woodcock1 Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 It has been a really fantastic season at the woodcock here in County Antrim, numbers have been very consistent throughout the season and never more so than the last couple of weeks. I havn't had much time with work commitments but I try and squeeze in at least once a week. My main hunting dog Molly has been a breath of fresh air. You could go all day without ever having to correct her. There hasn't been a single bird which wasn't retrieved by her. At the beginning of the season she hadn't much stamina and after a couple of hours in heavy cover she was ready for home. I changed her diet along with my other 2 springers (one retired and another 2 years old which has turned out to be no good) to a diet of raw minced chicken and high quality complete food. What a difference this has made. She will easily do 5 hours with very few moments of rest in between. The weather has been very mild and most days wet and as a result most of the birds are found on high ground and mountain areas. Last weekend in particular It was very noticeable. I hunted an area divided by a road across the middle of a mountain slope. I flushed 20 birds on the high side above the road. I stopped at the car for a cuppa and then hunted the low side where I flushed only 2 birds. The cover is similar but there would be 3-400 ft of a difference in altitude. Anyway I have 3 more days available to hunt before the seasons end. I however have a personal bag limit, not per day but for the season and I suspect I will only require one half day to finish my shooting for the season. I try and remember to take a photo or two everyday I am out but often forget, however he is a few from the last couple of weeks. A couple again are stills for a gopro head camera. My son loves to get involved but is just a little too young for the actual hunt. My hunting star Molly, loves to pose. Poor pigeon happened along at the wrong time. Woodcock and pigeon pie went well though My "benelli woodcock". I have started to use this gun more often than my side by side. It is so pointable and rarely misses. A long range retrieve. Bird was shot flying downwind at a great rate and carried by a gale force wind some 100m before crashing into the heather. It was a truly great retrieve. This is what I shot of the 20 birds I flushed on the high side of the road last weekend. It is only a few minutes walk down to the cover in the valley 400ft below but there was only 2 birds on the low ground. Last friday evening, shot in about 2 hours after work. A still from the headcam. "Bird Up" And another. This bird was actually missed with a single barrel. It burst from the whin bushes with great vigour and just done a back flip and over the other side. I just had a split second chance but didn't connect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootgun Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Some fine shooting there mate and brilliant pictures. Well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Excellent picture sir. The country looks stunning to me. Molly looks fantastic, you can't beat a good dog for satisfaction value. Check my little story on here of my woodcock if you get chance, that was a good retrieve by both of us together etc.....any way U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodcock1 Posted January 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 (edited) Underdog, It was your story that prompted me to add my own! I suppose I should put a photo of myself in thee too so you know who you are talking to! Myself hunting with a friend just before Christmas. Edited January 21, 2014 by woodcock1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Great pictures lad. You're certainly having a better season than me.i have had my worst season in years,but like you said, the mild weather has them on the high ground.im off 5 days next week before the season ends,so hopefully get some birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Underdog, It was your story that prompted me to add my own! I suppose I should put a photo of myself in thee too so you know who you are talking to! Myself hunting with a friend just before Christmas. Brilliant...lol I had you down as an ole' **** Yer another whipersnapper on here But you got no gut All the best to you n' yours sir U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Brilliant...lol I had you down as an ole' **** Yer another whipersnapper on here But you got no gut All the best to you n' yours sir U. Just WHAT do you mean by that statement Mr U? :lol: As for the OP, very nice shooting! Had a woodcock flew right over my head on Saturday but I wasn't set up at my peg. Still, that means it's still there for this coming Saturday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Just WHAT do you mean by that statement Mr U? :lol: As for the OP, very nice shooting! Had a woodcock flew right over my head on Saturday but I wasn't set up at my peg. Still, that means it's still there for this coming Saturday sorry...I mean I am getting an old **** and also aquiring a gut! It's funny how I form an assumption on how someone looks by how they write and is always wrong! Sorry if I offended...I certainly did not wish that. U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camokid Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 wow that's some bag excellent shooting ...iv yet to eat one or shoot one.. i don't think Coventry is a suitable environment for them lol ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 sorry...I mean I am getting an old **** and also aquiring a gut! It's funny how I form an assumption on how someone looks by how they write and is always wrong! Sorry if I offended...I certainly did not wish that. U. Of course you didn't offend! That's why I was laughing! Oh and BTW, your intuition is not flawed! I am amassing a bit of a gut But it's MINE and all paid for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Well done.Some excellent pics there too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimfireboy Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 Cracking stuff, well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highbird70 Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 OMG...just realized, that I might become or already have, been placed in the Category of the OLD PFharts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarsdad Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 OMG...just realized, that I might become or already have, been placed in the Category of the OLD PFharts Already there mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarsdad Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 (edited) wow that's some bag excellent shooting ...iv yet to eat one or shoot one.. i don't think Coventry is a suitable environment for them lol .....Plenty around our way Andy - I see at least 4 or 5 every time I am beating. I had a perfect chance of my very first one on our beaters day on Saturday down in the Cotswolds - saw a few but no safe shots on them, this one sailed gracefully nice and high over my head as a waking gun and in my excitement I missed it with both barrels! Lol! As I was fumbling to reload another call of "woodcock" and another followed almost the same route over my open and empty gun haha! Edited January 27, 2014 by oscarsdad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rimotu66 Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 You Sir are spoilt, that looks like some cracking countryside you shoot over, to say I am jealous would be a massive understatement Great shooting by the way, it will not be long before your lads at your side with his own gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camokid Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 Plenty around our way Andy - I see at least 4 or 5 every time I am beating. I had a perfect chance of my very first one on our beaters day on Saturday down in the Cotswolds - saw a few but no safe shots on them, this one sailed gracefully nice and high over my head as a waking gun and in my excitement I missed it with both barrels! Lol! As I was fumbling to reload another call of "woodcock" and another followed almost the same route over my open and empty gun haha! unlucky lol i have seen a few but im a such a bad shot that i don't think il ever hit one .. i hear there very good eating.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.