Up until the last few years, western New York State required the use of shotguns and slugs for deer, so most of us grew up shooting our deer at well under 100 yards.
Now, most the region is rifle country. It is interesting to see the impact this has had. Most hunters have shifted to rifles to take their whitetail. While gangs driving the woods was once the norm, it is now rare to see. On the other hand, raised stands have become hugely popular, along with lots of tactical rifles and calibers capable of shooting across canyons we don't have.
I'm guessing tons of premium bullets are used every year to take whitetails at 40 or 50 yards in place of the reliable old 1 ounce foster slug.
I took a nice 7 point with a 150 gr Partion last fall on a standing broadside shot at 30-35 yards. Wouldn't have been a challenge for my old slug gun. Results would have been no different using virtually any 150-180 gr bullet out of my old 1899 Savage.
Good accuracy was the only important factor.
