What is the best ammo you have used for pheasant? I was thinking of trying the Golden Pheasants this year, if I can find them localy. Thanks.

I havent done a ton of pheasant hunting but from what I've done they are not too hard to bring down. Just about anything from 4 to 6 shot with 1 1/8oz or more will do the trick. If you are not hunting that much and want to spend some money on premium shell the Golden Pheasant loads are hard to beat. Anytime you have nickle or copper platted lead shot it should pattern a little better for you. But I bet you'd have results just as good with just hard lead shot.

High brass 4's or 6's. Pheasants are tough. They get even tougher with a little distance. If they're not well within range I highly recommend passing up on the shot. I've winged more then one and even w/a good dog couldn't find them. gary

I second the Golden Pheasant ammo. I have two boxes I'm taking with me to South Dakota. I like #5 shot.

Oh yeah, LEAD=DEAD, I've tried some steel duck shot and wasn't impressed.....gary

Winchester Super-X Super Pheasant 1 3/8oz. 5 shot. These will knock em down at long range.

From lots of experience, I second the high brass 4's and 5's, 6's are okay for closer shots.JMO

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=415845

this stuff is humping along a 1485 fps, and comes in 4, 5 ,6 or 7.5, i prefer 6 early season, and then switch to 4s late season as the birds get smarter, and start getting up a little sooner, and farther away.

I second the Winchester Super X Pheasant load, but in #6. Dont skimp on shells, how many times do you go after these magnificent birds? Go ahead and try to get away with the cheap, 1 1/8 oz loads; as soon as you have a cripple dissapear on you, you will not skimp on shells anymore. Also, there is so much hoopla with 4s and 5s on pheasant. I dont have any problem bringing them down dead with 6s. All you have to do is tighten up your choke during late season. Those extra pellets in 6s really help to fill your pattern. When you get down to 5s and 4s, you really start having big gaps in your pattern at 40 yds. Best of luck huntin pheaz wherever your journey takes you.

Cabela's has the Golden Pheasant, or they used to. The Winchester Super X is good too. I have shot them with 4, 5 and 6. No true favorite, just put the right choke in for the conditions and get after it. I worry more about chaffing from walking all day then I do about my shells. If they are crippled they will hit the ground running and tough to find.

I shoot number 5's mostly. Why? Because it is an odd number, I guess and when I was a kid we shot lead number 5's at ducks. Dad called them Saint Louis 5's, not sure why. Miss the lead for ducks, but sure like spilling it for other birds. Ducks I use number 3's typically., pheasants number 5's.

good luck.

This past week I was using 4 shot and one of my buds was using 6 shot. He was losing birds like crazy. Maybe he was off a little or maybe it was the difference in shot. Who knows? But 4 works well for me.

6 in early season or where you also got lots of blues

4 and 5 later in the year

Have you ever shot a rooster at 25 yds with 4's? Not left with much meat. Also, 6s are desirable if running across quail or chickens. If you still dont believe, try patterning your gun w/ various chokes/sizes/oz's/ at various yards and you will see what i mean. best of luck.

Okay...help me out here...I'm taking my daughter on her first pheasant hunt in Dec. What shot size for her .20ga and my .12ga should I use??? 4's or 6's???

Have shot a rooster at 25 yards with 5's and no problem. As someone stated earlier, you need to make sure you have the right choke in for the conditions your hunting in. Me personally, I generally use an improved cylinder.

I'm hunting in the Dumas area in December and was thinking of bringing my 20g instead of 12. Will this be a mistake if I'm hunting pheasant? I've never been pheasant hunting before, but have killed my share of quail, dove and duck.

Will be there in december also. Shouldn't be a problem w/20g. Just buy some good shells. Check out Mack's Prarie Wings.

Thanks flushem. You're not going with Big John S. are you?

No, a group of buddies heading out that way Dec.10. 30 days left and I can't wait.

We'll be there on the 5th-7th and will try to leave a couple for you.

From the way our guide is talking it shouldn't be a problem, but miss a few just in case. GL!

My vote is for any 4 shot high brass and I've been out there every year since I was a kid. Always carry some T shot/bb or buck shot with you because we have jumped yotes at least once every year!!!!

Don't shoot the mule deer that you jump this year!!

I can in Deaf Smith (its still season)....but not Parmer