http://www.buckstix.com/howitzer.htm
http://www.buckstix.com/HowitzerBarrel.htm
http://www.buckstix.com/HowitzerPlans.htm

http://www.buckstix.com/images/howitz1.jpg

Since it would be rather difficult to hit a deer with a Mountain Howitzer Cannon that used a single 12 pound cast iron ball, ( even an exploding one ) and because down range fall-out ( from 1000 to 1500 yards ) would be a factor with that single 4-1/2" diameter ball, it would be more practical to use a standard load of what was called "Canister Shot". Using Canister Shot turns the Mountain Howitzer into rather large shotgun.

A standard load of canister shot for the 12 pound Mountain Howitzer Cannon - is 148 individual lead balls, specifically, .69 caliber ( dia ) lead "musket balls".

All 148 lead balls are packed into a 4-1/2" diameter tin can with the spaces between the balls, filled with saw dust. Total weight of this load is about 10-1/4 pounds. Velocity of the load is approximately 1000 feet per second, being lethal to about 250 yards. Down range fall-out is limited to only approximately 400 yards. ( individual results may vary )
http://www.buckstix.com/images/deer2.jpg

Gives you some idea of the balls of steel, of the men who ran with Genl Picket for the white fence.

http://www.vnnforum.com/showthread.php?p=180661&highlight=deer#post180661

http://www.buckstix.com/howitzer.htm
http://www.buckstix.com/HowitzerBarrel.htm
http://www.buckstix.com/HowitzerPlans.htm

http://www.buckstix.com/images/howitz1.jpg


http://www.buckstix.com/images/deer2.jpg
I never understood why someone would want to butcher an animal for fun.

Using a cannon as a shotgun on deer isn't very sporting and makes a mess of the deer, but there is still plenty of venison on that carcass.

I never understood why someone would want to butcher an animal for fun.

I never understood why someone would want to butcher an animal for fun.

The deer was probably already dead and used as a test carcass. When testing lethal devices, sides of beef and carcasses are often used.

You can be relatively certain that the dear was not killed for fun. Every ounce of the meat will be used for food, assuming that white men are involved.

I would rather see live deer than a carcase.

Wouldn't the cannon be put to better use in an urban environment? say hunting coons with bags of grape shot.