A sad story this morning. For me anyway. This year I decided to take up deer hunting, (for food not sport). My family owns a little undeveloped land in the next town over, about 20 minutes from my house. A little ways in a friend put a tree stand, which I can use. So this morning was my 4th time out, ever. I sit in the tree stand this morning from dawn till about 7:30. I am about to pack up and go to work. I decided to stay a couple more minutes..

Then I hear some knocking on trees a distance away. So I say to myself, huh, I'll wait and see what that is. 15 minutes later I hear some walking in the leaves and a doe appears. This doe is about 15 yards away. I don't have a doe permit so I just watch in silence as it forages. I think to myself, the tree knocking must be a buck, the does' mate. So about 10 minutes later a good size buck appears. I'd guess between 170 and 180 lbs. Being my first year, first opportunity to harvest a deer, I am excited. This buck is 35-40 yds away. I clearly see the rack, head and neck. The body was behind a little brush and sticks. So, again, I am excited and take a shot. Miss. Buck stands there, in shock I'm guessing, so I take another shot. Miss. Buck runs away and I wait in the stand a few minutes, in case i didn't miss, and let it find a place to lay down.



I climb down the tree stand and check for a blood trail. Nope. I missed. No dinner for me tonight. I made a rookie mistake. Instead of waiting for a good, clear shot, my excitement gets me and the deer gets away.

I hunt with a 12 gauge shot gun. I was using slugs. I am wondering if I should use buck shot. Any of my fellow SMF members have experience with buck shot, and if so? Yea or nay? (on using buck shot)