Woodcock; what a wonderful bird!

[terrym]

My strangest woodcock encounter was last year. My dog pinned one and I walked up to it from the other direction. The crazy litte bugger ran around in circles between me and the dog and wouldn't flush. Both the the dog and myself were baffled and when it did finally flush the little bugger went straight above the dog by inches and I couldn't take the shot. Gotta love woodcock.

[Cass]

Great sight!

One that sticks in my mind is the woodcock, flushed by my partner, that hovered in mid-air like a hummingbird right in front of me for a good 4-5 seconds. I should have had a butterfly net.

They are a funny bird. This year while out with a buddy we were walking along a trail that had a bank on the one side of it. The dog started getting birdy and began running up and down the hill. When my friend and I walked over to watch him, the dog came up and flushed the bird 3 feet from my buddy's foot! It flew up between the 2 of us and almost hit me in the face. I could've caught it in the air with my hat if wasn't in complete shock. They are one crazy little bird.

[ninepointer]

I must say that to some extent guys like me have been misled by the woodcock hunting establishment. I was partly lulled by images of finely dressed hunters looking very distinguished as they swing in perfect form on woodcock rising from beside a field stone wall along the edge of a postcard-like meadow.

My reality is leaky rubber boots (they didn't leak when I left the truck) as I skirt swamps and force my way (sometimes backwards) through alder jungles, only to have woodcock flush while I am: (A) standing on one leg as a I clamber over some tangle; (B) bent over trying to crawl under a deadfall; (C) blinking as my face stings from the branch that just slapped it; or (D) all of the above.

[terrym]

I must say that to some extent guys like me have been misled by the woodcock hunting establishment. I was partly lulled by images of finely dressed hunters looking very distinguished as they swing in perfect form on woodcock rising from beside a field stone wall along the edge of a postcard-like meadow.

My reality is leaky rubber boots (they didn't leak when I left the truck) as I skirt swamps and force my way (sometimes backwards) through alder jungles, only to have woodcock flush while I am: (A) standing on one leg as a I clamber over some tangle; (B) bent over trying to crawl under a deadfall; (C) blinking as my face stings from the branch that just slapped it; or (D) all of the above.

Yeah I don't know too many who wear the tweeds while woodcock hunting. If you're not bleeding and scratched up after crawling through the damned jungle like cover they love then you didn't try enough.....

[mark_t1012001]

I have 8 in the freezer, all seasoned with a 20 ga. sxs, just waiting for their date with the stove or oven.

[terrym]

I have 8 in the freezer, all seasoned with a 20 ga. sxs, just waiting for their date with the stove or oven.

Nice little gun that Sxs of yours. If you want another there is a used one at Accuracy Plus in Pereborough.

[GrouseGuy]

I have hunted these great birds in Ontario, Michigan, Minnesota and Louisiana. They have provided many fine memories of fall foliage, amazing dogwork, and adrenalin filled flushes.

DLWoodcock2CloseUpc.jpgDLPoplarGroveAmericanWoodcock2000Full500c.jpg

[huntervinni]

Guys your wasting your time chasing these little birds....there is hardly any meat on them. You have to buy shotgun shells by the cases just to hunt them. No boots or hunting clothing usually hold up when busting through wet brush.

Trust me not worth the effort!

[Pointersrule]

I must say that to some extent guys like me have been misled by the woodcock hunting establishment. I was partly lulled by images of finely dressed hunters looking very distinguished as they swing in perfect form on woodcock rising from beside a field stone wall along the edge of a postcard-like meadow.

My reality is leaky rubber boots (they didn't leak when I left the truck) as I skirt swamps and force my way (sometimes backwards) through alder jungles, only to have woodcock flush while I am: (A) standing on one leg as a I clamber over some tangle; (B) bent over trying to crawl under a deadfall; (C) blinking as my face stings from the branch that just slapped it; or (D) all of the above.

Ahhh Ninepointer...you know how to get me out of Hibernation...I owe you an Apology and maybe a PM or 2....sorry but there have been some personal S**** going on......you can have all that in your post above, you just need the right Dog I promise you this upcomming fall to get you out with me....this past one came and went too fast and I always try to get out with as many folks as I can but Life usually throws slight curve balls at you and sometimes you swing and Miss!! My Signature says it all about this fascinating Creature.....Ninepointer, the Pic below is the description of your post...oh and if you want good Rubber Boots for chasing "Doodles" get a pair of le Chameux....and for a Dog...A Pointer or a Setter would be Bliss...just kidding! Great Post

[ninepointer]

PR, Any longer before you took the bait and we would have really started to worry about you! A truly great pic, but those dogs are obviously on some dry land sub-species of woodcock. The ones I'd been hunting will probably soon evolve to have webbed feet.

Thanks for all your tips and encouragement. October for me used to be all about deer; now I'm already day dreaming about next October's flights! I've posted this pic before, but it all started with this one...