I spent over 7 years in Delaware.. I was stationed there while in the Air Force at Dover AFB for 3 years and lived there for years after I was discharged.

It is a shotugn only state for whitetails and they had mandatory check stations... which SUCKED !!!

I had no problem hunting deer with a shotgun and a rifle slug in the chamber. I did not have what we call a "slug gun" ... just my trusty 20 gauge Mossberg bolt action and a slug

Some observations and some of MY rules about shotguns for deer....

I never shoot at a deer over 75 yards away and 95% have been within 60 yards and they have to be standing.. never lost one I shot at... and none travel more than about 75 yards.. most fell within a few yards of where they were when I pulled the trigger..

Also noticed a larger blood trail from any chest hit than my 30/30 leaves so there was never a tracking problem.. but of course I saw all of them fall to start with

Funny story... I had a doe walking straight at me on one hunt and she stopped at about 35 yards staring right at me.. I positioned the site right in the middle of her chest facing me and pulled the trigger as she started her left foot towards me on her next step... she walked a few more steps still coming directly at me.. about the time I debated another shot she fell 15 feet in front of me standing there  

She never jumped --- flinched --- or anything ---- just started walking and fell over ?????

I have also used that shotgun in Allegheny County near Pittsburgh on several occasions with success too...

PLUS... I can not figure out why the heck I have not used one up here ????

I still have my 75 yard limit and standing rules ???

And in fact have said many time I'll use the shotgun tommorrow but at the last minute grab the 30/30 ????

Oh well maybe this year in the second (opening) week of antlerless in Allegheny County after my 2F and DMAP are filled ...for my #3 deer for 2008

Why use a shot/slug gun when an inline smoke pole is just as legal and twice as accurate?
The only reason I can think of is multiple shoots
Mike

Many hunters in states with shotgun only use an inline.  As Fishincoyote  stated, longer range and very good accuracy.  But, some of those states have less pressure and seeting up on the edge of a field or opening is a good strategy.  Longer shots are a real possibility there.  

Modern rifled shotguns with the saboted slugs are legitimate 175 yard weapons these days.  Heck, Nikon even makes a scope called the Slug Hunter  that has a balistic reticle good to 200 yards.  Hold dead on a fire away.

With that being said, my farthest shot ever was a little over 100 yards.  Would a slug gun handicap me, no.  Would a slug gun handicap most Pa. hunters, no.  Would a slug gun handicap hunters who set up on the edge of fields and blast away at running deer at 300 yards, yes.

Sure, there are many hunters that enjoy the long range shooting during deer season.  They practice alot, have benches set up in good vantage points and take good clean shots.  They will be effected no doubt.  But for most in the SRA, not a big deal.

I live in a township that has a local ordinance against high powered rifles.  It can not be enforced, but when I look at all the houses around I do not want to hunt with a rifle. I bought my slug gun to hunt locally after seeing six bucks in the vineyards one august.  The smallest buck was larger than the 8 point I shot the year before in Warren Co.  

   It is extremely accurate out to resonable distance.  Although I hate sighting it in.  I very rarely use it for deer.  I think more because I prefer to hunt the hill and big woods as opposed to the small flat woodlots of Erie Co.  

   I find I hunt differently in different area.  In Warren co where I might sit on the edges of a field, I am more likely to use my 25-06.  The last five years hunting in Jefferson Co I have switched to the 3oo Savage.  I just don't like hunting areas where I  would want to use the shotgun.