There is no such animal as the perfect pheasant gun ! I first when to South Dakota in 79 and have been countless times. Before the lodges took over and you stayed with the farmer. The first dog I saw pheasant hunting was my lab in 81. I shot my quail gun, a 870 20ga. skeet gun. It worked. Over the years I have shot a side by side 28 choked IM and MOD. Great up 35 yards. Even tried the 28 ga. one oz. loads. Killed just many birds with 3/4 oz. loads. Tried a o/u in 20. But, after I was bit by the Parker bug ,my gun is a PH 12 on a 1 1/2 frame choked Cly. and IC. It weights 7 lb. and I shoot it better than all the others. Have always used 6 shot. Use a 1 oz. light load in my PH and have replaced my lab with a Boykin. I think that all those super loads for pheasants are just something to sale. Released pheasants tend hold better than wild ones, but they are the best released bird I have ever had a go at. Danny
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