how do you handle different shells for mixed bag?

[Jonjhawk]

Hi all, was out this last weekend and was hunting a milo / CRP edge with a fence line in between. Had 3 of us and 2 dogs, so one was walking the fence line, one in the CRP, and one in the milo. We kicked up 4-5 pheasants and 3-4 coveys + some singles. I usually walk with quail loads in one pocket and pheasant and the other, and try to load based on what we think we will see. This time i had pheasant loads in for every covey, and quail loads in for every pheasant. How do you all handle this?

We typically use 5/6 for pheasant and 7/7.5 for quail. Is the compromise 6 or 6.5? Or do you all try to use different shells based on the cover / area and I just had bad luck

 

[Bird Buster]

I would definitely use 6's if both species are present, I don't think 6's blow quail up that bad unless they are really close shots.

 

[Quailnerd]

Hi all, was out this last weekend and was hunting a milo / CRP edge with a fence line in between. Had 3 of us and 2 dogs, so one was walking the fence line, one in the CRP, and one in the milo. We kicked up 4-5 pheasants and 3-4 coveys + some singles. I usually walk with quail loads in one pocket and pheasant and the other, and try to load based on what we think we will see. This time i had pheasant loads in for every covey, and quail loads in for every pheasant. How do you all handle this?

We typically use 5/6 for pheasant and 7/7.5 for quail. Is the compromise 6 or 6.5? Or do you all try to use different shells based on the cover / area and I just had bad luck

I’d load 6 shot and wait on the quail if needed.

 

[Wind River]

I’ve killed pheasants with 8’s and quail with 6’s. Using a SxS, 8 in right barrel, 6 in left barrel. Hard to kill a straight away quail with 6’s.
I have a box of 7 shot from Boss. Not a bad problem to have.

 

[Tomahawker]

6’s win the versatility contest.

 

[Jonjhawk]

good to know. I guess it's a good problem to have seeing both in a field, but was curious what the go to is.

Will just buy 6's going forward

 

[GSP7]

I use a felt tip permanent marker and write 6, 4, 5 etc on each shell I reload

 

[remy3424]

I use a felt tip permanent marker and write 6, 4, 5 etc on each shell I reload

I reload with the Win AA hulls. Grey are 5s and red will be 6s and maybe 7.5s. I would only take the red shells if I was leaving my area and expect quail. Not likely to see a quail right here, if I did, he wouldn't need me shooting at him.