Printable View
Let's see if we have enough wc hunters to help each other this year.
This should be interesting when the migration starts
Sep 30
Newmarket area
moved 10 wc
Oct 1
Newmarket (different spot)
moved 3 wc and 2 grouse
The wc have not fat and pin feathers.
I was out for woodcock today north of Barrie 1 point and flush, but surprisingly got a second point and turned out to be a pheasant, here he ishttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...8ecaf0ff6e.jpg
Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk
Gee drop the camera and pick up the scatter gun.
Hullett today, 5 wc flushes, probably 3-4 individual birds.
Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk
Moved 3 woodcock today after a morning duck hunt managed to bag first grouse of the year in about a half hour in the bush. Cant wait to get back at it!!
Moved one incidental woodcock at Hullett yesterday. Likely could have found more but was targeting pheasants.
Did you get into any pheasants though?Quote:
Originally Posted by dilly
Five ... shot a limit.Quote:
Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers
Off-topic already. ;)
Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk
Quote:
Originally Posted by welsh
Well since the OP referenced Grouse and the 2nd post mentioned a pheasant sighting didn't think it was that far off asking how the rest of his hunt went. Figured more of an upland hunting report. Anyways will try to keep more literal posting next time.
3 wc in Muskoka Friday morning.
moved 9. We got 6 :)Quote:
Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers
Oh ok did eventuallyQuote:
Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers
Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk
none where I usually go along the Thames near London
Two woodcock flushes while duck hunting North of Caledon. They looked real skinny
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui...&sz=w1280-h918
Got one this morning just a little north of London.
I've been putting up astronomical numbers of grouse but haven't flushed a single woodcock yet in the quinte area
yeah, right ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Cass
Lol I have. This is going to be an epic year. Was out for 2 hours last weekend and put up 6. Today I was in my other main location and flushed 12 in the same amount of time. Gonna be a real bumper year I think. Just gotta start hitting them
Nothing just west of Midland, but was spotting them in the fields in the early am as we were setting up for a goose hunt.
1 WC and 4 Grouse....only knocked down the WC.
Flushed a couple while hunting grouse this weekend in the Bancroft area.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cass
Quote:
Originally Posted by vom Dufenshmirtz
I'm with Cass on this one just seen a bit more woodcock though.
Nuff said.
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/...pszkp4xt2d.jpg
Mark of a good gundog....will neither confirm or deny what actually happened.
Couple hours this morning chopping through the thick stuff and flushed 8 and bagged 5 for our first outing this season.
Oct 4
Newmarket
the same couple birds int the same places
Oct 5
Vaughan
I went to my honey hole (no shooting), put up about dozen birds in a small spot.
I gotta get out with some of you guys. I'm terrible at finding woodcock unless it's the height of the migration
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cass
Sometimes when your not finding woodcock its because they are not there. Migration will have them popping up everywhere however your local population tend to be a few scattered family groups in very particular areas. Thing is once you locate them local haunts it can become very predictable year after year. Unless its a ridiculously dry year like this one and has the birds shifting locations making finding them a bit of a challenge to relocate.
You need to expand your range. If your dog isn't moving birds they aren't there that day.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cass
Just getting back from my annual hunt trip in the north bay area.
Mon oct 3 - 24 w.c.
Tue oct 4 - 16 w.c.
Wed oct 5 - 12 w.c.
Thurs oct 6 - 21 w.c.
I hunted different areas each day. Birds were chucky and taste great.
Congrats, Pigeoneater!
Don't be a tease - did you see any grouse?
How many hours did you hunt each day, i.e. what's the flush rate per hour?
lol according to my gps I averaged 6 miles a day. I would hunt for 3-4 hours in the morning. Then 2 hours in the evening. Grouse numbers were down in this particular area. I Flushed less then a dozen. Mind you I did not hunt the logging roads as much. I was there for the woodcock.Quote:
Originally Posted by vom Dufenshmirtz
Hullet this morning, 2 for 8. No repeats.
Unlike last weekend, birds were not scattered. But some of the good coverts still came up blank.
Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk
Attachment 33551Attachment 33552Attachment 33553Huron county today, 3 for 6 on woodcock plus a bonus grouse.
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui...&sz=w1280-h869https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui...&sz=w1280-h869https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui...&sz=w1280-h869
Took the puppy out for about four hours this afternoon.
North of Barrie.
Some "chalk" observed but nothing to indicate a lot of birds.
No woodcock flushed.
Two grouse flushed out of range, none harmed.
I check the local spot in GTA daily, no flight birds yet, probably in a week.
Yesterday, one lonely bird at Hullett (though I wasn't heavy in the wc cover).
Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk
I hunt the Oro-Medonte Area, just north of Barrie. Put up 6 woodcock last Saturday, and ended up with one of the 6. Only put up 2 yesterday morning but no birds in the bag.
Thanksgiving always marks the arrival of the woodcock to my bush. This year no exception. Seems a flight just came in birds really jumpy and located in one small area I hunt. Was bit of Bozarro world hunting as the grouse seemed glued to the ground though.
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8ylowzop.jpg
On a side note thought I got a bonus grouse when I stopped for a road kill. Shocked to see a Zombie got it first :scream:. Time to start packing the Zombie loads now
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/...pspgdg6bq2.jpg
2 for 6 on grouse last Friday...no WC though.
Hunted 5 hours today with my lab. Flushed 1 woodcock and 3 grouse. Sent one payload of lead into the sky, but to no avail. The migrants aren't here yet. The good news is we might be getting some north winds next week.
1 grouse today no dog. Never happens but got called back into work after I had left so didn't want to take time running back home to get the dog again. Young bird.
I concur. Yesterday in the same area. 3 wc in weird places.Quote:
Originally Posted by ninepointer
5 grouse in 4 hours (flushed, not shot :) )
I tried the South end of Marlborough near Ottawa yesterday with my Weim. 3 hrs later two points one woodcock and one grouse and no Birds down. Lots of spent shells in the woods itself...I didn't expect a lot of birds due to the pressure it gets. Nice day for a walk at least.... on a down side I picked off 12 ticks from the dog and five from my boot laces...pile of them in there this year.
Out with Tessa this morning just south of Barrie, put up 7-8 birds and dropped three ... 2 hour hunt.
Lorenzo
Attachment 33563
Great thread gang.
Migrants yet or locals still? I don't have many locals and usually don't start seeing birds till 3rd week of October. Haven't seen any yet
Mutt and I flushed 3 while looking for grouse today. Had shots at all three, might just get a migratory permit next season. All 3 were flushed at least twice, they don't flush far and then you pretty much have to kick them to get them to flush again. Is that normal or a sign of unpressured birds?
Yes, 2nd or 3rd flushes on WC are not uncommon. Yesterday I could actually see one on the ground after the 1st flush. Naturally, I did the sporting thing and waited for my dog find him. He's still alive today! :ashamed:Quote:
Originally Posted by Rugger
Birds still up north.Was out at the cottage this weekend north of KL and was putting up WC just working around the buildings.
Went for a walk with my lab in good cover and put up 10 in less than an hr..Both male and female
Walked solo for three hours yesterday.
Northeast of Napanee.
No WC but flushed three grouse with no chance to shoot.
Everywhere I've been this year has been just too dry... :(
5-6 flushes in GTA today.
7 flushes in GTA today
dunno if it was the rain, but I had the feeling the birds were migrants...
Hit one of my best spots today after work. 5 grouse flushed, but not a single WC. I'm baffled.
i would just buy another gun. At least you would feel better.Quote:
Originally Posted by ninepointer
Spoken like a true addict ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by terrym
around Newmarket today
3 wc one spot
2 wc another
The 2 birds I shot today are too very skinny. It must have been a hard lean summer for them.
Flight birds are starting to show up at Hullett Marsh this week, it should only get better in the next couple weeks.
almost 3000 views with 55 replies, c'mon leeches, post your updates.
Yesterday, 11 flushes from 9 different birds, 4 shots fired, one bird in bag. This was with no dog. Got as soaked as you can possibly get.
What area were you in roughlyQuote:
Originally Posted by Downwind
Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk
Nothing happening around Woodstock.......
South of lake simcoeQuote:
Originally Posted by joe16
Where's the bearded girl?Quote:
Originally Posted by Downwind
------------------
Around Newmarket today.
1 wc
2 grouse
Out yesterday in Prince Edward county. Flushed first woodcock of the season (and missed). Makes me think they're starting to trickle through. I do not see local birds there ever.
Just a cover I don't run her in, due to roads close by and debris left by slobs.Quote:
Originally Posted by vom Dufenshmirtz
Flushed two with the excavator bucket today clearing an old fence bottom. Should mount the 20 boomer in the cab with me lol
Gee with work, family commitments, and rain haven't got out till today. Falls in the air birds coming down still a 50:50 mix of sexes.Quote:
Originally Posted by vom Dufenshmirtz
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/...psx6p2xtdd.jpg
Nice bag.
smartQuote:
Originally Posted by Downwind
fff, what mushrooms are those?
GTA today
6 wc
Fryers and risotto ones. Don't know the real names they are collected from hand me down info passed on from father to son.Quote:
Originally Posted by vom Dufenshmirtz
Saturday, north of Barrie. 4 WC produced 6 flushes plus 1 ESG flushed. 1 WC in the bag makes for pretty thin soup! Never would have found him without the dog. Still not getting into any numbers of birds, but its gotta be imminent.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psyfxwhfww.jpg
You seeing water in your bush? Birds found today mostly staged heavily around any puddles found in the bush.
Been following the water, but the birds flushed ranged from boot-sucking dogwood bottoms to corn-flake crunchy uplands.Quote:
Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers
You should just buy a 28g.Quote:
Originally Posted by ninepointer
Is that really the kind of thing you should say to a guy with 12's, 20's & 16's?!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by terrym
Clearly you have a gap to fill. 12-16-20-(?).Quote:
Originally Posted by ninepointer
3 flushes on Saturday after busting through 5 different properties in the Mount Forest area and only 1 in the bag.
Congrats on a successful hunt. Now if you don't mind teaching me how to take down a woodcock with a hammer and a beautiful setter I'm all ears.Quote:
Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers
0/2 just north of Barrie on Saturday then a few miles West of Midland 1/6 on Sunday. No grouse to speak of.
:silly: hammer is used to peg them to the board.Quote:
Originally Posted by huntervinni
First thanks to the originators of this thread super idea. Sunday 3 hrs 2 points 2 shots 1 WC.Quote:
Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers
I have not seen the numbers and chalk splashes.
Most action has been in cedars . Mostly females / local. Fingers crossed for this week with the rain and wind.
A couple buddies of mine moved 40+ today. They are here now in good numbers.
Numbers still steady dozen birds moved still seems even mix 2 in the bag are both hens.
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7odj9x1j.jpg
20 plus flushes within two days of hunting this past wkn. North of london. Covered almost 10 miles of cover. One tired dog. 9 birds spread along a few good buddies. Always a humbling experience when you missed more then you harvest:)
Tuesday, 1.5 hours after work. Moved 2 woodcock and 5 Evil Southern Grouse.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps63wdm76o.jpg
Looks like I'll miss the best of it this year what with work and trials. Leave some for me. ;)
Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk
Looks like a round body RBL ?Quote:
Originally Posted by ninepointer
Nothing so interesting, I'm afraid. Its actually 20ga. Ithaca SKB Model 100, which someone prior to me spent some dollars customizing: English grip stock with fancier walnut and hollowed out, CCH colours (presumably cyanide method) and the factory Ray-bar bead replaced with an ivory and brass bead, the kind of which I've never seen before. I have reason to believe the work was done in the '80's by Frank Ryan of Frontier Gun in Fonthill. Best $300 gun show purchase I've ever made! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by sidelock
Absolutely nothing wrong with that, the birds are testament it works perfectly fine. I have a moderately priced Spanish SxS that comes up as smooth and shoots as straight as an English bespoke.
October 27, 2016, Oro-Medonte. Snow started this morning. Hoping to get out after work for one more short hunt before the birds leave tonight.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps6huotc22.jpg
Awe come on give me one more day. With the weekend weather forecast is looking good, I'm thinking Friday may not be that bad. Here's hoping the fat lady hasn't sung yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by ninepointer
1 flushed today and in my usual fashion I missed it. Hoping they start coming through heavier
I only got one WC this year... October 20th near Bancroft... During the moose hunt.
Weather will be nice next week so let's be optimistic.
Newmarket area today
5 in one spot in 1 hour
3 in another in about 30 min
Barrie 2 days ago produced 1 flush in 2 hours.
Snow hasn't dampened the hunt. Moved a dozen birds 2 grouse and 3 woodcock 2 of which are hens.
8 wc in GTA today, they're moving through...
3 good points where I go along the Thames to day.
Zero woodcock today i think i need a bird dog.
two flushes in orangeville today but I was duck hunting not ready for the shot walking out
Still some woodcock up around Sudbury. Came across a few here and there while hunting this past weekend. http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...610a134a93.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...7eced64267.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...199a2ae0f2.jpg
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Nice looking dog but can't make out the breed. What is it? Feel like I'll be kicking myself when I find out.
German Shorthair.Quote:
Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Nice pics. Hope they haven't all migrated south.Quote:
Originally Posted by BSP1
Was a good day today for the almost 10 yr old Pudel. Still some birds to come through judging by the mix of hens and 'cocks. Scenting and running conditions were optimal and the leaves are getting down. Had 12 points, shot at 11 and 6 brought to bag. Close to Lake Huron, Southern Ontario
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...psudirkcko.jpg
This pic is of a bird as it fell in the dogwood
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...psp7sh2vzw.jpg
BSP1 Nice pics and good choice of gun and dog.
Be2man nice bag and dog as well.
4 for 4 today 2 hens 2 'cocks. Down to a trickle don't expect much more. Time to move.
Woke up to the disappointment of frost on the truck and contemplated going back to bed but decided to take the mutts out for a run anyhow so I brewed a fresh pot of coffee for my thermos, loaded the dogs and headed out. Left before dawn and as the sun started to crest the horizon it soon became evident a thick layer of frost blanketed the landscape. By the time I reached the first cover, the sun had risen enough to transform the frost to shimmering droplets of water and any uncertainty quickly faded and turned into optimism.
Loaded up, torched a customary cohiba and cut one of the dogs loose. After a 100 yard cast along an alder edge he swapped ends in full stride and cork screwed a woodcock. By the time I got to him he was bug eyed and trembling with intensity as I tried to kick the bird up. After an unsuccessful flushing attempt I tapped him on the head, had him relocate and he made a twenty yard beeline and pinned the bird, walked up to him kicked the bird up and knocked it down with the first barrel. Nice start I thought !
Cut him loose again but it was a good hour before we got to repeat the same scenario and having worked so hard to come up with a second bird I left him on point for a while and just watched him swell and lean into the scent before kicking the bird up and knocking it down for his final reward.
Hunted our way back to the truck, put him up and drove to another nearby cover and cut a second dog loose however it took another hour before we connected with the third bird and shortly after I called it a day and came home.
Three for three with the first two being males and the third a female and I concur, unfortunately we are very near the end of the migration however, I suspect there may be a decent number of birds stacked up along the north shores of Lake Ontario and Erie. [IMG]http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/o...031_093332.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/o...031_093321.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/o...031_112224.jpg[/IMG]
I don't hunt woodcock but have been loving this thread. Great jobs guys love the dogs and great looking little birds!
good read. I've been reading all these posts with a heavy heart this season. My Brittany is benched after TPLO surgery. Have you ever considered hunting Pelee Island for woodcock. I didn't target them when I went but there is some good looking cover and it just has to be a stopover spot?Quote:
Originally Posted by sidelock
Never been and may be worth considering but it would definitely have to be between the pheasant hunts, my dogs are big running and I wouldn't feel comfortable. Hope your dog makes a full recovery and good luck with your new acquisition, hope it turns out to be everything you envision and more.
South of 401 today, 20 flushes on probably 14 birds, including a double.
The migration isn't over here in the deep south. :)
Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk
Quote:
Originally Posted by welsh
Don't worry, I'm on my way :thumbup:
I think there's still lots to come through . I was still flushing them near the end of the season last year
I left lots of birds for you. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers
The army has a thing called "instinctive shooting," then there's the swing-through and the constant lead technique and so on. I have my own technique ... I call it "conservation shooting."
It conserves everything but ammo.
(6 in the bag.)
Zero woodcock contacts today north of Barrie ... I'm thinking they are definitely in the most southern areas of the province.
Lorenzo
6 in the bag of a dozen pointed. Went looking for them but think went too far south. Think they are still holding between here and there. Ticks real bad picked off quite a few off the girl.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lor79
Nice, good job on the woodcock finsfurfeathers! Do you treat your dog with any tick medication? I've used Advantix 2 (for both fleas and ticks) for the last three years and I've never found a tick on Tessa.
Lorenzo
Vet gave her a needle in the spring and recommended revolution in the fall
Your Vet doesn't know much about tick prevention. I use Advantix II and never get ticks. Ever. They just don't attach. Fabulous product.Quote:
Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers
Ticks weren't attached just crawling on her fur combed them out didn't want to take'em homeQuote:
Originally Posted by terrym
10 for 15 today. 3 guys, 2 dogs, 6.2 miles covered. North of london.
Seven birds today, same deep south locations as last time. A long slog with lots of unproductive cover.
Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk
Hope they hold up for a while longer with this mild weather. Don't feel comfortable being out during deer season.
Put up 4 in a little corner by a pond yesterday. Just south of the 401 in London. (Not hunting locally this week though since my dogs are deer-coloured Weimaraners!)
Heck mine is almost all white setter and I'm out of the bush too. Try to rationalize it by thinking they have just 1 week I've got almost 2 months. Thing is cold front moving in may have to rethink come Friday.Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthLinkWeims
2 woodcock flew over my tree stand together tonight at dusk, they were heading south. Have never seen 2 flying together before, 5-6' apart
found 2 yesterday in GTA, looks like the tail end of the migration
Flushed one, maybe two (I think it was the same bird) in the Bancroft area on Sunday.
3 wc today around Newmarket - they're still around.
Saw the same thing at dawn a week ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by be2man
We only moved a few on pelee this week.
Moved 3 got 2 of them. Found a hollow with about 30 splashes a few days old. Think it's time to bid them a bon voyage and safe return.
Covered a lot of ground in Huron County yesterday and moved one.