Hello Mr. Flanigan - I am relatively new to the forums here but I'm a fellow New York grouse hunter. Most of my experience over the past 40 years has been in the Adirondacks with stints up in Maine, Vermont and Saratoga County area of New York. Our strategy was to start out with #8 shot and then switch to 7 1/2s once the woodcock were gone. I would have used #9 shot in the early season but those shells were hard to find and I did not reload my own. I don't recall ever seeing commercially made #10 shotgun ammo locally, although I am sure it was available. Nowadays, I just don't see it in stores.
Grouse in the Adirondacks face a long and cold winter. They are a little larger (it seemed to me) and their feathers would get thick in the late season. The woods were opened up more allowing for some longer shots and the need to get through thick feathers. Some guys even use #6 shot.
Anyway, welcome back and good luck with your future hunting in Pawling!
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