Woodcock Report

[vom Dufenshmirtz]

moved 2 around Newmarket today
and 9 in GTA yesterday
both in 1.5 hours

[ninepointer]

Today, 2 hours, 5 flushes, 2 shot at, 1 bird in the bag. Orillia area. All the birds were widely scattered, making me think they're local birds.

[Pigeoneater5000]

Hunted in minden yesterday. 3 woodcock in 2 hours. Lots of leaves up still

[ninepointer]

Hunted 3.5 hours today and moved 6 near Barrie.

[finsfurfeathers]

Birds are trickling down dozen woodcock and a few grouse moved today only 1 made it to the board.
DSCN0062 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/153457252@N02/]
Time to get serious as almost completely without pin feathers however saddle bags not fully filled out.
North wind and freezing temps for Wednesday should have the birds on the move time to call in sick I think.

[Jburl]

I think I'm finally figuring what kind of cover to look for, but I'm not sure the difference between local and flight birds.
I'm from Niagara and flushed about 10 birds and bagged 3 in about 2.5 hours of hunting.
My dog held point on the last bird of the day better than she ever has (sort of like when she's on point on a planted chucker)... so exciting!

[finsfurfeathers]

I'm not sure the difference between local and flight birds.

I've interrogated a lot of woodcock but they never have given up their home base. Really no difference between flight or locals other than the fact you'll see a steady increase in numbers until one day they are all gone. Typically when one says a flight has come in they have found a concentrated area of woodcock often though all that is seen is a forest floor washed in white splashes.

My dog held point on the last bird of the day better than she ever has (sort of like when she's on point on a planted chucker)... so exciting!

...and that's the reason ones pursues those little birds

[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.

[Cass]

If you haven't shot any over the dog it might not have made the connection. My dog flushes the odd woodcock but I think it's more but accident than anything else as I've never shot one over him. I would absolutely love to get one from someone to use for training. Now grouse on the other hand... he's a vacuum and I know if he's not finding them there aren't any to be found.

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[Eddy22]

I bet my dog only points about 1 out of 6. Not sure if there smell is different or not. She does find them and almost runs them over though.

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