. smooth bore barrels should shoot a rifled slug, the slug is made so it starts to turn while going down the barrel, sights are either vent rib and/or bead, this is not accurate, so keep ranges to say under 50 yds. A slug barrel has rifling in it, so the Sabot slugs are what you should shoot, Federal has a great Sabot called Barnes Expander, use the 1oz or 3/4 oz (for 12ga)( the 3/4oz is slightly faster and has less drop down range than the 1oz)( I called Federal and got the ballistics on both, but they are not with me at the moment) , they also have 20ga. these Barnes sabots are a very accurate slug. if you have a slug barrel and scope you can make quite easy 2-3 inch groups at 100 yds. Mine shoots 1/2 inch group or less at 50 yards. different slugs perform differently in different guns. try a few different rifled slugs in your smooth bore and see which one works the best. go to the range til you are comfortable with your gun and you have a good idea where it is hitting.
hunting ethetics would say do not pull the trigger til you KNOW you can make a clean one shot kill. it is safer and smarter. alot of hunting magazines each year have acticles on field dressing and care.
good luck. Jack..
hi Walleye,
lots of good suggestions, I’d have to add, get lots of shooting practice, especially when learning to shoot slugs. KNOW where that slug is going to hit. smooth bore barrels should shoot a rifled slug, the slug is made so it starts to turn while going down the barrel, sights are either vent rib and/or bead, this is not accurate, so keep ranges to say under 50 yds. A slug barrel has rifling in it, so the Sabot slugs are what you should shoot, Federal has a great Sabot called Barnes Expander, use the 1oz or 3/4 oz (for 12ga)( the 3/4oz is slightly faster and has less drop down range than the 1oz)( I called Federal and got the ballistics on both, but they are not with me at the moment) , they also have 20ga. these Barnes sabots are a very accurate slug. if you have a slug barrel and scope you can make quite easy 2-3 inch groups at 100 yds. Mine shoots 1/2 inch group or less at 50 yards. different slugs perform differently in different guns. try a few different rifled slugs in your smooth bore and see which one works the best. go to the range til you are comfortable with your gun and you have a good idea where it is hitting.
hunting ethetics would say do not pull the trigger til you KNOW you can make a clean one shot kill. it is safer and smarter. alot of hunting magazines each year have acticles on field dressing and care.
good luck. Jack..
PUTZ,
IF THE DRIVERS DON’T SHOOT, I WOULD DRIVE WITH THE WIND. HAVE MOST OF YOUR POSTERS DOWN WIND OR CROSS WINDED OF WHERE YOU THINK THE DEER MAY BE AT. HAVE A COUPLE POSTERS BEHIND THE DRIVERS FOR THE BIG BOY DOUBLING BACK.
DON’T START THE DRIVE UNTIL THE FAR POSTERS HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO GET ALL THE WAY AROUND INTO POSITION WITHOUT SPOOKING THE DEER.
PUTZ,
IF THE DRIVERS DON’T SHOOT, I WOULD DRIVE WITH THE WIND. HAVE MOST OF YOUR POSTERS DOWN WIND OR CROSS WINDED OF WHERE YOU THINK THE DEER MAY BE AT. HAVE A COUPLE POSTERS BEHIND THE DRIVERS FOR THE BIG BOY DOUBLING BACK.
DON’T START THE DRIVE UNTIL THE FAR POSTERS HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO GET ALL THE WAY AROUND INTO POSITION WITHOUT SPOOKING THE DEER.
Thanks, Riggy. I think you are right but can’t prove it. Unfortunately the big boys often sneak behind us but don’t come out. I’ve always wanted to try following the sound with stalking and stopping techniques to see if they would get nervous enough to flush, but then the poster would not know where I’m at. Ever tried that?
Thanks, Riggy. I think you are right but can’t prove it. Unfortunately the big boys often sneak behind us but don’t come out. I’ve always wanted to try following the sound with stalking and stopping techniques to see if they would get nervous enough to flush, but then the poster would not know where I’m at. Ever tried that?
ya Putz, it works. Lots of guys go in small groups and keep just a hundred yards between them kicking all the brush they can find. They made a study once with a radio collared buck in a one hundred acre fenced plot. They walked within a few yards of him but still couldn’t see him. Thier only response was that this buck was crawling on the ground because the collar was moving and they couldn’t see the buck. Split up, take your time walking slowly, look good at everything. Be intouch with where the other hunters are for safety, deer do hide and won’t move unless you are really really close. In another recent post a younge guy had to throw a limb at a deer to get him, to move. Down here theres multi floral rose that very sharp and dense, the deer love it for cover and wind breaks. You gotta go through this stuff to kick out anything thats in there or they won’t move.
ya Putz, it works. Lots of guys go in small groups and keep just a hundred yards between them kicking all the brush they can find. They made a study once with a radio collared buck in a one hundred acre fenced plot. They walked within a few yards of him but still couldn’t see him. Thier only response was that this buck was crawling on the ground because the collar was moving and they couldn’t see the buck. Split up, take your time walking slowly, look good at everything. Be intouch with where the other hunters are for safety, deer do hide and won’t move unless you are really really close. In another recent post a younge guy had to throw a limb at a deer to get him, to move. Down here theres multi floral rose that very sharp and dense, the deer love it for cover and wind breaks. You gotta go through this stuff to kick out anything thats in there or they won’t move.
Don’t be distracted by the does either. I once saw a good buck jab his antlers right into a doe’s rear-end to push her out into a group of driving hunters; of course he got his head down and creeped real low in the other direction.
Who says chivalry is dead?
Don’t be distracted by the does either. I once saw a good buck jab his antlers right into a doe’s rear-end to push her out into a group of driving hunters; of course he got his head down and creeped real low in the other direction.
Who says chivalry is dead?
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