I think distance is a tough thing for a hunter to guesstimate or perceive while perusing a woods. Likewise, I don't believe wide open choke remedies poor gun fit, technique and ability.
So long as you're centering your targets, tight chokes make a break or a kill more certain at any range. However a wider spread with good pattern coverage will certainly improve your chances on a close target or in a brushy game shot situation, or when you aren't quite centering the target.
I shoot IC and Mod at quail and 1st season doves and move up to M&F for ducks and 2nd season doves. "Kick'em-up" released quail are best shot with Cyl choke to prevent the creation of quail hash, and because the poor little things may not stay in the air long enough to get 'out there'. Turkeys IMHO require full chokes and a personal knowledge of just where your gun puts the pattern*...Geo
*I spent one turkey season after buying a custom "turkey choke" that shot low shooting the beards off of every turkey I shot at.
Last edited by Geo. Newbern; 07/13/11 02:46 PM. Reason: afterthought
