I do like the DR-16 wad. But I don't think I'm going to start using 9's for pheasants. For one thing, if you've got a rooster that's giving you a mostly going away angle, the head and neck become a very small target. I'd rather count on breaking wings and legs, and punching into other vital organs.

I'm pretty sure I've never shot a pheasant with 4's either. I like 5's well enough late season, but I really prefer 6's. I've shot a lot more pheasants inside of 30 yards than I have beyond 40. Late season roosters are tougher because they're all fully grown (vs the juveniles you'll shoot at the start of the season) and have also accumulated some fat. But depending on conditions and how much hunting pressure they've survived, they may not necessarily give you only long shots.