As a younger hunter, I took a generalist method to small sport looking. If I used to be fortunate, I’d come residence with some mixture of squirrels, rabbits, and perhaps even a ruffed grouse. Extra usually than grouse, although, I’d get a shot at a woodcock. At occasions, it appeared like there was a woodcock or two in each briar patch and brush pile throughout the highway from my home. Then, in some unspecified time in the future throughout late fall, it might get chilly sufficient for the bottom would freeze, and all of the woodcock can be gone in a single day.
Each fall and spring, the American woodcock undertakes migrations rivaling these of many waterfowl species. Within the fall, they migrate from japanese Canada and New England southward into the mid-Atlantic states earlier than ultimately winding up as far south as Louisiana. Within the spring, they return north.
Some tagged woodcock have been documented migrating practically 1,000 miles twice a yr. Particular person birds can simply cowl 150 miles in a single evening. You wouldn’t understand it by them. Mature adults have a small drab-colored physique, compact wings, and weigh simply eight ounces. Also called the timberdoodle, woodcock spend the day “doodling” round below thick overhead cowl the place they probe the bottom with their lengthy, slim beaks in quest of earthworms and bugs.
The looking season for the American woodcock begins in late September in northern states like Maine. Chilly fronts push them inexorably southward as fall progresses. In mid-October, the birds is perhaps concentrated in New York. A pair weeks later, they’ll be present in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Onerous frosts on this area will then ship the birds packing to states all through the Southeastern United States.
Discovering woodcock means discovering good woodcock habitat. Begin by on the lookout for younger forests with dense undergrowth. Zero-in on edge habitats like thick brush bordering wetlands or stands of younger saplings subsequent to extra mature forest. Mushy, moist soil is a should, too. However with out a good chicken canine, it may be troublesome to zero in on woodcocks even in good habitat.
Woodcocks are recognized for holding tight earlier than they flush. A hunter with out a chicken canine will stroll proper previous much more timberdoodles than he’ll flush. However as a result of they’re so reluctant to flush, they’re the best gamebird for pointing canines. A superb pointer permits hunters the time to work into the best capturing place earlier than releasing their canine to flush the chicken. Flushing canines can work effectively, too, as long as they work very near the shooter.
Woodcock hunters should be fast on the draw. What the woodcock lacks in appears in comparison with a drake mallard or rooster pheasant, it greater than makes up for when it comes time to drag the set off. I’ve missed far more of the little gamebirds than I’ve hit, however they’ve taught me rather a lot about quick and instinctive wingshooting.
When flushed, woodcocks rocket virtually silently, straight up out of thick cowl earlier than zigzagging out of sight. Not often do they current a transparent shot as they fly erratically by bushes and brush. Don’t hesitate—simply level and shoot.
A quick-swinging break motion 20-gauge with an open cylinder or skeet choke in a single barrel, and an improved cylinder within the different barrel is the best woodcock setup. The diminutive birds aren’t onerous to kill, both—so long as you may hit them.
All you want are cheap, low brass 2¾ shells hundreds with measurement #7½ or #8 shot. Whenever you do handle to knock a woodcock down, be sure you mark precisely the place they fell. Their plumage blends in completely with fall leaf litter. Canine which are skilled to seek out useless birds by scent will save woodcock hunters a variety of time and heartache. Even with mark and canine, discovering a downed woodcock in heavy cowl is usually an train in diligence and persistence.
However discovering them is certainly value it. Small as they’re, woodcock makes for wonderful desk fare. Plan on two to a few birds per individual. Their breast meat is darkish with a taste that resembles duck or dove. Woodcock pluck very simply, and preserving their pores and skin prevents them from drying out as they prepare dinner. Complete woodcock roasted quick and scorching to medium-rare pairs extraordinarily effectively with a balsamic glaze, fruit compote, or berry-based sauce.
