Low recoil for women but go with 00 and #4 buck and for big boys. But keep some low brass 7 1/2 birdshot for quail or scaring away intruders (cheaper, too) and some #4 -#6 birdshot (for extremely close range and worried about overpenetration of walls, etc ) and save some for pheasant season!

"Scare off" means shooting near them or in the air. Why waste more expensive rounds to do that. And if they (on property) are far off (rural) you could shoot at them, if necessary, without killing them (ie, 80 yrds) but you could put out an eye. Agree less than lethal (rubber or rock salt or bean bags) if closer but if they are armed as well then you could be in their range.....and they probably wont be shooting to "scare you off."

I suppose that this comment is not strictly on topic, but might be of interest to posters on this thread. I live in Scotland UK, and used to be friendly with an old Scottish Gamekeeper. He had a trick for destroying squirrel dreys ( nests) What he used to do was open up the crimp on a 3 " magnum 12 bore cartridge and pour out the shot. He would then cut through the plastic casing of a .410 cart ( load unknown ) just below the wadding so that the front half of the .410 was intact. He would then insert the 410 top into the empty 12 bore cart and recrimp it, finally sealing the cartridge with sealing wax. The effect of this .410 projectile was really amazing as it would hold together in flight then explode on impact, in effect blowing the complete squirrel nest and inhabitants out of the tree. I often used to wonder what that shot would have done to a Poacher