So, I just started hunting last year and have never hunted pheasants or any other birds for that matter, but my wife (wonderful as she is) bought me a pheasant hunting trip on a preserve in PA for my birthday this year. I'm scheduled to go on the 18th of this month, and while I've shot sporting clays and a few rounds of trap before, I just don't know how that compares to live birds.

I'll be using Rio upland game loads (#6 2-3/4") and will be using my old Riverside Arms SxS which has fixed full chokes on both barrels. I'm pretty proficient with it, so I'm not too worried about misses from the pattern constriction.

Any pointers from regular wing shooters for the hunt? They're pen raised birds, so I know they won't be as wily as wild birds, but didn't know if there was anything that might surprise me.

Thanks in advance!

[Linked Image]