Ontario woodcock reports 2014

Let's try to have single thread with wc reports, would be useful for everyone, n'est-ce pas?
Reports only pls. If others don't chime in, it will be limited :(

Oct 8
I checked my local city park for wc and indeed they were there - 4 birds found in 5 min (I know where to look :thumbup:).

So I headed to Newmarket area.
windy, wet, temp 12 C
cover - mostly goldenrods under poplar
found 10 birds in about 1.5 hours
I can only shake my head (like that guy in waterfowl section could only laugh), I missed 5 out of 5!
I think this is my new record :ashamed:

Was your dog disappointed in you ? lol

Mr Dufenshirtz needs a hand with all the woodcock, at least the shooting. Lol

I really need to find some good coverts. Woodcock are quite elusive to me. I just pop the odd one up when grouse hunting. Never been able to actually connect with one

Oct. 7 in "the Clinton area," we flushed one bird out of a classic spot: young aspen. Given the tiny size of the cover this was likely a flight bird. I am still finding few birds there, but we have had persistent south winds.

That was the only bird on the day but I was busy with pheasants. :)

Wind supposed to be swinging to the north for the weekend....

I'll be hunting Hullett Friday or Saturday. Still haven't gotten all the burr's out of Elly's ears.

Sept.25th and 26th we flushed 30 to 40 woodcock in a total of 6 hours of hunting. Only killed one.

Put up 9 birds yesterday. Thames river area outside London. Usually only move 3 or 4 there.

Very strong winds today up here. Should thin a bit of the foliage.

Terry, thank you for the weather report ;)

Northern GTA today
11 flushes, may be couple repeats
12 C windy sunny warm

.......So good reports of flushes a lot of misses however any in the bag yet?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Farmer G

Mr Dufenshirtz needs a hand with all the woodcock, at least the shooting. Lol

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"I didn't spend six years in Evil Medical School to be called Mr." Dr. Evil in Austin Powers :)

Moved 3 in Hullet today. Still lots of leaves on the trees. Tough shooting.

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Originally Posted by dilly

Moved 3 in Hullet today. Still lots of leaves on the trees. Tough shooting.

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I was at Hullett also today and moved one and couldn't get a clear shot.

Dog flushed 1 today in Prince Edward County but it was a ninja. I never even saw it - just heard that familiar twit twit twit sound as it took off.

Had a good time at Hullet Friday am.
Looking forward to going back.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/10/12/ery9ytyt.jpg

Hunted WMU 87 this morning.
Flushed 3 got 1.
Without a dog this year so even bagging one was rewarding enough - gave myself a belly rub and walked back to the car.
Lots of old scatt/chalk, only a few fresh signs.

RB

5 wc flushed this am @ Hullett, 2 in the bag. Only scattered birds still.

11 flushes in Simcoe County this morning.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps721bb7ae.jpg

Oct. 10th - in the Kawartha's my lab flushed 8 in about 2 hours of hunting. There was a full moon the night before. Will try again tomorrow.

Between Hunstville and North Bay
Oct 10 5 wc
Oct 11 0 wc
I have to conclude, they're slowly moving south...

Couple pics from today while taking a break:

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/fo...ictureid=46939

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/fo...ictureid=46938

October 11, Elmira area. Good spot every year. Zero flushes.

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Originally Posted by Ontdon

I sure hope, whoever, is utilizing the wonderful resource we have in Hullet, are also taking the time to support Hullet, by ,buying a ticket which keeps the pheasant program viable. No financial support, no pheasant release.
Just judging by what I have read here so far,that is a lot of people with no decent place to hunt.

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Don't get me wrong I'm all for supporting Hullet however its getting a little much. Almost as bad as watching wild TV. Can we cool it with all the post for donations spam?
Now for the report for which this thread was meant for. Was out yesterday full of anticipation that my patience would be rewarded with a bunch of plump birds. Had the morning free before thanksgiving dinner had to be home by 3. So drove up to my property east of lake Simcoe. I glanced at my bush the conditions looked excellent. Leaf coverage has thinned yet the low cover was still up. As I entered the bush my heart quickly sank. Problem.....too dry. Last year a spot where I had to wet wade to my crotch to retrieve a fallen woodcock was slightly damp. Knew I was toast yet still looked in vain for the woodcock. Dog pointed 3 grouse however couldn't complete my obligation. Don't think the migration is in full swing yet as my spot even in dry areas will always hold some migrants. Sitting at the vehicle I remembered last year on some public land near by there where some beaver ponds in the making that was worth a look. Drove over walked down the heavily used ATV trail to the beaver ponds and found what I was looking for. The beavers had slowly flooded the forest forming small puddles of damp leaf litter surround by those red branch bushes under popular trees. At which point all hell broke out. The dog went on high alert watching her I didn't see the grouse take off from a tree above my head. Befuddled thinking of all places took to be another step and a second grouse took off from the neighbouring tree. Now I'm looking up and missed the dog going on point sure enough bumped a woodcock which lands just 20 yards further up go for the reflush at which it and another depart and of course neither is hit. Took a moment to settle down then went for the closet one. At which things finally came together. A classic point, flush, shot and pickup for one in the bag leaving enough time to get home for curfew.
So in short private hunt spot 3 hour hunt flushed 3 grouse, no woodcock
Public spot 20 minute hunt flushed 2 grouse 3 woodcock, 1 in the bag
My evaluation local birds in prime habitat migrants haven't started to showup.
Hoping the up coming forecast will rehydrated my bush just in time for the migration. Weather too nice though for any big push for the next week.

Saturday a.m. East of London. Zero flushes. Try again next wkn:)

Attachment 26900

Oct 12th Kawartha's - lab moved about 12 Woodcock in about 2 1/2 of hunting. Colours were great and the weather was perfect. These days don't last long. Gun is a 20 ga Ithaca SKS model 200E .... perfect bird gun.

Niagara West, +9 deg C, 7:30am
Short 1hr hike in 2 small wood lots, moved 5 got one (small).
Great post everyone, keep them coming.

Today at Hullett again, same spots as before, put up six. Didn't hit a one....

Seems there are a few migrants trickling in.

Barrie
8-10 am
first hour - 0 (sorry, guys)
second hour - about 10 flushes (2-3 repeats for sure :( )

Northeast Muskoka yesterday. No migrant birds yet. 2 flushes, got 1.

Head out a few hunts each week since opener with few birds flushed. This weeks quick hunt around Guelph/Kitchener area produced 7 grouse an 4 woodcock flushed in two hours. Seems to be a few birds coming down in this area , but last year by the end of October we would be putting up 20-30 woodcock off the same property. So migrants still aren't around in full numbers I'd say

So the plan was simple Go out first thing this morning shoot 1 of the turkeys I saw in the field Sunday than head off to parts unknown to find water and woodcock. The execution not so good. Never hunted fall turkey so set up like the spring. Placed my hen decoy 5 yards infront of me and waited for legal. First light heard 2 kee kees and figured the birds where near. Bit of an understatement as within minutes had 15 birds at my feet. Looked them over and they looked like hens to me. Not that I was looking for a tom but really want a decent jake. Looked them over for about 10 minutes deciding which 1 too take all the while they where getting more and more nervous. Lined up the shot and missed.. not to make excuses but subconsciously I think I really didn't want any of them. After that decided rather go look for woodcock. Treck to the furthest parts of the bush to find where the water went. Finally found it. The beavers have made a new 4 foot dam on the top end of the property drying me out. Looked around and found a birdy looking area when all of a sudden looking down I said "holy crap look at all the splat" at which point I failed to notice the dogs bell went quite. 5-6 woodcock exploded out. Was able to get 2 on the reflush. Then a little cat and mouse point put up a grouse which I managed to seal the deal. Dropped off the dog, gun, and birds at the jeep to gather some mushrooms I saw earlier to round out the meal. Of course while I was picking the 'shrooms don't I see a snowshoe only feet from me. All I could do was throw a mushroom at him and said next time.
The 2 birds I got 1 was a female perfect little butter ball, the other a male nice but not so fat.

Nice birds the two small ones look like Quall.

Nice job. Nothing like wild mushrooms to go with wild game

Nick

My luck wasn't that good today....Walked about 7 hours in the swamps of Copeland Forest. Got rained on a bit too. Ended up in a beaver pond and got totally soaked... The puppy sure got a work-out.
Flushed one woodcock, No shot.
Flushed one grouse. No shot.
We are both totally pooped now....

Spent a couple hours on monday walking the edges of a few 2-3 year old cuts. Pushed up 8 woodcock and a couple grouse in about 3 hours. A couple of clean misses on two woodcock and no shots on anything else.

It's my first year targeting them specifically and my first year in the area, so I don't know how this compares... Lake Temiskaming area...

Out for an hour today and flushed 5, shot at 3 and only hit 1. Barrie area.

Pheasant hunting today at Fingal Marsh & flushed one out of a soggy bean field beside a ditch ... that's definitely a migrant. Otherwise, mosquitoes kept me out of the heavy cover....

Now, I know you're thinking, "Fingal ain't a marsh" ... well, it was this morning....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by welsh

Pheasant hunting today at Fingal Marsh & flushed one out of a soggy bean field beside a ditch ... that's definitely a migrant. Otherwise, mosquitoes kept me out of the heavy cover....

Now, I know you're thinking, "Fingal ain't a marsh" ... well, it was this morning....

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I was swatting those damned mosquitos myself this morning. You would think half way through October we would be done with those !!!!!

I heard on the news this morning the fall is supposed to be a warm one. :)

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Originally Posted by ninepointer

11 flushes in Simcoe County this morning.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps721bb7ae.jpg

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My return on Monday to cover different ground in the same general area offered only 2 flushes, 1 spent shell and no downed birds.

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Originally Posted by terrym

I was swatting those damned mosquitos myself this morning. You would think half way through October we would be done with those !!!!!

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LOL try sitting for turkey might just invest in a thermocell. Figured the frost 2 days earlier would of got rid of them left the muskol in the jeep.

14 woodcock this morning. They are moving locally. No migrants yet.

5 or 6 birds in the slow drizzle this evening. Out for about an hour. No connections.

along the Thames in London to day

Hunted the same bush as I did on Wednesday this morning for an hour and 0 encounters and no chalk found. Flushed 5 there on Wednesday. Barrie area.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by terrym

Hunted the same bush as I did on Wednesday this morning for an hour and 0 encounters and no chalk found. Flushed 5 there on Wednesday. Barrie area.

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It's the calm before the storm my friend ... I am guessing by next week the bush will hopefully be full.

Lorenzo

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lor79

It's the calm before the storm my friend ... I am guessing by next week the bush will hopefully be full.

Lorenzo

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And I plan on making it difficult for those plump little doodles to just sit there....

Flight birds are coming in. 18 flushes this morning (only a couple of repeats) and a limit in the bag.

Should be in full swing by next week....

Excellent. I am getting out Monday morning and Wednesday morning.

I will be out tomorrow with my brother at Hullett. :)

New spot near Elmira. looks great. One and a half hours Saturday afternoon, one bird, three flushes.

Out for a couple hours today. Flushed a couple grouse and saw one timberdoodle. He was walking ahead of me. I'd take a step, he'd take a step. Took my eyes off him for a second and poof, he was gone. No flush, just gone. Stomped around hoping for a flush, but no luck.

One bush run, 50min walk.
2 flushes, 2 shots, 2 birds.
Threat of rain in the past 2 weeks resulted in very little rain fall, bushes are drying out a bit.
WMU 87

Attachment 27042

RB

Went 2 for 9 east of London. Hoping to lay the hammer down this wkn.

North winds forecast this week ... I'm optimistic. :)

6 wc and 3 ruffs today, brought home one grouse. I think the rain was muffling the sound of the flushes i couldn't seem to get on them fast enough today.

Near lafontaine 76c went 2/9 on Saturday. Officially my first ever kill, started hunting this year.
How late in the year can I expect to see woodcock around southern gbay?

Attachment 27050
Sunday Oct 19, 2014 Kawartha's - moved 7 in about 1 1/2 hours. Harvested 2. The books all say woodcock hold tight....not so with a flushing dog....they run! I hope this magical time holds.

Moved 7 wc and a ruff in about 2 hours as well as a cottontail. 1 wc in the bag. Kawarthas.

Based on last week's success I went south of 401 today and ... well ... that was a mistake. Jumping the gun.

1 lonely flush and no shots fired.

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Originally Posted by welsh

Based on last week's success I went south of 401 today and ... well ... that was a mistake. Jumping the gun.

1 lonely flush and no shots fired.

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How far south like fingal south? or south south?

South south ... excellent when the birds are in, but not much sign of birds this morning. I was hoping that with colder nights and north winds some birds would be coming through but it seems I was over-eager.

I must confess I moved 8 woodcock on Monday around a place that rhymes with Dingal but didn't report it till now......
I returned to said place later in the week only to find it devoid of woodcock.

Yes, I'm a bit mystified by the near-complete lack of birds this morning. The Great Woodcock is taking me down a peg, I guess. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pigeoneater5000

Put up 9 birds yesterday. Thames river area outside London. Usually only move 3 or 4 there.

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Woodcock love it along the Thames - good cover and damp. Dogs put up a few to day along the Thames too.

Looks like my bush is done for another year. A thorough sweep and no woodcock found switched gears and at least brought 3 grouse home. Think its time to head southwest to catch up with them.

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...1978d7af55.jpg

Went out this morning..... Flushed 9 woodcock. Bagged 3 and partner bagged 2.

No dog....

Last saturday with No dogs we flushed about 7 woodcock 3 were repeats but did not connect with any. Today same spot 2 woodcock flushes 1 down. Seems like we missed the bus on timing these buggers.

I don't think anyone has missed the boat yet. Checking my notes from last year I find this time last year I got 21 up in a day ... Nov 1, memorably, was 37.... We haven't had a good cold snap yet and I think there's still lots of action to come. Naturally, I'll be at work instead of out in the field. :)

I was bow hunting for deer yesterday morning south of Ottawa on some public land. I saw at least 15 woodcock, I stopped counting after a while. It made me regret going out for deer and wish I had brought a shotgun instead.

Just completed a 3 day woodcock hunting feast. 9 flushes on Friday (east of London area), Saturday 15 flushes (2 hours north of Woodstock) and this morning 7 more flushes at the same spot.

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Originally Posted by Pigeoneater5000

Just completed a 3 day woodcock hunting feast. 9 flushes on Friday (east of London area), Saturday 15 flushes (2 hours north of Woodstock) and this morning 7 more flushes at the same spot.

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Nice. How many in the bag?

zero this morning on a public spot near a town with the same name as a recent US president...without a dog

saw a pheasant that had been hit by a car and a Greek crew with a motley crew of mongrels that bagged a jackrabbit shortly after we laughed at their dogs :-)

Early morning goose hunt on saturday, we could hear them flying by us just before daylight. Switched over to woodcock around 10 am. flushed 10 got one, near Penetang. no dog. just some aggressive walking.

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Originally Posted by Rossano Russo

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...1978d7af55.jpg

Went out this morning..... Flushed 9 woodcock. Bagged 3 and partner bagged 2.

No dog....

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,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Beautiful picture!

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Originally Posted by Sharon

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Beautiful picture!

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Thanks. iphone photo

Worked dogs in some thickets out of our backyard today. A pudelpointer puppy I'm working got on 4 woodcock, was progressively stauncher on each and finished with a nice rock solid point. It was a blank pistol workout. Took a young setter out after for a quickie, 2 points 1 bird down. It typically gets stronger here in Niagara after Halloween. Couple that with it being a warm fall; would say the best is yet to come.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ps78a224bb.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ps84217798.jpg

Great looking Setter. How old is it?

Thank you he's 13 months.

Hey guys are the woodcock still around or have i missed everything? I'll be back in the country Thursday so was hoping to get the dog out on the weekend.

You should still be able to get some if you head south on Friday or Saturday.

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Originally Posted by Salmonid

You should still be able to get some if you head south on Friday or Saturday.

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How far south? Do you mean Southwestern Ontario? Niagara?

We flushed one while hunting grouse near deep river last weekend. First one I have seen up there but its only been two years hunting there now.

I was south of Bancroft again on Saturday October 25.
My puppy worked very hard but we flushed no birds of any kind.
Saw two blue jays and one woodpecker...

2 flushes in 87 this morning, bagged one. Solo trip, no dog, 1.25hrs of walking.

RB

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Originally Posted by trkyhntr21

I must confess I moved 8 woodcock on Monday around a place that rhymes with Dingal but didn't report it till now......
I returned to said place later in the week only to find it devoid of woodcock.

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0 for 5 this morning, sans repeats. Little room to swing a cat. Only shot at one.

Still seems very warm for late October.

Welsh what's your thoughts on the migration so far?

My guess is that it's not really in full swing ... a slow trickle rather than a flood. But my guesses are often out to lunch on these things. :)

I agree Welsh, it has been a slow trickle as opposed to last year's flood migration. I had a few days last year where I flushed 30-40 birds south of midland ... This year it has only been a few birds here and there (same bush). Hopefully we have a few more days to go before it's over North of Barrie.
Lorenzo

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Salmonid

You should still be able to get some if you head south on Friday or Saturday.

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I live in Belleville so I'm fairly south. Also hunt in Prince Edward County which is even further south

I concur with the slow trickle, I have hunted a couple evenings and have not seen any flights of birds coming in. Usually you will see flights coming into my spot where I hunt. I do however find birds though but not in the great numbers like in the past couple seasons. Chalk Marks are seldom but when you find them get ready.

Barrie area today: 1.75 hours, 3 flushes, 1 in the bag.

Just north of Barrie today ... Saw one bird in 2 hrs. Dog pointed nicely and dropped it with two shots.

What time of morning do you guys get the most contacts? I don't go out for grouse till 10am because i generally don't get many contacts till 11. However don't see many woodcock. Should i be out earlier?

I'm not sure time of day makes a big difference. The birds are more active at dawn and dusk but since they don't go to roost & don't need grit for the gizzard, they're always on the ground in the thickets where the dog can find them.

I go out at first light, but that's because I like to be in the woods at first light. Fact is, I get them throughout the whole day.

I second that. Anytime for them. But I on the other hand like the dusk hunt as you get to watch flights come into where you are hunting if you are hunting a regular flight location. But I have been successful whenever.

Lots of rain and not many birds this morning. The dog flushed 1 grouse and 1 woodcock, both escaped unscathed. The woodcock looked to be a good size, perhaps a local bird.

Good job Cass.
Hens tend to be a little bigger from what I've been told, I put one up in Michigan that looked like a football with wings.

The always look bigger when in flight than they do when you knock em down. Tough bird to hunt alone. I usually miss way more birds when alone. Really tough to flush and shoot when you are plodding through a hawthorn thicket.

Got into some tired birds today 5 around Exeter.

Kitchener area. 10 flushes (2-3 reflushes), 2 shots, 2 dead.

South western, shot 5, ran out of shells. 9 flushes, had a good day, got lucky
http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/s...3/IMGP6999.jpg

Awesome
Hope you enjoyed and am sure the dog did

I have more shells lol

Got 3 out of 5 woodcock today in the wingham area.

Still some birds coming through, too bad the controlled hunt's gonna mess things up next week :). 3 hens , 2 cocks and a grouse today, mid SW Ontario close to the lake. No cold weather for awhile after tomorrow, the trickle may continue for awhile yet.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...ps0e55a1f7.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...ps9657725a.jpg

also a fan from Tuesday with some white in it I haven't seen before

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...psd7ace670.jpg

cool hat, doc

1 flushed North of 401. 0 shots fired lol

Supposed to be on call but the client finished up early so I had the morning before having to get on a conference call....

Hunted 2 spots in Norfolk Co. W/C found only in one spot, all birds flushed from one band of tight cover. Four flushed from there.

If the flight is in I can expect double digits in these spots yet all the birds were clustered in one area and most of the cover was blank. With cold weather and north winds I was hoping for fast action. But I can't complain: shot 3 of 4, which has to be my best shooting percentage on woodcock, plus a bonus pheasant.

Starting to suspect the numbers are way down this year.

I've never seen so many

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sidelock

Starting to suspect the numbers are way down this year.

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Just a slow gated migration this year. Took the dog for a walk by my place put up three. Regretted not going out today. With control hunt starting tomorrow think its done for this year. Oh well still ducks and geese around.

Saturday. 2 hours north of Woodstock. 8 flushes. 6 in the bag.

That's great shooting

Quote:

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Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

Just a slow gated migration this year. Took the dog for a walk by my place put up three. Regretted not going out today. With control hunt starting tomorrow think its done for this year. Oh well still ducks and geese around.

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3 in vaughan? Really?

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Originally Posted by vom Dufenshmirtz

cool hat, doc

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Yeah, I put that in there for my friends who hum the "Indiana Jones" theme whenever I wear it. Was hunting by myself and had a blaze jacket so figured I was safe.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pigeoneater5000

Saturday. 2 hours north of Woodstock. 8 flushes. 6 in the bag.

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Nice shooting. 2 hrs north of Woodstock ... still plenty of birds to trickle down I think.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by welsh

Nice shooting. 2 hrs north of Woodstock ... still plenty of birds to trickle down I think.

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Thanks but it makes up for many I missed the wkn before. I'm thinking there is at least one more good wkn left...i hope anyway lol

I checked the park again today, 3 wc in the same spot, they're still here...

We raised about 15 over the weekend near Penetang. shot 2. i know, i know, not that great. We hunted once at dusk when we saw most of them and they were very skittish. they were jumping well ahead of us. maybe someone had been there earlier and the birds were just a bit skittish. We hunt an area with a lot of mushroom pickers. forget about ever shooting a grouse where we are, they are so used to hearing people in the bush, they fly away when your approaching at 50 yards, dog or no dog. back at it this weekend.

kris

Weekend being fri-sat, no hunting sunday.

Four flushed this morning, two in the bag. Another bonus pheasant. :)

Disappointing numbers on the woodcock. They really are spotty south of 401.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by welsh

Four flushed this morning, two in the bag. Another bonus pheasant. :)Disappointing numbers on the woodcock. They really are spotty south of 401.

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Where you able to determine if the ones you bagged were males or females?

Well, bill length was roughly equal to a Canadian $20, which is slightly wider than a US $1, so they look like females.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mount Sweetness

I've never seen so many

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Sounds like an isolated experience judging by the majority of the comments posted in this thirteen page long thread. I've been out a few times and have never seen so few, granted I don't hunt during deer week.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sidelock

Sounds like an isolated experience judging by the majority of the comments posted in this thirteen page long thread. I've been out a few times and have never seen so few, granted I don't hunt during deer week.

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Its the curse or blessing of hunting woodcock. Big numbers often result in a big push in the migration resulting in a shorter season. With a long fall we are having its a unpressured migration resulting in fewer birds per outing yet a longer season. The best day for numbers I can remember was told too me by my father. Was a thanksgiving weekend and at the end of the hunt they had a 4 man limit of woodcock. Heck the cops even showed up because they got reports that it was like the forth of july. The following weekend not a bird to be found season over. This year pretty much every outing produced a few birds and I'm sure If you went out you would still find birds around.

This year, I have found less than half the number of birds I found last season, and by this point last year my season was essentially over. The difference was than in the last week of October last year we were having double digit numbers ... check last year's woodcock discussions here and you will find people flushing 20, 30, even 40 birds in a morning. The following week I recorded my last woodcock of the season, just two birds in a day. Some years you're still seeing birds in December.

Was out yesterday north of Barrie and didn't put up any. Defintely not a great year for me, probably the lowest numbers I've seen in about 12 years or so. As stated by others, end of October last year was great, 30-40 flushes in one day ... they all migrated at the same time. Funny enough, walking into my building at work today, (Mississauga), I saw a dead one on the floor that must have hit the building!

Did you eat it lol?

Some people are recording a lot of plushies still and I am wondering if they just have not moved locations but still in the area and hence why you did not see any where near the numbers you did last year?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by welsh

This year, I have found less than half the number of birds I found last season, and by this point last year my season was essentially over. The difference was than in the last week of October last year we were having double digit numbers ... check last year's woodcock discussions here and you will find people flushing 20, 30, even 40 birds in a morning. The following week I recorded my last woodcock of the season, just two birds in a day. Some years you're still seeing birds in December.

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I concur with the low numbers this year.

my season was screwed by travel and bad cold, the dog pointed one bird today in the local park

At least you don't have to travel far for a point I'd love to get pup exposed to them close to home

Quote:

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Originally Posted by joe16

At least you don't have to travel far for a point I'd love to get pup exposed to them close to home

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where's home joe? During the migration at some point they should be close too home.

Bolton

should be able to find them around Bolton.

Have looked
I used to but even some locals on this forum haven't found any

You are in Vaughan?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by joe16

Have looked
I used to but even some locals on this forum haven't found any

You are in Vaughan?

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Yes. Have the remnants of a bush lot around my place. Each spring and fall during the migration will find some birds here and there. Of course its not hunting but its nice to see the dog work and mark the passage of the seasons.

Yes exactly what I'd want for the new pup

So took the dog for a walk and found 1 woodcock. the trickle must be down to a drip by now.

Still good for your backyard

Nothing around Penetang this weekend. Searched in my usual spots that always produce birds. I will try again next weekend.

Krawler With this snow the woodcock most certainly have left Penetang. You may find grouse but like the woodcock you'll have to head way south too catch up with them.....if they are still on this side of the border.

No snow yet down here but I didn't get out this weekend. Some snow in the forecast this week ... we'll see how I do....

Today-2 hours north of Woodstock. Very light dusting of snow. But ground was not frozen. 0 flushes, 0 signs of chalk. Equals 0 woodcock.

None along the Thames near me yesterday.

Nov 8 - Kawartha's. Hunted 2 hours no flushes.....there was about an inch or more of snow. Dog flushed a snowshoe hare, so at least I got supper.

I was deer hunting just south of Belmont last week and saw two birds flying right at first light.

Nov 11 - 45 mins east of London. Zero flushes. Hopefully the birds are waiting for me on pelee island. I know in previous years I was able to harvest a few during the pheasant clean up hunt.

I should of also noted that there was zero sign. No chalk anywhere.

Found a few today round trip 420 km. 7 flushes 4 in the bag. There's still hope they are out there. In case you are starting to forget what they look like.
Attachment 27329
story on following thread.

Thanks for that fff.
Gives us some hope yet, seeing what you have posted.
My last outing was November 6. Saw no chalk, no birds and fired no shots....
Maybe I will go out one more time, since I have not gone for deer at all.

Nice work... South I assume

South southwest

Glad you had some success FFF. We'll see what I turn up the next couple of days.

Congrats worth the drive for sure

Seven woodcock flushes this morning, so we still have birds down here in the deep south. I was finding birds in more places than in past weeks.

Of those seven, I shot precisely zero -- most I didn't get a shot at. The one I thought I had for sure was saved by a tree that jumped up and grabbed my gun barrel. Trees can be jerks that way.

Glad you had good time.

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Trees can be jerks that way.

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Since this season and the thread are slowing down, allow me to share this tree photo from last year
http://www.munsterlander.ca/uploads/...05678_orig.jpg

LOL What were you shooting to knock that thick thing off? If you were shooting at a woodcock there wouldn't have been anything left. LOL

LOL. Did one of those last year. Didn't even see the tree until it fell.

You guys realize that you need a permit to harvest timber on crown lands right? Apparently they are now also subject to a $2.00 fee................:ninja:

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Originally Posted by terrym

You guys realize that you need a permit to harvest timber on crown lands right? Apparently they are now also subject to a $2.00 fee................:ninja:

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Count this one as my Christmas tree, Terry, everyone allowed one off the crown land.

Sharon, I was shooting at a wc, which was some distance away, but that tree, may it be damned, jumped in the line of fire, so it sacrificed itself to protect the little birdie and since it was pretty close to the gun and it perfectly centered itself on the trajectory ...
we see what we see

Eleven flushes this morning, but lots were repeats. Shot five of what was probably six or seven birds ... conveniently, I have just five wing envelopes left. :)

Did not bother sexing the birds but the first two I shot were immature, based on mottling of wing feathers 15 - 18. The first bird was quite small. Seems odd, as usually the immature birds migrate early.

Oh, and a couple of ditch chickens in the bag.
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...113_125243.jpg

I'm not really very good at finding birds, but MNR's new "Label the Habitat" program sure helps. Now I know just where to look! Your $2 fee on every licence and tag will soon pay for signs all over the province.
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...113_080326.jpg

I have never seen no signs where have they started to put them up? And obviously they are correct based on your results

I'm joking, Joe. It's an interpretive sign on a trail at the Fingal Wildlife Management Area.

Ok I'm gullible enough to have believed you

All I need now is the arrows pointing right to where the Woodcock are sitting

Good shooting by the way

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Originally Posted by joe16

Ok I'm gullible enough to have believed you

All I need now is the arrows pointing right to where the Woodcock are sitting

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Gees Joe that's what your dog is for.

Yeah but signs help

Is there a Township license or ofah membership required to hunt Fingal pheasants?

Have you been there For?

No township license required. Don't know about ofah but always good to have it anyway. Investigated the area last year was not an area I would readily hunt again. Found it quite a small area to hunt and the hedge rows are a nightmare of wild rose and thorn tears up dogs bad. Yet it is productive on the right days.

"I'm not really very good at finding birds, but MNR's new "Label the Habitat" program sure helps. Now I know just where to look! Your $2 fee on every licence and tag will soon pay for signs all over the province." quote Welsh

Very funny! LOL

Good job welsh! Lots of guys on pelee for the clean up hunt. We connected on one woodcock today. Pretty cool to see woodcock in the snow:)

Apparently southwest is best for doves, pheasants and woodcock. Maybe I should move....?

"No township license required... for Fingal. Don't know about ofah but always good to have it anyway. Investigated the area last year was not an area I would readily hunt again. Found it quite a small area to hunt and the hedge rows are a nightmare of wild rose and thorn tears up dogs bad. Yet it is productive on the right days. " quote FFF
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Exactly . PLus if there are many hunters there I don't feel it's safe - too small.





edited for a missing word

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Originally Posted by Sharon

Exactly . PLus if there are many hunters there I don't it's safe - too small.

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The problem at Fingal is that there are more parking spots than there is huntable cover. This is compounded by the fact that the release schedule has become well known. A number of people who hunt there regularly are more concerned with shooting birds than with staying safe ... you get the kind of BS you see on popular steelhead rivers (deliberate crowding, cutting people off, etc.), but with loaded shotguns. It's pretty stupid to risk a fatal accident over an undersized chicken, but that's human nature for ya.

On the other hand, I was the only person there yesterday. I had the entire area to myself, all morning.

There's some dandy woodcock cover, too. It's a good place to find a few late-season birds.

Another woodcock flush on pelee today. Some crazy weather down here. Snow and wind. Makes hunting a whole lot funnier!

Just back from deer hunting! Didn't see a single deer but the grouse were sure out and about, never seen so many - should've taken the shotgun. Any doodles still around?

Whereabouts were you

Do you think there is any chance we will find a couple around the Elmira area?

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Originally Posted by northernympher

Do you think there is any chance we will find a couple around the Elmira area?

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There is always hope....but I would aim further south

Got 2 woodcock today just a little south of London, seems the pickings are getting slim. The ground was partially frozen in the morning, not good for woodcock.

Multiple flushes today down on pelee island.

How is the clean up hunt?

Clean up hunt was good. We have a rooster only rule in our group so it makes it More challenging to obtain our limit. There was A LOT of hunters then in previous years.

Yes. And a lot of dead birds left to waste in places where downed birds would have been easy to find. I think there's a lot of guys that just shoot them and leave them after they get their limit...jerks

I bet there were all kinds of cripples as well. Yes? Were there plenty of points where the bird then wouldn't flush?

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Originally Posted by Mount Sweetness

I bet there were all kinds of cripples as well. Yes? Were there plenty of points where the bird then wouldn't flush?

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I think more like guys blasting them out of the sky and leaving them....I found a lot of birds shot up bad and just left....they didn't look like they died from a crippling shot.

Yes a lot of runners with no flush

Hey! I thought this was a woodcock thread! You know, little brown bird, big long bill? :silly:

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Originally Posted by BSP1

Yes. And a lot of dead birds left to waste in places where downed birds would have been easy to find. I think there's a lot of guys that just shoot them and leave them after they get their limit...jerks

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I've found this recently at Fingal. Birds released Tuesday, on Wednesday after the crowds cleared I ran my dog along a hedgerow & she deked in and made a hard flush on a hen with no head. That bird was freshly dead & still warm ... she knows the difference & won't go in to flush a carcass. It was right at the edge, where even the most incompetent dog could have found it. And no predator in the world eats the head and leaves the body intact. But a close shot will take the head clean off a pheasant....

Found two dead hens along that hedgerow, right at the edge. I'm betting guys shoot the hens and then trade up for roosters. It's asinine.

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Originally Posted by welsh

Hey! I thought this was a woodcock thread! You know, little brown bird, big long bill? :silly:



I've found this recently at Fingal. Birds released Tuesday, on Wednesday after the crowds cleared I ran my dog along a hedgerow & she deked in and made a hard flush on a hen with no head. That bird was freshly dead & still warm ... she knows the difference & won't go in to flush a carcass. It was right at the edge, where even the most incompetent dog could have found it. And no predator in the world eats the head and leaves the body intact. But a close shot will take the head clean off a pheasant....

Found two dead hens along that hedgerow, right at the edge. I'm betting guys shoot the hens and then trade up for roosters. It's asinine.

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Yes I know. Sorry... But I didn't start the comments on the clean up hunt! :)

In regards to woodcock on pelee.... Guys claim to have flushed some... But I never saw any

Owls and hawks eat the heads first. Watched a Redtail eat a head of a rooster a couple years back and just leave the rest. Climbed out of my stand and took the bird home.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by welsh

Hey! I thought this was a woodcock thread! You know, little brown bird, big long bill? :silly:



I've found this recently at Fingal. Birds released Tuesday, on Wednesday after the crowds cleared I ran my dog along a hedgerow & she deked in and made a hard flush on a hen with no head. That bird was freshly dead & still warm ... she knows the difference & won't go in to flush a carcass. It was right at the edge, where even the most incompetent dog could have found it. And no predator in the world eats the head and leaves the body intact. But a close shot will take the head clean off a pheasant....

Found two dead hens along that hedgerow, right at the edge. I'm betting guys shoot the hens and then trade up for roosters. It's asinine.

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On pelee there were more rooster found dead then hens.... So I bet it was guys limiting out and just shooting

Sorry I didn't mean to hijack the thread. The woodcock cover on Pelee is great. To be honest I am surprised we didn't flush more...but again we were there for pheasants not woodcock.

I'm pretty sure nobody's still hunting woodcock anyway. Maybe them snowshoe woodcock. ;)

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Originally Posted by BSP1

Yes. And a lot of dead birds left to waste in places where downed birds would have been easy to find. I think there's a lot of guys that just shoot them and leave them after they get their limit...jerks

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by welsh

Found two dead hens along that hedgerow, right at the edge. I'm betting guys shoot the hens and then trade up for roosters. It's asinine.

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These comments shocked me! I guess I am naive, I had no idea any hunter would do such a thing. Maybe the very odd jerk, but from what you guys are saying, this is not a rare, once in a blue moon occurrence, but somewhat common place. Very very sad.

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Originally Posted by NorthernGrouse

These comments shocked me! I guess I am naive, I had no idea any hunter would do such a thing. Maybe the very odd jerk, but from what you guys are saying, this is not a rare, once in a blue moon occurrence, but somewhat common place. Very very sad.

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Being this thread is essentially dead will stray from the topic with a story of my own. Few years back on a whim down to Darlinton for a duck hunt. If you haven't hunted Darlington its a managed duck hunt at numbered blinds supervised by an attendant where you have to register with ID prior too the hunt and check out after the hunt including a creel count of what was taken. Not knowing which stake to hunt ask the attendant which one I should try. He pointed one out stating it was hot the previous day since the 2 guys limited out on mallards. Ended the morning hunt with 2 geese but could of shot a limit of magansers. As I was picking up the decoys glanced back under the blind and noticed something stashed under it. Turned out to be 2 magansers form the previous days hunt. Packed them into the boat and made for the check station. After confirming with the attendant that indeed the previous occupants checked out with a limit of mallards showed him the 2 magansers. The attendant was pissed. Now the point of this story is if 2 guys would dump a couple of birds to upgrade in an area that's highly checked and you even left your name and contact info just imagine whats done when no ones looking.