PaulABF Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 (edited) After a quick mooch around a few permissions yesterday, myself and mosa decided to go out this morning to a field we'd noted was heaving with pigeons feeding on rape. Due to a considerable snowfall yeterday there were only a few green tips exposed so there were flocks of birds competing over small patches of ground. We set up the hide and decoys in a field adjacent to a sizeable flock (no permission on the busy field despite mosa knocking on farmer's door earlier "We've already got a regular man!") and waited. Sod's law soon kicked in along with an arctic wind, and all pigeons did one to another field a few hundred metres away. To keep the blood flow going I went for a walk along the hedgeline and startled a woodcock which burst from cover about 5m in front of me. I shot it and it dropped cleanly about 25m away. My shot sent a flock of pigeons over to my location and I managed to drop one from over 40m away. It's wings locked out and it spiralled to the ground with a soft 'thud' spraying blood splashes over the snow. Chuffed to bits! Returning to the hide we managed another fruitless half hour of non-activity until we snapped, literally with the cold, and packed up. Not the most productive day's decoying but enjoyable non the less and a first for me in the form of a woodcock who's currently naked and limbless in my oven awaiting a blast of heat. Gun I used was 12G Escort Semi-Auto with 32g N06 Clear Pigeon. Edited January 2, 2010 by PaulABF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smig4373 Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 Always a special moment when you bag your first of any species....Nice Shooting.Nice pic of the sun over snow too.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toombsy Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 Good for you mate. Tasty little meal you got there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groach1234 Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 I look forward to getting my first woodcock some time so well done to you then again....is it a snipe ahha George Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulABF Posted January 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 Pretty confident it's a woodcock although I'm not professing to be an expert on them. I've even googled it to make sure, although saying that on Google Images, they all look the same. I'm sure the experts on here will put me right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smig4373 Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 (edited) I look forward to getting my first woodcock some time so well done to you then again....is it a snipe ahha George Haha...Leave him alone... Yes paul...It's a Woodcock...Hope you've left the entrails in to eat on dry toast as a starter to your Bird....You gota do it right.... Edited January 2, 2010 by smig4373 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 Nice pheasant mate, enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulABF Posted January 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 Hope you've left the entrails in to eat on dry toast as a starter to your Bird....You gota do it right.... Sod that! I'm having it along with a sauce I made from the 2 swans and a barn owl I shot yesterday...................with a .177 spud gun.................from 200 yds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulABF Posted January 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 I've just cooked the woodcock. I covered it in butter, strip of bacon over the breasts and in a hot oven for 25 minutes. Let it rest for 15 minutes and tucked in. Absolutely rank. Gopping. Minging. Stinking. Need I go on? I'll stick to pigeon and rabbit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mosa Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 Sod that! I'm having it along with a sauce I made from the 2 swans and a barn owl I shot yesterday...................with a .177 spud gun.................from 200 yds. oooh now your in trouble!!!!!! ps i knew it was worth picking up that toy woodcock from the boot sale yesterday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulABF Posted January 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 i knew it was worth picking up that toy woodcock from the boot sale yesterday A cooked toy would have tasted better. I'm currently trying to rid myself of the taste by licking the dog's ring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 I have never shot one or eaten one but I am surprised that you didn't like it most folk who have shot them rave about them. Same as I say I cant comment as I have never had one. Good shooting anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maglad Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 well done as woodcock are not easy to shoot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulABF Posted January 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 well done as woodcock are not easy to shoot Believe me mate, they're easier to shoot than eat and this comes from a bloke who routinely went down on whores during my times in Belize. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groach1234 Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 Believe me mate, they're easier to shoot than eat and this comes from a bloke who routinely went down on whores during my times in Belize. This is something you openly admit to this George Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samyw Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 Always a special moment when you bag your first of any species....Nice Shooting.Nice pic of the sun over snow too.. totaly agree well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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