Here in South Dakota, our birds have been educated and are very wary. Opening weekend I might put 6 shot in my gun, after that, its fives and fours, usually 3 inch, and I have plenty of boxes of shells with 1 5/8 oz. shot. I think I have seen 1 7/8 oz. shot for sale as well. But like I said our birds are very jumpy, and in the late season they get very thick skin. They would be laughing at you if you tried to bring them down with 7 1/2 shot.