I haven't been on one of the pay hunting preserves in years, so the pen raised quail/pheasant combo is pretty new to me.

I'm trying to figure out the best gun/load for mainly quail, but a couple of pheasants thrown in.

I've narrowed it down to 2 guns.

Remington 1100 Skeet Grade 20ga. 28" w/ choke options of IC/Skeet/Imp Skeet/Mod/Imp Mod/Full

Remington 11-87 SP. 12ga. 26" w/ options of IC/Mod/Full.

Which would you carry?


If I go w/ the 12 ga I'm thinking about using Winchester AA Super Sports (1 1/8 oz of #7.5 at 1300fps)

If the 20 ga I'm thinking abotu using Rem. Express (1oz of #7.5 at 1220 fps.)

Any other suggestions? Comments?[/align]

I dont' know anything about quail, but I know a lot about pheasant hunting. I don't like using 6 shotfor pheasants because it doesn't have the knock down power, so 7.5 would be out of the question for me. Of course, I haven't shot pen raised birdsso they may be a lot easier to kill. I personnally don't like the idea of pen raised birds. Seems to easy to me. I can't understand why someone would pay for that, but I really can't judge until I've tried it. I have a real good friend that worked on a farm that released pen raised birds. He said that after the hunt was over they would grab a fishing net and scoop up the birds that weren't shot. That's funny. Maybe more fun to catch them then shot them.

I would bring two loads. One for each different bird.

I'm doing the pen raised thing w/ some buddies from work that wanted to go. I think it'll be fun, but not really my idea of hunting.

I grew in a different area then I live in now and spent a lot of time in the woods. We had a decent population of woodcock and some good sized coveys of quail on the land I grew up hunting. I'm too far away to get back there often now though.

I did the paid hunting farm thing once about 10 years ago. In that case we rented the dog (no guide) and from what I recall found about 10 quail and 3 phesants. It's been a LONG time ago, but I think I was shooting somereally fast#7.5 handloads I had made up, and then had a big load of #5 as the third shot. I shot two of the phesants, and am 99% sure I got them both w/ 1 shot so the #5 never came into play.

From what I understand they release birds periodically to keep them stocked on the property, then you basically hunt the place (about 1000 acers) with a guide. Then again, for all I know they may just dump out a bunch of birds 10 min before you get there and take you right to them, won't know until I do it.

I thought about the 2 loads idea, but how would I know what shell to have in when? From what I understand it will be about 12 quail to each phesant.

Right now I'm leaning in the direction of bringing the 1100 20 ga (less to carry) w/ the hottest 7.5" I can find locally in the first two shots, then a #4 third. That third shot at a quail is a lost cause anyway!

I've shot sporting clays w/ these guys before and am pretty sure that if I pick my shots and keep them close, I should take more birds then they will blasting away at ever bird that pops up anyways ;-)

The 12 gauge combo that you're talking about seems fine. For just quail I'd go with a #8 shot and with Pheasants we use #7 so anywhere in there would work I'd almost go with a #7 because it won't tear up the quail any by using a size bigger and it will have a little more knockdown power for the pheasants than the #8 shot.

Sounds like you'll be on a preserve shooting released birds. If that's the case, I would use an Improved choke with 6 shot. Might give you a small disadvantage if a pheasant gets a little far but still do-able....also gives you the advantage of an open choke for quail.

In all honesty, I think it really comes down to your shooting skills and whether or not you'll be hunting with a dog.

It has been my experience that released birds will hold longer before they flush. (They're more used to being around humans) Consequently I use a 20 gauge for preserve birds (6 and larger shot) but a 12 gauge for wild pheasant. I need to be able to reach out and touch at longer distances when after wild birds.

use 20 with mod choke and 7 1/2 shot thats what i would use with pen raised birds i actully use my old .410 steves sxs with 7 1/2 in first barrels and 6's in 2nd

I've guided on preserves and wild birds. I've seen pen raised birds go down w/ 50 yd shots w/ target loads. I've seen wild birds take 4 shot 12 gauges from 20 yds & keep going.

There's no comparison. Pen-raised birds = lightest load you are comfortable with. Wild birds = 6 shot early in the year & go a shot heavier every 3 weeks into the season. They get smart very fast.

I would bring the 12 gauge with #6 shot. If you use the #7 1/2, make sure the pheasants are very close when you shoot. I have a hard time taking them down with #5.

i use number 5 shot