All good pointers, hindsights and all, I'll report back, going to be windy on sat, so thats gives us the advantage. I went out last Sunday by myself as ex brother in law has lots to do with his farm work and I don't mind going solo because I tend to walk slower than most hunters and stop every now and then. My problem was most birds were getting up flying straight away from me and was having hard time identify whether it was rooster or hen, so didn't shot. Took two shot all in the two hour span I was out, like I said I saw birds just took more time to identify by then they are out of range...grrrrr....I'm finding them not dropping them. I think my problem is hurrying the first shot, got work to do on that. Hate nothing more than wounding the bird then can't find it because it hits the ground, runs buries itself somewhere and dies.
Side note: Anyone shooting steel shot at 'em??? That another interested debate.