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First woodcock


Iaindp
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Shot my first woodcock today.

 

I feathered it as it flew overhead and after another gun said that he'd seen it come down but then get back up again, I didn't think he'd make it into the bag. My 10 year old daughter picked it on a later drive.

 

Absolutely made up!

Edited by Iaindp
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I've eaten several woodcock cooked "guts and all" as the French do, and it really is quite good, although some really great Bordeaux never hurts. They respectfully pick the bird, leaving only the feathers on the head, then tuck the beak under the wing, truss it with a wrap of Bayonne ham and then roast. After the roasting, they open the skin below the breast, and remove everything, (not really very much in a woodcock as you know), then discard the heart and gizzard, and mash what's left with a fork, and flambee that with some Armagnac. That sauce gets spread on some toasts served alongside the bird.

 

It really is very good.

 

For those of you who like to cook, years ago, I tried to reproduce the meal in Babette's Feast. Anyone ever tried that? Just curious. Caille en sarcophage, (Quail in a coffin), and several other things.

 

Sorry for the food rant, but once I get started...

 

Pete

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SS has convinced me to give it a go so I'm just waiting for the recipe. What's the gizzard though?

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've eaten several woodcock cooked "guts and all" as the French do, and it really is quite good, although some really great Bordeaux never hurts. They respectfully pick the bird, leaving only the feathers on the head, then tuck the beak under the wing, truss it with a wrap of Bayonne ham and then roast. After the roasting, they open the skin below the breast, and remove everything, (not really very much in a woodcock as you know), then discard the heart and gizzard, and mash what's left with a fork, and flambee that with some Armagnac. That sauce gets spread on some toasts served alongside the bird.

 

It really is very good.

 

For those of you who like to cook, years ago, I tried to reproduce the meal in Babette's Feast. Anyone ever tried that? Just curious. Caille en sarcophage, (Quail in a coffin), and several other things.

 

Sorry for the food rant, but once I get started...

 

Pete

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About the Gin. Never heard of the Times Club. as I remember it you wrote to Booth's or somebody like that and say, 'I bagged two woodcock with a L and a R and these are the witnesses'. And they say, 'Jolly good show, have a bottle of gin on us" But I will look further into it.

 

Good shot, anyway.

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He wasn't the best shot but thanks anyway!

 

It came over me like a driven pheasant - none of that jinking business - I reckon he thought he'd be fairly safe coming over me and that there would be no need for it!

 

 

 

 

 

About the Gin. Never heard of the Times Club. as I remember it you wrote to Booth's or somebody like that and say, 'I bagged two woodcock with a L and a R and these are the witnesses'. And they say, 'Jolly good show, have a bottle of gin on us" But I will look further into it.

 

Good shot, anyway.

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Is that right that if you get, witnessed, two woodcock with a left and a right, there is a firm that will give you a bottle of gin? Heard about it somewhere

 

I think you used to get a bottle in the past but not anymore. 2 years ago I got my 2nd right and left at woodcock but the first 1 with witnesses and Shooting Times issue you with a certificate and make you part of the woodcock club. Its not as easy as it sounds to shoot a right and left at woodocok because very rarely will 2 be in the air at the same time never mind shooting them both. I have been lucky enough to have 2 right and lefts but I have also missed some chances at them. Well done.

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About the Gin. Never heard of the Times Club. as I remember it you wrote to Booth's or somebody like that and say, 'I bagged two woodcock with a L and a R and these are the witnesses'. And they say, 'Jolly good show, have a bottle of gin on us" But I will look further into it.

 

Good shot, anyway.

 

 

It was the Dutch liqueur maker Bols who used to offer a bottle of liqueur to a witnessed right and left at woodcock.

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I think you used to get a bottle in the past but not anymore. 2 years ago I got my 2nd right and left at woodcock but the first 1 with witnesses and Shooting Times issue you with a certificate and make you part of the woodcock club. Its not as easy as it sounds to shoot a right and left at woodocok because very rarely will 2 be in the air at the same time never mind shooting them both. I have been lucky enough to have 2 right and lefts but I have also missed some chances at them. Well done.

 

Ollie...Do you still get the invite to the posh dinner in London...I know you used to get an invite if you were in the club...I beleive there ARE 1410 members at present....

 

CLICKY

Edited by smig4373
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Ollie...Do you still get the invite to the posh dinner in London...I know you used to get an invite if you were in the club...I beleive there ARE 1410 members at present....

 

CLICKY

 

No the only invite I ever got was when I received my certificate. I didn't get one last year. The certificate takes pride of place in my room though.

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