Pheasant Shot Size Question

Will hunt a preserve next week. Plan to hunt with a 20 gauge over and under.

What shot size would your recommend? I think 6's. Too small?

#6 is perfect for a preserve hunt.

6's work, have killed a bunch of preserve birds with 7.5's as well.

Works Perfect, I use high brass 7's a lot also


Don't shoot them point plank let them get a little space

#6 over close dogs is excellent in 20.

Shootem' in the head so you don't ruin the meat!

either 6 or 7 1/2 low brass.

I'd go light loads on pen raised birds.

IMO pheasants are nice size birds pin raised or wild I would use #5s no smaller
Fiocchi gold GPX #5s is all I use

Agreed. I have always used the Fiocchi golden pheasant load #5's (with that neat looking pheasant on the box) hunting wild birds. Have never hunted pen raised birds but don't see how that makes much of a difference. A friend of mine, long time pheasant hunter, thinks that with a dog there is less concern of shot size, but without a dog you want to drop em down so they are less prone to wounding and running away and hiding.

I've shot a lot of both preserve and wild pheasants, by this time of the year their feathers are fully mature and dense, making them a little tougher to kill. I would go with 6 shot for preserve birds shot over dogs inside of 30 yds. Early season 7 1/2 would work as well. Late season wild birds, where shots will be 35 to 45 yards, number 5 shot really comes into it's own.

I prefer #4'S MYSELF,but we hunt Iowa and South Dakota...

I have harvested a ton of preserve birds with the Rio high brass, heavy load 7.5s. It surprised even me. I would probably suggest the 6 shot if it is mostly pheasants though.

7.5s will work just fine.

If these birds were getting up 50 yards ahead of you, I'd say 6s with a tighter choke.
Typically if hunting over dogs they are going to flush within a few yards of you. 20 gauge 7.5s will kill them all day long.
I used my 28 gauge last year in Kansas. Worked great.

If it will cut a tree in two, it'll kill a chicken.
No real need to pay big dough for fancy ammo.

I normally use 6s in sd. But I used a 28ga with number 8s on a preserve hunt. Worked fine but I would have used bigger shot if doing it again.

I like fiocci I golden pheasant 5s on wild birds.

If you are shooting pointed birds 7.5 or 6 will work. Driven 6 or less.

I have been on several charity pheasant hunts where I wish I had brought 00 buck/30" barrel gun/extra full choke. People were shooting at birds that were 120 yards out and my closest shots opportunities were at 70 yards, lol. Normal walk up/point preserve hunts, 7.5's will do fine. I would still go with #5's because it is easier finding all the shot pellets while cleaning, rather than while eating!

You should ask your preserve folks - some have shot size limits. 7.5 is fine for released/pen birds.

Hunt Kansas yearly since 1995 and 5's high brass is the standard for those I hunt with and they have hunted there all their lives