First time pheasant hunting.

[jnyman]

So its my 1st time pheasant hunting I have a 12 ga O/U what size shot do u reccomend for pheasant

[MN RACK ATTACK]

Was just at Rice Creek near Little Falls yesterday and the #5 shot was laying them down.

[The General]

I only shoot 3inch BB's.  Let them get out a bit and it will shoot holes right through them.  I have found using smaller shot you end up eating pellets.  Since going to BB's I haven't bit into a pellet in the last five years.

[kenhuntin]

It does not take much of pellet to down a Rooster. If they are getting up way in front like late in the year with little cover I use a #3 or #2 steel but for normal early season I throw 5 or 6 steel. The more pellets in the air the better chances I figure. I gave up lead on all my bird hunting for health reasons.

[Mayfly]

I shoot 4 all year long.

I love pheasant hunting!!!!   

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[Mayfly]

It does not take much of pellet to down a Rooster. If they are getting up way in front like late in the year with little cover I use a #3 or #2 steel but for normal early season I throw 5 or 6 steel. The more pellets in the air the better chances I figure. I gave up lead on all my bird hunting for health reasons.

Same thing here with the lead. I shoot only steel now. Main reason I switched is because the area we go we hunt a lot of WPA's. Can't shoot lead in them I wonder when they will make that the reg for all public land hunting.

[thunderpout]

jnyman... I hunt pheasants with an 12g O/U and grouse with a 20g SxS.... Being that gives you two barrels & a choice of two different chokes, use them to the fullest!   Put smaller loads (#5-6's) in the more open choked barrel for the first shot....  larger loads (#4-5's) in the tighter choked barrel for that second shot!  Works very well!  Thats the beauty of a double gun, you dont have a gun that holds half a box of shells, but you can do alot more with those two barrels than one..... helps to make those two shots really count!   Good luck this year!

[cobb]

I shoot a 12 ga. with a heavy load of #4 lead through an improved cylinder choke.  Started using this combo several years ago and seem to have much better success than #6 through a modified choke, birds go down more positive and not all shot up.

[beeker]

I like 5's or 6's.. lead.. but when I do have to use steel I'm using whatever I have left.. I used 4's last time I was out in SD. another thing when your hunting pheasants do not be afraid to get into the cat tails.. may be too early yet.. but later season when the ground is froze dive into those cattails as most guys refuse and they miss out on allot of birds.. I've ended many hunts early by walking into cat tails and smoking a limit in 45 minutes. of course I've ended hunts early by falling through the ice because of those stupid muskrats runs... either way it's never dull

[FireRanger]

X2 Beeker! Pheasant hunting can be hard work but if you do it right, the amount of fun along with the memories are timeless. I have walked quite a few swamps and have gotten wet but the birds do like to hide in the thick stuff later in the year. Once the snow gets deep the work really starts! I use 3" #4  (steel) when shooting pheasants. However I do like to wait til they get out around 30 yds before pulling the pin. I haven't been for a while though....maybe it's time to get the dog out in the fields again!

[pheasantman2121]

I shoot 2 3/4 high velocity #5 and #4.  In the past i shot 3 inch but I have had way more success with the 2 3/4 high velocity than the 3 inch that is much slower.  Just look at the boxes and most have the velocity listed on the box look for the stuff that is 1450 fps or faster. 

[FCSpringer]

I finally made it out too. Public land by my place. flushed 6 hens and one rooster.