Flushing Dog.

You can always take the 20 gauge with a box of hevishot for any long shots you might encounter. Put in a 6 lead followed by a no. 5 heavier than lead shot, pick the brand.

I was just out near Winner for a 2 day hunt and the birds were running and the blockers got most of the shooting. Dogs were pretty much there for retrieving, except for one particular damn dog that would get way ahead and bust all the birds. I'd used a 12 and although I had a mod in my 391 I probably would have been better off with the full. So if it were me I'd definitely use the 12 gauge. A lot of pass shooting and depending on how hard it's blowing it can be more like pass duck hunting than what I'm used to for pheasants.

There is still a lot of standing corn, but it is starting to get combined with the drier weather of late.

Good Luck - Dan

Do yourself and the birds a favor and take the 12 ga. Lots of standing corn and cover made it a real hunt for us but we did get a number of them.

20 ga with 3" # 4's but use a mod choke or full. IC will not handle the birds that get up too far in front

I would recommend the 12 with a mod or full. I live in SD and the birds are getting on the wild side. Would consider using a 2 3/4 mag.

Steve

Just drove across I-90 yesterday from Murdo to Sioux Falls, I have never before observed as many birds as I saw yesterday. I would say about 80% of what we saw were cocks.

Leave the 20 ga. home in the safe. I've hunted SD for many years. All you'll end up with is a bunch of crippled runners that you can't find, with or without a dog. This is kind of a sore spot with me. We had a guy a few years back insist on shooting 20ga. I don't think he found one bird in 10. Take the 12 ga. and have fun!!!! More birds this year than ever before. And for some reason many more roosters than hens. BE SAFE Tom

12 gauge

I took a 12 ga, started with 6 shoot copper plated/buffered; but switched to #4 lead after the first hour. Didn't have any #5 shot to try. My buddy had nickel plated #5 Fiocchi that he liked.

Used Mod/Imp Mod in Browning O/U.

I can't wait to go back.

Bill Payne

I took a 12 ga, started with 6 shoot copper plated/buffered; but switched to #4 lead after the first hour. Didn't have any #5 shot to try. My buddy had nickel plated #5 Fiocchi that he liked.

Used Mod/Imp Mod in Browning O/U.

I can't wait to go back.

Bill Payne

I hunted pheasants near Draper S.D. a week ago, with a 12 ga. Remington SxS choked IC & FULL, using handloads with 1-1/4 oz. of #5's. That combo worked fine for me.

We limited each day, but had to hunt harder and longer than last year, due to unharvested crops.

gold40

A light 12 or 16 ga. (Remington 31L - lightweight alloy receiver) with modified or full choke, #5 shot (1 1/4 oz.) Best Regards, Ed

12 gauge 3 1/2" #4. Your better off being over-gunned. Those South Dakota pheasants are tough. South Dakota is where "men are men" and women think they are.

I Shot 12ga SuperX2, modified choke 2 3/4 Nickel 5`s. Knocked the hell out of em. Sportalluring

Just remember, non-tox shot has to be used in many public areas in SoDak. I used Winchester Xpert Steel 3" 1 1/8oz 2's out of a Rhino Modified.

Hit em hard, wild pheasants are no joke.

We have one of the larger hunting areas in SD near Plankinton.

We all use 12 gauges, but it really depends on (1) where you hunt, (2) wild or pen raised birds (we don't like pen raised), (3) weather & temp, (4) time into the season, and (5) crops left in the fields.

They are now taking out the corn, but it's been too wet until lately.

We use 6's opening week-end and then 8's rest of season. Forget about copper plated shot... it's a waste. Lead is just fine. We've been hunting this way for fifty years.

I'd recommend no full chokes, but max dram loads in 2.75" anyway. None of us shoot 3", just a waste.

We used to host Browning Arms folks, but now we only hunt with friends on our farming operation. Our op is the largest in Aurora county, I believe.

The later you go into the season and the cold/snow sees lots of spooky birds, but they will congregate in clusters particularly when there is no crop cover. The birds are getting smarter because we're killing off the dumb ones. It is not uncommon for the birds to run back through the corn rows a row or two on either side of you. When we walk corn we meander left and right 4-5 rows each side of center to get them to flush.

Last week the combines finally got to some of the corn after finishing off the beans. At coffee yesterday the brother told us that in one field probably 300-400 birds flushed as the 4-5 combines finished off the field. He said a good majority were roosters, and mentioned that it was great to see so many take off, especially becasue the first two week-ends we hunted it was tough hunting due to the large amount of cover.

Skybuster: I like your analogy... the birds are tought, but that makes it a great sport, otherwise we'd be calling it "pheasant shooting."

Whiz

I went last year and took my 686 20 ga. and 303 12 ga. The guide talked me into the auto which was a wise choice on wild birds on the windy prairie. The Beretta 303 with 28" mod. and Kent 1 1/4 5's did a good job - no cripples.

Safe hunting, good luck, and enjoy!

Several of us are going back again Fridy of this week-end since they are getting the corn it.

Whiz

The key is shooting shot that is large enough-- you cant go wrong with number 4

I think Whiz meant he used number 4 after opening weekend- not 8

20 gauge or 12 - doesnt matter as long as the shot size is large enough

If you have a pointing dog that handles phesant well

1. O/U- I would have a skeet in the bottom barrel and a light mod or a mod at most in the top barrel

2. Single barrel- I would go with light mod -- if you have that choke- or mod if you dont have that choke

If you dont have a pointing dog or a flusher that will work close I would probably go with Mod choke

If you shoot full choke you are at a significant disadvantage

You dont need 3 inch shells but if you want to shoot them fine

The key is the size of the shot and making a good shot

I actually used steel 3s and like them a lot but lead 4s are good all the time

regards from Iowa

Gene

1 and 1/4 ounces is still 1 1/4 ounces whether it comes out of a 12 gauge or a 20 gauge. If the 20 patterns good it will work. If you are willing to spend the extra money for heavier than lead shells even better. Then 5 shot equals 4 shot in killing ability and 6 shot equals 5 lead. Good pellet count, good patterning and good killing ability all in a 20 gauge. Cost doesn't matter because there isn't anywhere in the country where the limit is more than 4 wild pheasants. You can use a 20 gauge and be very effective on pheasants.

Take them both, in case one breaks your trip won`t be ruined.