Budget build 16 and Pheasant

[Fox20obsessed]

Was out this morning for PA’s (stocked) pheasant opener. My two buddies and I put up 4 birds today and came home with 3. The third bird of the day was actually shot simultaneously by myself and my buddy....he has a new dog and we did a lot of walking so I told him to take that bird home. Today was awesome though because I made a nice real long shot on a rooster and it just so happened to be the first time I shot the budget build 16 since I completed the project. I think I’m really going to like this gun. Also, since I shot this bird at such a great distance he is in superb condition and I will be dropping him off at the taxidermist in the near future to be mounted.
-Matt

[Jeff S]

Nice picture, and congratulations on getting a bird with your new gun. Do any of the members know how to “age” a pheasant by looking at the spurs?

[jolly bill]

Nice going Matt.

And a great way to christen your project gun.

[vaturkey]

Pretty darn cool. I'll be trying next week for those Pa ditch chickens. Try to avoid the opening day because it can get a bit interesting at times.

[Jim Cloninger]

Beautiful bird, Matt.
Jim

[Silvers]

Thanks Matt for posting and showing us your 16 Fox out hunting along with the cock bird. Both very nice looking. What shells did you use? frank

[Fox20obsessed]

Gentlemen,
Thank you kindly for the compliments and checking out the post. Frank, I used RST 2 1/2” shells loaded with #5 lead...the recoil was almost unnoticeable and both birds were DOA.
-Matt

[Fox20obsessed]

Jeff,
I just saw your question regarding aging pheasants by spur length. I will say that I personally have no clue as every pheasant I have ever killed was pen-raised, but I would love to hear any input on this as well.
-Matt

[Carver]

Fox20obsessed- I followed your impressive build on the other thread and am glad to see it out in the field knocking them down. I too shot a 16ga with the same load and agree the combo gets the job done.

Jeff- I've only chased game commission released and preserve birds, but the North Dakota F&G states "Spur length on an adult male pheasant is generally 3/4 of an inch or more, measured from the outside of the leg bone to the tip of the spur. Adult spurs are also usually shiny black and sharply pointed. Juvenile roosters have spurs that are less than 3/4 of an inch, measured from the outside of the leg bone to the tip of the spur. Juvenile spurs have soft blunt points and dull coloration."

[Jeff S]

Thanks for information. I’m about to walk down to my duck blind for one last hunt, provided that shallow lake isn’t frozen.

[Jim Cloninger]

Good luck, Jeff.

[Fox20obsessed]

Carver,
I don’t know if I’d call my build “impressive” but nonetheless I do appreciate the kind words. Also,
thank you very much for sharing the pheasant spur info. Everything you said goes along with what I assumed, but it is very nice to hear the 3/4” as a rule of thumb. Thank you!
-Matt