The vast majority of game birds shot in Alaska are taken with a .22. On the ground, out of the trees, etc. When I was living in the interior….people would ask me why I hunted birds with a a shotgun.
I would occasionally see a hunter or two walking around hunting ptargiman with 10/22’s or Nylon 66’s. Friends of mine who hunted the Minto Flats for waterfowl also brought along their rifles to shoot grouse.
Different strokes for different folks.