I haven't killed very many deer.
But I haven't spooked one with the safety or forgot to take the safety off when needed.
Also, pump guns do have advantages.
If the shot is flubbed (stand hunters have branches around) a quick second shot could save the day. Scope mag up close can have folks shooting through unseen lumber. Bullets whacking stuff a couple feet from the hunter.
Maybe as the deer came by (on the move) it darted at the last possible nanosecond causing a miss, or bad hit.
Maybe the hunter just flat out traded his trigger finger for a crowbar.
A fast reflex reload can save the day, no need to lift face off the stock. Pretty darn quick.
I shot an 8 pt on a 2 man drive in a tree farm, hit him 3 times, he hauling arse two rows in the big trees (I had moved down and just started fwd, in the shade kill area).
Nailed that dude 3 times, with a pump 870. Group you could cover with palm of hand..........right at front edge of shoulder/neck.
Yeah, first was good enough.
But deer hunting is sometimes like sex, the more noise you make the more fun you must be having.
If my first shot had hit a tree, the other two would have gotten him.
It's like shooting for triples on doves.
