What shotgun loads in southern Ontario for grouse and pheasant?

Unless they grow them bigger in Southern Ontario than they do out here ;) , 7.5 shot is about all I use. Maybe #7... Heavier than that, and you start doing a number on the meat.

Now, 6 guys are going to chime up and recommend only using a 20 gauge, "shoot high and hit 'em in the head" and blah-blah-blah...

But my personal experience is - A twelve gauge works, it's easy to get the ammo, and 7 and 7.5 shot is cheap and plentiful and gets it done.

Cheers.
 
Am up at my Dad's camp on Manitoulin Island, brought 4, 6, & 8 (8 only because I don't have any 7.5 like the above poster) with me for the 12g. Depends on how thick the bush is you're going to be hunting in. Here, most leaves are down now, but from what my dad is saying, the bush where I'm going is pretty thick, in which case I will bring 4 and 6 with me.
 
Regardless of geographical location i.e. southern vs. northern ON regions, Grouse isn't a hard bird to bring down. Placing the pattern is usually an issue particularly during early season. I use #7.5, 7/8oz, 3/4oz loads in 20ga/28ga choked M/IC and M/M respectively.

I rarely shoot game farm pheasants. However, over the few past occasions, just used 20ga, #5/6, 1oz loads in M/IC tubes. Wild pheasant is a different matter and I've observed those birds as well as Red Jungle Fowl absorb 12ga, 1 1/4oz loads of #6 and still escape crippled.
 
I find grouse to be relatively easy to kill, and I prefer #7-1/2 shot in all of my shotguns, regardless of gauge..For pheasant, I prefer loads using nickel plated #6 shot.
 
#7.5 - 2 3/4" - 1 1/8 oz. Across the board... regardless of gauge or choke.

Choose your choke based on the flushing distance... in general, start with IC and go from there.
 
For grouse typical sizes I hear used are 6, 7-1/2, 8 & 9.
For early season, I find regular 1 oz. target loads of 8 & 9 work very well, especially 9's, when woodcock are part of the equation. Grouse are not hard to kill with Skeet loads.
For late season, I often move up to 1-1/8 oz. 7-1/2's, when the shooting can be a little longer in range. I see no reason to go to 6's but certainly they will kill .

For pheasant, typical sizes referenced are 4, 5, 6 & 7-1/2 in everything from standard Trap loads of 7-1/2 to heavy 2-3/4" or even 3" field loads.
Having had the privilege of many, many field hunts and in addition, being a field trial gunner, I've found the best all-round pheasant load to be 1-1/8 oz. of 6's in a load at about 1250 fps.
For simulated driven or "European" shoots, I've used the same loads and have even experimented with 1-1/4 and "magnum" 1-1/2 oz. loads of 5's and 6's. I don't find them necessary and prefer the standard 1-1/8 oz field loads of 6's. As to 3" loads, there is significantly more recoil and expense, and in my opinion, are absolutely not required. For close in dog work, 7-1/2's will work, but 6's seem to be much more effective overall.
 
Thanks guys for your advice. Experience always rules when it comes to this sorta thing. I am not very experienced with shotgun hunting upland as I never had to shoot a flushing grouse in northern ontario. Down here is a completely different game and I must say I am very humbled by the speed and skill required to wingshoot around here.
 
#4 steel 3" magnum. Yep. Same ammo I use for ducks so I don't have to switch. However, I go from full choke to modified with a 26" 870 when going for partridge. I found I could still hunt partridge with the full choke; I just ...ahem...had to be a bit more careful of shot placement if I wanted to keep anything worth eating.

Cannon
 
Shot both of mine this weekend with #4 2 & 3/4" winchester I believe.
Bush was very thick where we were, still lots of leaves to come down. In a couple weeks I'll probably be back and see if I have any 7.5 if not I'll take some 8 shot with me, be better if I have to shoot them on the fly.
 
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