Woodcock Report

Got five sat. Barrie area. My Pudelpointer locks hard on them. My shooting not so much.

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Originally Posted by Hawkman

Well... My 5 year old GSP is cute and athletic and enthusiastic, etc. BUT he has not ever pointed a woodcock for me yet.
He might be just getting the idea about grouse lately. JUST.

We just went to North Bay area, then continued on to Elk Lake, Gowganda, Shining Tree, and Sudbury.
Three and a half days of hunting.
1500 km round trip.
Zero woodcock seen or flushed.
Nine total grouse seen/heard. (Yes, Only NINE)
Two total grouse in the bag, because my shooting sucked. :(

All the local people I spoke to - plus other hunters - told me that the numbers were quite low this year.

Dog and I had a blast regardless.

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Thanks for the report. In that area wc are not easy to find, you need to find the right habitat.
Grouse population have been low there for 2-3 years.
This year I missed my annual trip(s) north :(

I moved 6 today around Newmarket and 10 yesterday in GTA.
I think we should get bigger waves in the next few days, mostly next week.

Out this morning. Didnt move a single woodcock. East of Toronto

Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk

Not many around this year and not sure if any of you read the MNRF news they send out I believe quarterly. It reads as follows:


You know the American woodcock -- that odd little bird with a long beak and stubby little legs? A number were reported dead this spring by our readers. "What happened?" they asked.

MNRF biologists think spring gave them the cold shoulder.

The American woodcock migrates from as far away as the Gulf of Mexico. As the days lengthen and the weather changes, woodcocks and other migratory species instinctively know when to wing it home.

But timing is everything. To nest and breed successfully, migratory birds need to arrive when their habitat is ready and their food supply hits its peak. If the weather doesn't cooperate, key food sources like worms, insects, fruits and nectar may not be available when the birds arrive.

Biologists think that may be what happened to American woodcocks in the spring. The snow and ice-covered ground prevented them from finding their favourites foods -- earthworms and other invertebrates.

Want to help biologists track changes to bird populations and habitats? Become a citizen scientist and share your sightings. For more information on volunteering, please visit the Bird Studies Canada website.

I got into a good flight north of London this morning. Ten finds and six in the bag. Looks like there starting to move through.

Flushed 6 north of Vineland two weekends ago but this past weekend hunting by Gogama I walked about 12 miles and my dog pointed two grouse and no woodcock at all.

Last night the mercury hit 0C and snow squalls pushed through. However really hasn't push the birds along. Still seeing more birds filling the bush.


Only thing never had such a hard time drawing a bead on them. Ya the birds may have been a little skittish today but the canopy is almost down. Can it be I'm actually slowing down:$


still think the best is still to come.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1953/...3ee93f9e_z.jpgDSCN0064 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/153457252@N02/]

This evening Orillia area in 2 hours I moved 5 WC all widely scattered. No birds were harmed.

Attachment 37448


Shooting was two for two today. That doesn't happen very often...lol.