woodcock1 Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 (edited) Headed out this morning late nursing a little sore head. Didnt take the landy, just set of walking from the house. Got to a small pond a couple of hundred meters from home and to my amazement flushed two woodcock from beneath a copper beech hedge and managed my first left and right of the season. Great start. Went on to rise another dozen or more including another pair, only one of which I got. Made it back to the house about 2.30, with a heavy bag of 8. My best day this season so far. and one short of my best ever day. Bottom pic includes Lass (left) who is now retired after a hard life of woodcocking and Molly the new star of my kennels. Edited December 26, 2011 by woodcock1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garygreengrass Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Well done, Nice shooting, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler12 Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Good shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby -doo Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 well done , good going! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard123 Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Well done Nice dogs to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kermitpwee Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Great shooting, what age is Lass now? Molly looks like she is mad for cover with her leg cut and all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon123 Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Well done :good: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eccles Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Nice one or should i say eight Well Done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan gun Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 fantastic never manadged to flush a woodcock before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Cracking bag fella. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P~MX Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 good shootin But wouldn't 4 woodcock have been enough ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyboots Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kermitpwee Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 good shootin But wouldn't 4 woodcock have been enough ? Why 4? There is 250,000 resident woodcock in the the British isles, with the migrants this will grow to 1 million. They are not as rare as people thought, new research has highlighted that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul6806 Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Impressive Sir. Have never seen a woodcock before, now I've seen 8 dead ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P~MX Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 well 2 0r 3 then ! isn't shooting 8 woodcock by one person in one outtin a bit of over kill ? well it is in my eyes, but everyone see's things differently, I've shot over 40 woodcock in one season in the 30 years I've been shootin and I've never shot more than six in one day and even then I was very young, I personally think 2/3 even 4 in one day is plenty for any man, there are many days when we get none or only one so for me 8 woodcock in one day is too many obviously others don't see it like me. It may be OK every so often but it's certainly not excusable in my eyes if these birds are being sold for profit ! I am NOT saying this is the case here with Woodcock1 but I do know of a squad of boys who hunt the winter months for woodcock for a livin gettin over £5 per bird, Again I'm NOT sayin this is the case here but when I hear of large numbers of woodcock being shoot that springs to mind,I also blame the game dealers for putting up the money for these Special birds,I hate to see advertisements for Woodcock shooting days, who's got the right to sell Woodcock shootin when these birds are totally wild,it's brilliant to see the numbers of Woodcock comin into the country growing but I still fear for these Special birds being shot in large numbers for any reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Good Shooting.Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 well 2 0r 3 then ! isn't shooting 8 woodcock by one person in one outtin a bit of over kill ? well it is in my eyes, but everyone see's things differently, I've shot over 40 woodcock in one season in the 30 years I've been shootin and I've never shot more than six in one day and even then I was very young, I personally think 2/3 even 4 in one day is plenty for any man, there are many days when we get none or only one so for me 8 woodcock in one day is too many obviously others don't see it like me. It may be OK every so often but it's certainly not excusable in my eyes if these birds are being sold for profit ! I am NOT saying this is the case here with Woodcock1 but I do know of a squad of boys who hunt the winter months for woodcock for a livin gettin over £5 per bird, Again I'm NOT sayin this is the case here but when I hear of large numbers of woodcock being shoot that springs to mind,I also blame the game dealers for putting up the money for these Special birds,I hate to see advertisements for Woodcock shooting days, who's got the right to sell Woodcock shootin when these birds are totally wild,it's brilliant to see the numbers of Woodcock comin into the country growing but I still fear for these Special birds being shot in large numbers for any reason. He shot 8,you shot 6 and that extra 2 means hes wrong?If you personally think 2/3 is plenty for one,why didnt you stick to it when you shot 6?Oh yes,you were young.Admit it,your really Bill Oddie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docholiday Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Excellent shooting, I see no problem with you shooting 8 in a day. If anybody is worried about these birds then they should stop shooting them themselves in my view Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodcock1 Posted December 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Hi all. Just back from a wonderful meal and a couple of drinks to celebrate a wonderful day in the field. Thanks for the comments. I've just had a look at my game book there and I've spent 17 days/part days this year in search of woodcock for a total of 30 birds. That averages less than two per day. Today was an exceptional day. Every now and again you get days like this and I welcome them. Make hay when the sun shines as they say. Although saying that I don't think I would have shot many more even if I could have. Ive always said I would like to reach the magic 10 in a day. Maybe I'm just being ridiculous? I work very hard on my own all the time to get the results I achieve at woodcock. I shoot a couple of pheasants each year, a good few duck and some pigeons in autumn, but other than that I wouldn't have much shooting at all. Woodcock are the mainstay of my winter hunting. I love it, maybe am obsessed with it and as long as I can get some and enjoy a pie,casserole or some other concoction I can invent in the kitchen I will continue my pursuit. Just a note on the sale of woodcock. I met my local game dealer in a shopping centre before Christmas who I do sell pigeons to. The subject of woodcock came up and he said if I had a surplus of birds which I couldn't or didn't want to eat he would pay me the grand sum of £1 each. I though that was a fair good price for them, although I value them more than that on my own plate. I couldn't even begin to imagine how someone could think of this as a way of making money. If I was to count what The 30 woodcock I've shot this cost me financially I think I would have to change sport. Easily hundreds of pounds on dog food, vets bills, cartridges, diesel, basc, clothing etc. Even at £10 a bird I'd still be down money. I think woodcock should be available to buy for the general public as they are wonderful to eat and I feel £1 is a good price for someone to pay the hunter for 1 but I know what i'll be doing with mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodcock1 Posted December 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Great shooting, what age is Lass now? Molly looks like she is mad for cover with her leg cut and all. I dont know her exact age as I was lied to when I bough her but I have her 8 years. Id guess 13? Molly does indeed work hard but unfortunately the mark on her leg is her own doing. The vet call's it 'lick granuloma'. Its where she constantly licks at her forelegs with boredom/stress or anxiety. I am at my wits end as to how to stop her doing it. Its easily healed up by wearing a victorian collar and applying fuciderm ointment. About two weeks and its all cleared up and the hair grows back but as soon as the collar comes off away she goes again, sometimes on the other leg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kermitpwee Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 I dont know her exact age as I was lied to when I bough her but I have her 8 years. Id guess 13? Molly does indeed work hard but unfortunately the mark on her leg is her own doing. The vet call's it 'lick granuloma'. Its where she constantly licks at her forelegs with boredom/stress or anxiety. I am at my wits end as to how to stop her doing it. Its easily healed up by wearing a victorian collar and applying fuciderm ointment. About two weeks and its all cleared up and the hair grows back but as soon as the collar comes off away she goes again, sometimes on the other leg. Thanks for getting back to me, just looked up that 'lick granuloma' and had never heard of it till now. Strange one alrite. Are you finding that the woodcock have moved to drier ground with all the rain? I am having a bumper year on woodock here in mayo, have put up 97 woodock this year between 2 dogs and I haven't been out in 2 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodcock1 Posted December 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Things havn't been so good round here with woodcock numbers this year. Compared to the last few years anyway. Ive been having trouble getting to grips with their location. Ive tried ground at all altitudes and different types of cover and up untill today without much success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishermanpaddy Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 If you can shoot 8 woodcock on a day like today then you deserve them sir. I flushed 2 today and coudnt hit them for the life of me, twas blowing an almighty gale. Nice to see you got a bit of sport Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taximan Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Congratulations on your woodcock, especially a right and left. This is IMHO the best treatment that a right and left woodcock can get. Keep the birds in good condition and then freeze them in readiness for the trip to the taxidermist. Make sure you get them cased, then you have the birds for life. Got to be worth it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taximan Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Or maybe something with a little snow ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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