Looks like it’s just gun hunting for me this year
Since my bow broke, and I haven’t been able to acquire a new one, it looks like I’ll just be hunting deer this year with modern firearms. Further, my budget isn’t going to allow for me to buy a rifle (unless I find some mystery money), so I’ll just be hunting with my shotgun… and XD if I’m in the mood for some handgun hunting. Though, the XD is just a 9mm, so I would have to keep my shots really close for the rounds to be effective.
So…what do I need to get for my shotgun to make into a world-class deer slayer? I took down a nice 8 point buck with it last year, but I was presented with quite a fortunate shot. I might not get such a shot this year. My setup right now is this: Maverick 88 Field 12 gauge shotgun, firing slugs. That’s it. the shotgun is stock, with a modified choke. I’ll be using rifled slugs.
One thing I really need is a sling. As I learned last duck season, hiking long distances with it is a pain. So I’ll be getting a sling and I will also have to get a swivel kit for it. I think Uncle Mike’s makes one for my shotgun. I think they make a universal kit. I’ve seen it before, and I’m not going to look it up now… Just look at Wal-Mart or Bass Pro or Cabela’s and you’ll find it.
There’s one (two) accessory(ies), what else do I need? I’m just using the stock bead sights on it, but I was thinking of getting some iron sight attachments that affix to the barrel ribbing. They might make my accuracy just a bit better. But I really don’t know. I haven’t been out to a marked range with a bunch of 12 gauge rifled slugs to see just how far I can reliably hit a 4 inch circle with the bead sights.
I plan on keeping my shots all within 50 yards, but if I can squeeze out a little bit more with better sights and maybe a different choke, I will. That’s something I’ll need to research — chokes. I might need to invest in just a little bit of choke to squeeze a little bit more range and accuracy out of my slugs. But, I don’t know much about shotgun chokes so I’ll just have to do some reading.
Any other thoughts, opinion, or advice would be appreciated.
