Pheasant hunting

[aku94]

I don't hunt Pheasant, but I can provide a little insight on the meat getting messed up issue. I mainly hunt small game, squirrels, and I use a .410 Remington 870 with a FULL choke. That means it gives a lot of constirction. Last weekend I managed to get a squirrel. It was a smaller one, and I shot it from about 15 yards away, through buirsh and down hill. It was at the base of a tree. I fired twice, so it could humanely be killed (and so I could guarantee it not running away wounded), as it was flopping around a lot after the first shot. When I recovered, it the upper body had been hit pretty good, as had the tree behind it/ around it. However, I had a very tight constriction on the choke. A 12 patterns way better than a .410, and a modified choke will spread the shot more than the full. Also, shooting at birds that are moving will cause less meat damage. If there is a shot piece in the meat, just cut away the area around it. That's what I have always done. Also, make sure that you feel for shot lodged in it so there are no surprises when you and the family eat it. Make sure to use hi brass loads for pheasent, since they need the extra ooomph/[]
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