View Full Version : Woodcock migration update!
uplandchessies
10-23-2002, 03:08 PM
As of today, the birds are still north of us -- with very few resident bird around. I guess the drought kept few birds from residing here. I have been to my best "coverts" and flushed no more than two birds. Opening day had us flushing more grouse than woodcock. I would say in the next week or so, they will be here. The snow up-north should help!
Birdman
10-25-2002, 12:53 PM
Boys does anyone know if woodcock season is open on Paintsville or Dewey WMA at this time?
Valley Station
10-25-2002, 01:45 PM
Woodcock opened state wide October 19. Hunting Guide says Paintsville and Dewey are open for Small game under state reg. , except, during Quota deer hunts. There's been quite a few movin' thru north central parts of state for the last week or so. Good luck.
gregcincy
10-29-2002, 08:42 PM
Hunted Clay WMA on Saturday with a friend of mine and his two Brittneys for grouse. Not only did we not see any grouse never flushed any wookcock either. Still alot of leaves on the trees. Sure will be nice when these woodcock show up down here. I have a bunch of 7 1/2 shot I need to get rid of. Also talked to a couple of other hunters their who had pointers with them, They never saw any birds either. Oh well maybe i'll have better luck this weekend down on Green River.
Greg
How does everyone's dogs do with woodcock? I've owned a lot of dogs and none of them never paid much attention to them. The would stop and kinda half a$$ point them. We never did shoot them when they flushed.
Birdman
10-30-2002, 06:46 AM
My old dog would point, and when you got close to the bird he would jump up and down. I've killed a few but he would not retrieve, at first he would pick them up then spit them out. After a couple of times he stopped picking them up and I stopped shooting. They must have a bad taste. Does anyone eat woodcock? I've tried a few, about as many as the old dog, with the same results.
thunderstorm
10-30-2002, 07:59 AM
I jumped a couple the other day going in deer hunting.
They do have a pretty strong smell(and taste). My labs always flushed and retreived them, but they will do anything I ask them to do.[:)]
They have a strong taste similar to duck or liver, but I enjoying eating anything I shoot or catch.
Birdman
10-30-2002, 09:12 AM
Thunder, are we going to get together this season?
thunderstorm
10-30-2002, 11:02 AM
We can try later in the year. I haven't been on either of the Mtn's
lately to know what is going on with the grouse. I'll try to find out.
mgrouse
10-30-2002, 04:30 PM
I thought it was just my dog, but he always seems confused when he's smelling woodcock and has only had good points on them a couple of times.
uplandchessies
10-31-2002, 01:16 PM
Woodcock taste just like dove -- there are just a little bigger. Wrap bacon around them and I guarantee you couldn't tell the difference!
My dogs have no problem with woodcock. I would have to say they are our favorite bird to hunt, although wild pheasant are a close second. My dogs semi-point (for a flusher) and retrieve every one. Also, they have about 50 shot over them a season. I don't know why more people don't hunt them. It's better than sitting home and it is excellant experience for the dogs.
grousegunner
11-01-2002, 07:09 AM
both of my dogs point em, just as they would a grouse or quail. hey GSP you gonna chase any bobwhites this weekend ?
I would love too. I don't have anything lined up yet. I'm going to go Tuesday. I'll probably end up on public land. I'm wanting to go grouse hunting, but I'm waiting on the leaves to fall.
How about you?
grousegunner
11-01-2002, 08:13 AM
I'm gonna try to find some somewhere. not really sure where yet myself. may be public land that I venture to as well.
Give me a call if you want some company
grousegunner
11-01-2002, 01:55 PM
Rick give me a call after 5:00 tonight @ 333-1122. it's just me & another buddy, if you want to go. we really havn't decided were yet & were open for suggestions.
uplandchessies
11-02-2002, 01:53 PM
The woodcock are now moving into the area. I have found birds in a few different locations -- ones that were devoid of them a couple days ago. However, everyone we have taken has been a big female -- not a good sign!
gregcincy
11-03-2002, 09:16 PM
Help me with this one Upland, why is this not a good sign that you are just finding big females? I'm very much a novice when it comes to woodcock.
Greg
uplandchessies
11-04-2002, 01:22 PM
Big females (mature adults) means it was a bad production year for broods. Also, the more females bagged -- the less there will be for the spring breeding season. Actually, you want to have a "higher bag" ratio on inmatures (male or female), which translates into a good hatch the previous spring.
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