Stan, thanks for advice. Makes sense. I have hunted grouse and woodcock in dense New England cover for many years and am used to fast rises. I also hunt pheasant and recently hunted ptarmigan in the sub-arctic. I used a 20 gauge on the ptarmigan. For many years I used a XXV on the grouse with great success and more recently a Merkel 1620.
As you know, grouse in dense cover are very vexing. Rarely a second shot!
I am going on my first Georgia quail hunt in a few weeks down at Southwind Plantation in Bainbridge Georgia. I'll be shipping my gun down and will probably take the 20 ga AyA. For some reason they seem to want to discourage anything larger. I don't understand the reason but they said something about concern for the dogs. I don't get it.
But I suppose I'll find out!
