Put together to hunt American woodcock down south with these looking, habitat identification, and equipment ideas
Within the southeast, by mid-December, most hunters flip their consideration away from whitetail deer and solely concentrate on waterfowl looking. Wooden geese and Canadian geese will be discovered anyplace there’s water. Many people decoy puddle geese and divers on the coastal plains, and lakes supply nice alternatives for mallards and teal. However there may be one migratory chicken that almost all waterfowlers not often glimpse: the American woodcock.
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Woodcock arrive within the South every fall underneath the quilt of darkness. By dawn, they’re tucked away in dense cowl. Nonetheless, in case you don’t thoughts placing a number of miles in your boots beside a superb chicken canine, looking American woodcock within the southeast is a good way to get out of the blind and into the woods.
Southeastern Woodcock Habitat and Cowl
A 3rd of American woodcock’s jap inhabitants stops within the Piedmont or coastal areas of the Carolinas. If they don’t winter right here, they proceed to Florida and Louisiana.
Southeastern woodcock love pure areas Southerners normally keep away from. Briars, cane, thistles, thickets, and blowdowns are the comfy houses of those vagabonds from the Northwoods.
Coastal Areas
Within the coastal areas of the southeast, a mosaic of pine plantations covers the panorama. When looking woodcock right here, search out clearcuts lower than 5 years of age. The younger pines and native grasses present loads of cowl for woodcock to hang around in through the day, and the understory habitat is an effective touchdown space for birds coming in at evening.
Forests
In areas managed for each timber manufacturing and wildlife, stands on a two- or three-year prescribed hearth rotation foster stopover habitat and feeding grounds. Recent burns are nice locations to seek for chalk. Places with plenty of chalk are the place most migrating woodcock are touchdown. As soon as they arrive, the birds transfer into areas with a 12 months or two of progress and extra established cowl.
By the point a stand of pine timber begins to method its first thinning, the timber have acidified the soil. In these areas, the soil’s pH degree has usually been lowered a lot, it’s not appropriate for worms. In mature pine stands, woodcock want a habitat of fifty to 75 yards in width with loads of cowl adjoining to a swamp, wetland, river, or creek.
Agricultural Lands
Within the Piedmont areas and a few coastal areas the place there may be an agricultural affect or dense stands of hardwoods, search for areas of thick cowl alongside a floodplain. The hot button is to seek out soil that accommodates moisture. In the event you discover the soil, you’ll discover the worms, and woodcock received’t be far behind. Cane breaks, hedgerows, and briar thickets that partition agricultural fields from wetlands or creek bottoms are wonderful locations to hunt woodcock.
An entry into these wild and hostile locations shouldn’t be for the faint of coronary heart. With no good pointing or flushing canine, woodcock hunts typically yield unsuccessful outcomes.
Searching Southeastern Woodcock With A Canine
My favourite factor about American woodcock is how properly they maintain in cowl. Once I first began taking my Labrador Retriever into the sector with me, we marched by cowl affected by signal, solely to have birds flush behind us. They seemingly mocked us as they took to the sky. I rapidly realized that woodcock looking is likely one of the best upland video games of hide-and-seek.
Woodcock are wonderful concealers. Their mottled brown and tan feathers make them invisible on the forest flooring. Searching with out a canine can yield success when woodcock numbers are very sturdy, however chicken canines weren’t meant to be sofa potatoes. Woodcock are a gun canine’s finest pal due to their persistence to not flush. In the event you need so as to add a canine to your loved ones and help in your pursuit of woodcock, pointing breeds are very helpful within the Southeast. In case your pup can discover and level a covey of quail, they may just do nice within the woodcock woods.
Retrieving and flushing breeds additionally carry out properly whereas in the hunt for a hunkered-down timberdoodle. For retrievers and flushers, be diligent when working by thick cowl. Make a number of passes and circle again by areas the place signal is ample or the place you’ve flushed birds prior to now. Most canines appear to get the cling of it after they bump a chicken or two.
Capturing Southeastern Woodcock
You may need one of the best upland canine on the planet, however you received’t discover success until you may hit your goal. Woodcock aren’t like quail, chukar, or pheasant that flush out in entrance, veering to the left or proper earlier than fluttering again down. A woodcock flies like a harrier jet being operated by a toddler. Consequently, mastering woodcock capturing doesn’t come with out follow.
Woodcock will soar vertically, roll the wrong way up, and corkscrew mid-air by thick timber and brush. When capturing woodcock, at all times permit time for the chicken to get out in entrance of you. Bear in mind, hip photographs are extremely inaccurate, to not point out harmful. Moreover, the target is to depart the woods with some desk fare. An in depth shot would possibly assist shoot a restrict, but it surely actually received’t fill a abdomen.
Gear for Searching Woodcock within the Southeast
Southeastern winters are as erratic as a woodcock flush. It’s no shock to have climate within the 20s at first of the week, and by the weekend, it’s sunny and 75. A hunt would possibly begin with a jacket, blue denims, and a long-sleeved shirt, however you would possibly lower the sleeves off after lunch.
Put money into a superb pair of trainers and a pair of briar chaps. If the terrain is moist, pack rubber boots. In the event you plan to hunt extra upland-like areas, leather-based climbing boots are wonderful, particularly in case you’re overlaying plenty of floor. A strong compromise is a pair of L.L. Bean duck boots.
Equally, wool socks dry sooner, are extra insulated, and breathe higher than cotton socks. I do know this sounds unusual, but when your ft might get moist, put on a pair of Neoprene wading socks, like these used when fly fishing. In the event you put on Neoprene socks, you may hunt all day lengthy in a pair of waterlogged boots.
Lastly, carry extra water than anticipated, as woodcock looking is rather a lot like a day hike with a gun. In case your four-legged pal is accompanying you, carry water for them, too, until you don’t thoughts the style of slobber.
Security and Firearms
Blaze orange is a requirement when looking on public land. Nonetheless, for security causes, it must be worn no matter the place you’re looking. A blaze-colored hat and vest will suffice. The restrict on woodcock is three, so the vest shouldn’t be completely essential, however it could actually assist when toting gear for a hunter and a canine.
When choosing a gun for woodcock looking, a light-weight shotgun is most popular. For instance, I hunt southeastern woodcock with a 20 gauge over/underneath. In the event you solely have a 12 gauge pump within the gun protected, it might be a bit of heavy, however it’ll work simply nice. Relating to shot measurement, #8 or #9 shot ensures probably the most pellets down vary. In terms of choke tubes, shoot by an improved cylinder or modified.
I heard it as soon as mentioned when God created the woodcock, He simply used a bunch of leftover elements of different birds. As a Southerner, I’ve a deep affection and tenderness for leftovers, most instances the results of a big household gathering or church potluck. I share this sentiment with this little chicken; leftovers don’t imply omitted, however moderately, a carry over to be loved much more the subsequent day.
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