Ruffed Grouse over 35 yards.

One other thing I just thought of that you could do if all else fails, get your choke taken out and threaded for your favourite chokes, and you could use an adjustable choke on that gun I am sure, then you could shoot anything with out worry, through some quick research I dont think you would want to attempt shooting steel through your shotgun.

Or you could just go out and buy a Remington 870, damn good guns! and if you can find an old wingmaster, even better!
 
Or... here's a thought. Pass up shots that you can't take cleanly. Be content with the wingshooting combination of open choke, small shot and dead birds at under 40 yards, which is about 80% of the grouse wingshooting "opportunities" out there.
 
Longwalker said:
Or... here's a thought. Pass up shots that you can't take cleanly. Be content with the wingshooting combination of open choke, small shot and dead birds at under 40 yards, which is about 80% of the grouse wingshooting "opportunities" out there.
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This is very true and I'm happy with the 'other' 80%. Out of curiosity how would a pointer(never hunted with a dog) handle this situation. Bird pecking, alert 35 yards ahead on a logging road & suddenly spots hunter & dog appear. Can he get you any closer or is he fcuked if/when he starts to close the distance with such a 'no cover' & open plane setup?
 
PeakXV said:
This is very true and I'm happy with the 'other' 80%. Out of curiosity how would a pointer(never hunted with a dog) handle this situation. Bird pecking, alert 35 yards ahead on a logging road & suddenly spots hunter & dog appear. Can he get you any closer or is he fcuked if/when he starts to close the distance with such a 'no cover' & open plane setup?
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In that situation, the hunter is no better off with a pointing dog, unless the dog holds the birds attention and the hunter circles around through the bush to close the distance from the side. Eastern birds would likely flush anyway given that treatment, more naive Western/Northern birds may hold for the dog well enough to be approached from the side. I've done that, and it works, but most people won't leave the road vs. wading through the brush for a better shot. On the other hand, a good pointing dog will locate 2-3 times the number of birds as a hunter without a dog, so the marginal opportunities can be passed up for better ones.
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Longwalker said:
I've done that, and it works, but most people won't leave the road vs. wading through the brush for a better shot.
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I've circled around successfully on second flushes but on logging roads, in Acadian forest density, if the ruffie, who already has your bearings, decides to scoot into the underbrush on either side of the road - your effort is cooked because it will be running like the roadrunner amongst/under alot of new growth spruce. The only way to do it(sans dog) is to walk up on it with gun ready and hope you can close some important yardage before it lifts & warps off.
 
Longwalker said:
That's a key phrase. And why pointing dogs give you far better shots.
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Good point, although I enjoy the one-on-one with the bird. Reading cover/terrain & that sixth sense that tells you when birds are near is a real rush. Somehow (at this point of my hunting career - it may change as I get less mobile) a dog's keen sense & ability to hold a bird for your preparation & positioning is tipping the scales a bit too much. As long as my birddog feet are putting up 1.5 birds an hour, I know that the coverts are well populated & that I will 'probably' get my 10-12 birds a year.
 
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