Home Forums Birds & Dogs Upland Game Grouse Hunting Choke.

For all your grouse hunters needed some choke advice. I’ve always used IC or MOD. Was looking at a shotgun today that is IM. Just wanted to make sure that it isn’t too tight of a choke and a waste of money.

Which Grouse?

I’ve killed a bunch of the Ruffed variety with all the ones you mentioned. So from here, NBD.

You can get the right barrel opened up for about $75 so if it is a good enough deal and the right gun go for it. It would be fine for grouse

I reload Polywad spreaders so IM would be ok for me, but I'd prefer it more open as a rule.

I do a lot of Woodcock hunting over dogs in really thick stuff so C/IC is better for me, so the spreader loads in my IC/M guns work out well in the 10-to-15-yard range which is most common.

My 20ga grouse gun (ruffed) is IC/M. I wish it was SK/IC sometimes.

As mentioned, which species of grouse? And, to a lesser extent tIke of year and gauge of gun?

For forest grouse such as ruffed, spruce, et al, I prefer anyplace from cylinder to IC if using a 12, 16, or 20 ga until about 50% leaf fall then I'll go as tight as Mod if using 1 oz or lighter of a shot charge. For 28 ga it would be IC for the early part with Mod later.

Prairie grouse such as sharptail, prairie chicken, sage, or ptarmigan can range from IC to Full depending on situation. One can generally be well set with IC or even Mod early in the season but later when the birds bunch up and become spooky or they are hanging out in low and sparse cover a rifle may not even reach them before they flush. I'll typically muddle through the late season with at least Mod but haven't been afraid to use Full if it seems to be needed. These suggestions are regardless of gauge though I tend to choke a little tighter if using less than an ounce of shot than over. It's what has worked well for me over the years but it is not cast in stone either.

For forest grouse I opt for IC/Mod in my doubles and IC in single barrel guns.

Sage hen and sharptail call for IM/Full or Either one for single barrel guns.

With the ammo selections before FJB screwed things up ammo choices optimized options. Non-toxic mandates have screwed up scatter-gunning.

Ruffed grouse.

May I suggest: https://www.riflesandrecipes.com/product/shotguns-for-wingshooting/

I hunt over pointers and SKI and SKII is my favorite combo for grouse and woodcock.

I hunt with guns that are old and unique. I have to hit the bird to kill it, so shooting is more important than chokes because I can’t do anything about the way the gun is choked…

Little or no choke is needed under 30 yards. Especially so if shooting an ounce or more of small shot. Tight chokes just make it harder to hit at close range and mangle the bird if you do. IC is as tight as I’d personally want. I’ve had lots of chokes opened. Not all grouse are shot up close so this may not apply to all.

[quote=shrapnel]

That’s a beautiful old gun. What is it?

It is a Burgess wrist-slide action shotgun made by Andrew Burgess around 1890…

cylinder choke is you friend., need more range just go to premium ammo For ruffed grouse and woodcock I usually use 8 or 9 , if more open terrain 7 1/2 .

I also use a 30" single shot full choke Cooey 12ga for head shooting road birds while out on the ATV.

We get a lot of birds that way when the dog is at home.

They will hang you for that Super Cub!!! Ha, ha. They taste just as good.

I know that. It's legal and they can pound sand.

I have a pointer and 20ga SxS for those other days afield.



Or with the 12ga Cooey ....

They all taste the same. Wonderful.

Thanks for the suggestion/recommendation!

One thing I do mention in the book is actually patterning your shotgun with the ammo you hope to use to kill any North American grouse--no matter what the gun or supposed choke. Amazing how many bird hunters still don't....