I would not use #9 (nor #10) even in October. I suppose #9s would get their share of WC, but I'd pass up all shots at grouse.
Coupla thoughts on ruffed: they are not tenacious but they often do not react much, if at all, to a solid hit. It is also very easy to walk past a dead grouse - good dog, bad dog, or no dog.
Second, there are indeed longish grouse opportunities - for those with the patience not to discharge both barrels too quickly. This finally clicked when I thought about how many times I was able to follow a pre-season flushed grouse for quite aways, in and out of tree cover, when I had no gun. Over the years I've learned that patience pays off, and that a fairly tight 2nd barrel with some choke attached to a two-trigger frame will work well. But now we're into #7.5 territory.
Sam
