Woodcock Hunting

[JJK]

I've been hunting these things a bit more lately, and my pup is pointing them a bit better and not bumping as many. But I'm having trouble getting to him quick enough to get off a good shot. On my way there I hear or see them flush most of the time. He is pretty close to them when he locks up though. I kinda enjoy hunting these goofy birds.

[R. Miller]

Gotta love the Timberdoodle.

[tybo]

I love hunting the timberdoodles. I know of a few spots where there are some resident birds near me. The bonus is there are pheasant in some of the same locations. They aren't always as easy to hit as you'd think given ythe cover they live in. They are very good for the pups though. My older setter is a pro at hunting them. My 10 mo old setter is adjusting nicely to them after busting them quite a bit at 8 & 9 months old.

[brittman]

Not seeing any big concentrations of birds, but a few here and there.

Son shot his first woodcock late last week. The bird must have been a young male that just migrated in. Small, very little meat, and absolutely no fat around the breast meat. Still flew hard.

[GatorBait]

Last year, I ran into the them big time as I must have hit their prime migration through the area. I tell ya, they sure our fun and my springer loves them too. They were an absolute challenge amongst all other birds too which makes it even more better. I've ran into a few this past week, guessing that will pick up here soon though.

[JJK]

I've been seeing some really small birds, and a few monsters. I don't know how to identify the northern birds, or male/female. Seems like if I hunt a patch of cover and push'em out, that patch is not holding birds a few days to a week later. But I find them in patches that I haven't hunted. Hope they come down soon and I locate a mess of them.

[brittman]

Bigger birds are females. Smaller birds males. Length of bill provides an indication of sex too. This bird was small even for a male.

[JJK]

Thanks Britt.

Will this weather send them south?

[TylerS]

In all the years hunting around Chisholm, I've yet to see a timberdoodle. My dad has one mounted from back in the late 70s, but he didn't even shoot it, his bro did. I'm hoping that, since we now have a dog, we'll actually find some.

Something for my bucket list, anyway!

[Ferny]

We hit a spot during MEA weekend that was thick with them. 3 of us and a dog put up 13 and actually hit 3. Amazing how hard to find on the ground after shot without a dog. I usually bump a few during grouse hunting but let them go since I don't care for them. Guy at work says they're tremendous baked on a bed of apples so we took a few to try it out. The good note is the dog had never seen them before and we actually got some points and 2 hand retrieves. The dog sure didn't care for them though.

What a great day it was.

Ferny.

[JJK]

Hunted today for 2 hrs and moved 9. 3 wild flushes, 3 bumped and 3 pointed. First pointed bird got lucky, one miss then my gun jams. The second one I barley saw, bell stopped and I'm headed that way then his bell starts again and I just watch it fly away for a second. His third point was really nice, he's super hot then slam as he is turning. I start busting brush and get about 10 yds from him. Then 2 of them flush he starts to chase the one that flew right , and the other flies in my direction to the left. 2 shots and it goes down. I call him back and get to the area of the fall. He's searching and all amped up, then locks solid. I see the little doodle about 6 ft from his nose. Release him and he retrieves to me. After hunting our way back to the truck I decide to call it a day. His field obedience was spotty at best today. We could've ran one more spot just down the road, but I'll save it for Sunday.

[JJK]

Had my last doodle hunt for the year yesterday. My pup pointed 4, but I shot none. I think they were running, he would break and they would flush further away. After hunting the same small spots a few times the birds caught on to us. It was fun while it lasted.

Time to get ready for late season ruffs.

[tybo]

Hunted up by Remer/Hill City this past weekend. We moved around 10 woodcock between three of us. I bagged one and missed one. I was surprised, but pleased, to see as many as we did. The main objective was grouse but I love the doodles. I have a friend coming into town and will be taking him on his first grouse/wc hunt this week. Hope a few of the little guys are around for a while and we're lucky enouhg to find them.