Pheasant huntng advice please
- Thread starter cmoney
- Start date
Pudelpointer
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lethbridge, Alberta
Depends on the distance of the shots you can expect. Are you hunting over pointing (well trained) dogs or over a flushing breed like springers or labs? If the former, I would say IC, LM or Mod, and IM or Full for the latter.
As for shot, I use #6 and #5 lead for early and late season respectively, or #3 steel (though 4's or 2's would work as well).
Spend a few extra bucks for quality shells, i.e. hard copper plated / diamond shot, etc., instead of crappy "game loads". There is a difference.
Good luck.
As for shot, I use #6 and #5 lead for early and late season respectively, or #3 steel (though 4's or 2's would work as well).
Spend a few extra bucks for quality shells, i.e. hard copper plated / diamond shot, etc., instead of crappy "game loads". There is a difference.
Good luck.
I thought you had to have a Bereeta OU 20g and an expensive mutt to hunt pheasants
Pudelpointer
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lethbridge, Alberta
I thought you had to have a Bereeta OU 20g and an expensive mutt to hunt pheasants
Pft! 20 guage? Seriously. Come on.
The beretta is a 12. Don't you work?
- Location
- Ontariariario
I use a Rem 870 in 12 ga for pheasants.
I use a modified choke tube with #4 shot.
I use a modified choke tube with #4 shot.
Pudelpointer
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lethbridge, Alberta
Actually I am at work
Note to self: call C4x4's boss and ask about internet access policy.....
We now use #4 or #5 lead shot with modified chokes in 12g and 20g. Used to use smaller shot, but the larger shot brings them down much better/cleaner. Usually use SxS or O/U shotguns with M/F chokes as we hunt in fairly windy, open areas and use dogs for flushing the birds.
In my opinion, a standard pump, or long barrelled auto, 12 gauge or no, is a mighty poor choice of a gun for pheasant hunting. Too long of a gun, making it slow to get on the exploding target.
My best pheasant gun was a high quality Spanish 20 gauge, side by side, with #6 shot. The speed of getting on a flushed bird with that light, short, well ballanced double, more than made up for the possible 3 or 4 yards lost on extreme range, of a 12 over a 20.
I also used my Browning Superposed 12 gauge Lightning model, with 28 inch barrels, but the light 20 double was still better on pheasants.
However, it is better to hunt pheasants with the ugliest, longest, most awkward 12 gauge you ever saw, but have a good dog, than it is to have the most ideal shotgun made, but no dog. Or, an overly ambitious, untrained dog that ranges away out and puts up the birds 50 and 60 yards from you.
My best pheasant gun was a high quality Spanish 20 gauge, side by side, with #6 shot. The speed of getting on a flushed bird with that light, short, well ballanced double, more than made up for the possible 3 or 4 yards lost on extreme range, of a 12 over a 20.
I also used my Browning Superposed 12 gauge Lightning model, with 28 inch barrels, but the light 20 double was still better on pheasants.
However, it is better to hunt pheasants with the ugliest, longest, most awkward 12 gauge you ever saw, but have a good dog, than it is to have the most ideal shotgun made, but no dog. Or, an overly ambitious, untrained dog that ranges away out and puts up the birds 50 and 60 yards from you.
- Location
- Ontariariario
I couldn't agree more about a dog. Thats very good advice.
My last Springer Spaniel was the best darned bird dog I ever had the pleasure to hunt with.
We had to put her down a couple of years ago.
It was one of the toughest things I've ever had to do.)I still miss her every time I hit the field. r.i.p. Rascal
The Springer I have now is passable, but he does range a tad too far for the first 1/2 hour or so. (untill he calms down some)
But he's learning,,,slowly.
Eric
I have always used regular game load #6 shot for pheasant. The choice of gun is very personal, but almost any 20 or 12 gauge will do. I have used everything from short barreled doubles to long barreled pumps. my favourite was a double hammer gun with full and modified 28 inch barrels. Ditto on using a dog, its a "must" for pheasants.
For southern Alberta where we hunt, the ammo choice is usually Kent Ultimate upland in shotsize number 5. 12 gauge and any Frikken gun you wish to use.
Personally I love 20 gauge as we do a lot of walking and I prefer the lighter gun. I'm pretty good with it, sometimes using 3 inch ammo #4 or #5. I bought a wack of old Imperial 20 gauge ammo, kills them pheasants just fine. FS
We use labs
M12shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- East St. Paul, mb
Where are you hunting pheasant? Wild or game farm? I have hunted wild pheasant in South Dakota many times. Early when corn and crops are still standing and greenish a light uplend 16 or 20 gauge is all that is needed. Late season in November...when I love to shoot roosters...a full choked 12 and shooting 1 1/4 oz. heavy loads of lead 5's or 6's is recomended IMO. Again without a decent dog you might as well stay back at the diner and drink coffee!
I thought you had to have a Bereeta OU 20g and an expensive mutt to hunt pheasants
Lol, that hit pretty close. It's a Caesar Guerini but it's still an Italian 20g. The mutt is German. And I probably don't do any better than the guy with 870 pump, but I'm still having fun.
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
A trick that my father taught me with an over eager dog ( we used flushing labs) and a few of my friends use now, is to let the dog out of the truck about a mile away from where you are going to hunt.I couldn't agree more about a dog. Thats very good advice.
My last Springer Spaniel was the best darned bird dog I ever had the pleasure to hunt with.
We had to put her down a couple of years ago.
I still miss her every time I hit the field. r.i.p. Rascal
The Springer I have now is passable, but he does range a tad too far for the first 1/2 hour or so. (untill he calms down some)
But he's learning,,,slowly.
Eric
Truck takes off, dog runs after truck, and all is well by the time you get to the hunting area!
of course, you need to be in an area where you can do this - a busy road would be dangerous for the dog.
Cat
I haven't bought my license this year but I have been out looking for huns. Every pheasant we came across was spooky and flushed a long ways off. I don't know what it's like in your neck of the woods but I'll assume it's similar and if the season has started already and your hunting in a high pressure area, go with a full choke. The reason I say that is had I been pheasant hunting, those birds I flushed would have been right at the end of my shooting distance, some further and this was before the season started for them. If your going to be in the same conditions, it would be best to be prepared for stretching your shots a bit. Keep your modified tube, but have that full just in case. As for your shells, my favorite pheasant load is Remingtons Heavy Game Load. They call it somthing else now but it's loaded with 1 1/4 ounces of shot and a heavy charge of powder. It never let me down.
