Pheasant hunt

[USAF_Vet]

In a couple weeks I'm being treated to a pheasant hunt (on a private reserve). I've never bird hunted before, but thanks to the internet and you tube, I've got a general idea of what I'm getting in to.

What shells and choke would be best recommended for pheasant?
#6 through a mod is my first thought.

I'll be using a semi auto Remington sportsman 48 with polychoke.

 

[BigBore45]

pheasants are really tough for there size. i use a full choke and 4/5 shot mixed in reloads at 1 3/8 Oz at 1250 fps. sometimes it takes 2 hits.

 

[buck460XVR]

Most reserves restrict shotgun shells to 2 3/4'' for safety reasons. I generally use #5s or 6s in high brass. Mod to full choke depending on the range. I use SxSs so I have both.

 

[guyfromohio]

We generally use 6 or 7.5 through IC, but our birds flush pretty close.

 

[Zeke/PA]

Are you hunting over dogs?
I used a Remington 870 modified with Federal High Brass 6's for years when hunting with a Pointer.
Wild flushing Ringnecks are another matter so a full choked gun might be better.

 

[Laphroaig]

When I hear "private reserve" I think stocked birds with dogs and a handler who has hunted that same property many times. When I did that I had plenty of opportunities to shoot until we all got our limit.

#6 shot is never a bad choice for birds. If you have a poly choke, you can adjust depending on how they flush. Good luck!

Laphroaig

 

[USAF_Vet]

Got some Federal #6 high brass and low brass.

Yes, we'll be hunting over dogs... dogs and handlers provided by the preserve.

One of the things I like about the old Poly chokes is the ability to adjust chokes on the fly, with no time lost other than clearing the chamber. Mines set between slug and x-full, and I'll probably pack a variety of shells and maybe even bring the Mav 88 with mod choke as a backup.

 

[ericuda]

I've always been partial to high brass #5's. Not a fan of smaller shot due to the # you have to pick out of the bird. Choke depends on range. Here in Kansas now i would switch to a full choke for wary birds later in the season. If cold weather sets in like now they flush closer so modified is best. Good luck and be safe.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I have never had a problem putting pheasants in the game bag using my Browning BSS (Improve cylinder/Full choke) and 2 3/4 Winchester #5 Turkey Magnums.

 

[Sniper66]

Hey Vet,

Your first instinct is right on target. As a young man I shot 2 3/4" heavy load #6 through a 12 ga mod choke 28" barrel and, I'm proud to say, rarely missed. Have friend who swears by #7.5 and he almost never misses. He has put more pheasants in the freezer than anyone I know.

 

[cpt-t]

USAF Vet: If You are going to be hunting over dogs set Your Polychoke on MOD and use High Brass 5`s or 6`s and that should be just about as good as it gets. If You should try your hand at late season wary birds, that are flushing wide or take part in a late season Pheasant Drive. You can`t IMHO beat turning your polychoke to full and steping up to High Brass 4`s. But what ever You decide, You are in for a great experience. Hunting on a private reserve, with not only dogs but handlers as well. You are going first class first time out, just relax and enjoy Your first Pheasant Hunt. I will be very susprised if You aren`t, wanting Your first hunt to last a few more days. And then trying to figure out how You can go again ASAP. I was raised Hunting Pheasant`s and it still thrills and takes my breath away every time a Wild Pheasant flushes right at my feet. I envey You, Your first Pheasant Hunt.
ken

 

[gamestalker]

If your hunting with pointers, #6 is fine. I run a 2-3/4" STS hull, Longshot load at 1-3/8 oz. most times. This gets them out there pretty fast, about 1400 fps.. I've also run 1-1/2 oz. with Longshot, stuffed into an STS hull, it puts a few more pellets out there and still maintains decent velocity.

If your walking them out, no dogs in other words, you might want to use #4's with as high velocity as possible, they get up and away pretty quick.

GS

 

[Davek1977]

An a perserve, where mostly penned raised birds are being hunted, an IC or modified choke with your choice of 4,5, or 6 shot 2/34 in high brass will be plenty. I live in SD, home of some of the best pheasant hunting in the world, and my primary shotgun is an o/u choked ic and modified. It works from the first day of season to the last. While some preach the virtues of a full choke, I've always found them to be more of a hindrance than held when it comes to upland game like sharptails and pheasants. I started hunting with a full choke 12 gauge pump. My kill percentage drastically and almost instantly climbed upward when I switched to a shotgun with more open chokes.

 

[Skoghund]

I aways used Eley Impax 1oz #6s for pheasants years ago. But it seems that over the years pheasants have become alot tougher. Because Eley impax can't be found in Sweden i use 28grm #6 game load. And they seem to kill those tough armour plated pheasant. I shoot them with my Merkel 201E with 1/4-1/2 choke barrels.

 

[Zeke/PA]

An a perserve, where mostly penned raised birds are being hunted, an IC or modified choke with your choice of 4,5, or 6 shot 2/34 in high brass will be plenty. I live in SD, home of some of the best pheasant hunting in the world, and my primary shotgun is an o/u choked ic and modified. It works from the first day of season to the last. While some preach the virtues of a full choke, I've always found them to be more of a hindrance than held when it comes to upland game like sharptails and pheasants. I started hunting with a full choke 12 gauge pump. My kill percentage drastically and almost instantly climbed upward when I switched to a shotgun with more open chokes.

I'm also a big fan of a modified choke and I've used the same very successfully when shooting geese from a pit over decoys

 

[Geno]

I've had results with 4, 5 and 6 shot. For my likes, 7.5 and 8 shot are just too messy. For what it's worth, 4 shot will drop them very quickly even at 35 yards. My one shot was at about 45 yards, using a modified choke in my Citori...one shot, one pheasant. They are a lot of fun to hunt, even more fun to cook up. Please post photos.

Geno

 

[claiborne]

Grew up hunting Pheasants in Idaho. I always had good luck using high brass, 12g, 2 3/4" #6 at the beginning and near the end of season I was usually using 2 3/4" mag #4. Always a modified choke.
Later on in years I acquired a dog and a hunting partner who loaded some wicked high brass 2 3/4" #5 that put the smack down on birds.

Never underestimate the ability of an "apparently" dead rooster to hit the ground moving like a freight train!

Never underestimate the "stink eye" a good bird dog will give you after he has burned and churned up a corn field for the one rooster that you happen to miss with three shots!

Good Luck, have fun

 

[Paul7]

#6 is plenty for farm-raised reserve pheasants.

 

[oneounceload]

Fiocchi Golden Pheasant in 6 or 5 will do nicely on preserve birds, LM choke would be ideal in a single barrel gun, especially throwing dogs in the mix

 

[huntsman]

I've killed cockbirds with 1oz 7-1/2 16 gauge over a pointer and walkup with a heavy field load of #4 12 gauge, when in doubt use enough gun and shot

 

[USAF_Vet]

I got a box of Federal Premium Prairie Storm 1 1/4 oz. #6 shot. I'll play with choke on site, but starting with mod and going tighter as the situation dictates. I'm really looking forward to this hunt.

 

[Davek1977]

I'd actually start with IC....I've killed more birds with that choking than any other

 

[Zeke/PA]

Once apon a time, our Ringneck population here in PA was one of the best in the U.S.A. !
When I hunted over my Pointer "Kim" I shot a ton of birds over "dead points".
Believe it or not, a trap load of 7&1/2 shot , Modified choke was extremely effective.
Dead points over a DISAPLAINED dog ?
Big difference!

 

[buck460XVR]

While some preach the virtues of a full choke, I've always found them to be more of a hindrance than held when it comes to upland game like sharptails and pheasants.

With my SxS, I find when using a good pointer and the birds are flushed close, that once you get used to aiming for the head when the birds are first rising slowly, before they level out and make speed, that the full choke side makes much less of a mess of the breast....as long as you aim forward and hit the head. The full choke also works well when you break a wing on a rooster and it is running @ 45 yards. When hunting a preserve, since your birds are released on a specific field, there will be boundaries where you cannot follow them after they run or are flushed. @ $18 to $25 apiece, it hurts to see one get up far ahead of you and fly into an adjoining field where you can't pursue it. So either a hunter from another party gets a shot at a free bird, or the coyotes/hawks/owls get a free lunch later in the day. A full choke gives you a better chance there also. Again, the virtues of using a double gun with a double trigger. A instant choice of choke.

That said, different guns, pattern differently with different loads. Older shells with rolled crimps and standard paper wads spread much more quickly than today's modern shells with crimps and plastic wads meant to keep the shot column tighter. With moderns loads a modified choke holds a pattern similar to a full choke using yesterdays shells. This is why in the old days a full choke was more popular than today, especially on pheasant. Still, you will not really know how a shell performs until you shoot it and pattern where it shoots....out of your gun. Anyone that turkey hunts with a shotgun knows how differently shells pattern. A shell that shoots very well outta your friends gun may leave pheasant size holes in the pattern @ 25 yards in yours. Only way to find out is to try 'em.

One thing a new hunter going to a preserve to hunt over dogs needs to remember is the dogs. Just last week my GWP jumped at a rooster flushed from point. Even tho the dog stopped when instructed and did not chase the flying bird, the bird stayed low, flying downhill. Thus the only shot I had was over my dogs head. That rooster lived until we flushed him again a few minutes later. Take a shot towards someone else's dog and you will be done for the day....as you should be. In the excitement of the flush, you need to know where all the dogs are as well as the other hunters. No pheasant is worth a dog or the trip to the vet to removes pellets from one. This is why I never recommend the use of shot over #5s for hunting over a dog.

 

[1KPerDay]

pheasants are really tough for there size. i use a full choke and 4/5 shot mixed in reloads at 1 3/8 Oz at 1250 fps. sometimes it takes 2 hits.

I disagree with this. Farmed pheasants are like chickens. 7.5 bulk walmart stuff works fine IME.

You can shoot expensive #6 pheasant loads if you feel like it. But every one I've shot with federal bulk has dropped dead. I've only been to pheasant farms 3 times but it is fun. Not really "hunting" but you get some of the experience.

The OP's instinct of #6 through a mod will be a fine choice.