The official 2016 woodcock reports thread

[BSP1]

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.


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[sidelock]

Still some woodcock up around Sudbury. Came across a few here and there while hunting this past weekend.








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Nice pics. Hope they haven't all migrated south.

[be2man]

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



This pic is of a bird as it fell in the dogwood

[fishhawk]

BSP1 Nice pics and good choice of gun and dog.

Be2man nice bag and dog as well.

[finsfurfeathers]

4 for 4 today 2 hens 2 'cocks. Down to a trickle don't expect much more. Time to move.

[sidelock]

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][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]

[trigger02]

I don't hunt woodcock but have been loving this thread. Great jobs guys love the dogs and great looking little birds!

[terrym]

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 it, 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][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]

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?

[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.

[welsh]

South of 401 today, 20 flushes on probably 14 birds, including a double.

The migration isn't over here in the deep south.

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