[M.T. Pockets]

I've shot a lot of deer with a shotgun, but all with slugs. Trust me, if you hit them with buckshot you would hit them with a slug too. Plus, you'd be using a load that many people use as grizzly bear protection instead of a 00 pellet. Even if most shots are close, a slug would give you range out to 100 yards or so.

I would suggest a shotgun with a slug barrell, it's much more efficient and versatile. You mention that most shots will be close, I've killed many deer at around 25 yards with a slug, works great. It leaves a nice blood trail too, something that buckshot likely wouldn't. I don't mean to hijack this away from buckshot, but I think you'd be happier with slugs.