Sharptail Load

[Walkabout]

I was visiting a local wma that's being managed for Sharptailed grouse. I've never hunted these birds before, what would be a good 12 gauge ml load for hunting them this fall? Thanks

 

[Phil Coffins]

1 1/8 ounce of #6 shot and 80 grains of 2fg works for me . They aren’t anything remarkable to knock down.

 

[Sparkitoff]

Pattern your gun. Whatever gives the best patterns that match any choke is the one! I've been using a 1 1/8 scoop of powder, 2 cards, same scoop of #7 shot and over-shot card.

 

[Steve Wagner]

The couple of times I've bumped into them antelope hunting leads me to believe that a full choke might be more important than a perfect load combo. Even when I knew where they were and tried to sneak a peak, about 70 yards was the best I could do. Very gun-shy where I've seen them. If I was going to hunt them I'd be all in for opening day. The Huns were much easier. When I shotgunned a lot I preferred #6 for upland because it seemed to carry better w more oomph for long shots, and since there were fewer pellets, it did less damage on the short ones. SW