Underdog Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 Woodcock, have they arrived yet? Love them and a try with the flintlock! U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 I saw one today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddaftspaniel Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 Seen a few round here in the last week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m greeny Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 A few here in cumbria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 there was a time you could set your clock by them...............they would start flying in over the norfolk coast on the first full moon in september................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 there was a time you could set your clock by them...............they would start flying in over the norfolk coast on the first full moon in september................ Cant say I have seen Woodcock that early , but that well might have been the case as each year they seem to get here later and later . We always said they came over the North sea on the November full moon . Also a lot of guns are less keen to shoot them nowadays , maybe its because if they are hanging up in the game larder they are counted in the days bag and charged the same price as the Partridges and Pheasants . or some of the older ones think they have shot enough and are happy just to see them flying about . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 There is a survey under way that has been going on for a few years ...and that is the RSPB or whatever have been measuring the lenght of the beaks of woodcock, and it appears they are getting shorter....they think this reflects the climate and thus the change in geography of the breeding areas in scandinavia ...as the areas are slowly drying out............ when the woocock get here i can assure you there is no shortage of them....i know and have been on shoots where they expect to get 20-30 brace......just a mile away on a shoot i was on 6 years ago with 2 friends and the rest of the guns...they witnessed me shoot 2 left and rights one after the other of woodcock...on a drive thro the carrs..(wetland)............and thats no big deal............it wasnt that long ago on an estate near Beccles...they "drive" woodcock...........yes you can drive woodcock !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 seen my first last week, almost stood on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeonslayer15 Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 I don't think I've seen one for the last 2 years on my perm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted November 8, 2014 Report Share Posted November 8, 2014 Usually see one a year at my place and I wouldn't raise a gun to one anyway, just my personal preference. Are you likely to hit one with a flintlock? I would think they were a bit too fast in flight. Besides the point but the Fieldfares have arrived. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browning123 Posted November 8, 2014 Report Share Posted November 8, 2014 We had two on our syndicate shoot two weeks ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG wales Posted November 9, 2014 Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 Shoot my 1st one of the season yesterday . Only the one i saw on a hour out after dinner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookie69 Posted November 9, 2014 Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 A mate of mine had his 1st one today He is a lucky so and so very large area to shoot I have a invite to go with him in a week or two. Can't wait Here is his 1st woodcock with his superb little cocker jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted November 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 Usually see one a year at my place and I wouldn't raise a gun to one anyway, just my personal preference. Are you likely to hit one with a flintlock? I would think they were a bit too fast in flight. Besides the point but the Fieldfares have arrived. Yes seen the field fares mate. Woodcock with flint! No problem lol. (Not easy) U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG wales Posted November 9, 2014 Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 Well done underdog when did you shoot that one . And have you shot many with a flintlock ? Atb neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted November 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 Well done underdog when did you shoot that one . And have you shot many with a flintlock ? Atb neil Last November I think and only one other, last January I think. U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG wales Posted November 9, 2014 Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 Last November I think and only one other, last January I think. U. i raise my hat to you sir Excellent shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted November 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 i raise my hat to you sir Excellent shooting Cheers but the praise must go to Tia, she tells me often that we are close to one so I can get ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangford wildfowler Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Friend of mine shot one at the weekend, and a member of a syndacate says they put 5 out of cover of the course of the day, there here anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted November 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Hope I see them this week then. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddaftspaniel Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Saw about a dozen on our shoot at the weekend..................................3 in the bag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 some people who see them but dont shoot them ....raise their hats to them as they fly through.......is that a "norfolk" thing or does it happen elsewhere ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted November 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 I was waiting for a fox one winter just above a shallow stream. I was watching numerous woodcock dibbing in it. One even flew out and landed by me to prean and it was making strange noises. A priceless moment. U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Some people claim to have seen Woodcock carrying there young on there backs , how true that is I don't know but if anyone could take a film of it I am sure a lot of country folk would love to see it. I have seen wounded Woodcock fanning there tail out to make themselves look bigger ( or that's why I think they do it ) We did get one with a ring on its leg two years ago , and when I got the information back it was rung the year before in Suffolk which was only 12 miles away from where it was shot , so I often wonder if they are like Swallows and come back to the same place each year. One thing for certain is we will never know everything about this fascinating bird , and I now only shoot one each season and I know one day that will be my last one . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted November 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Some people claim to have seen Woodcock carrying there young on there backs , how true that is I don't know but if anyone could take a film of it I am sure a lot of country folk would love to see it. I have seen wounded Woodcock fanning there tail out to make themselves look bigger ( or that's why I think they do it ) We did get one with a ring on its leg two years ago , and when I got the information back it was rung the year before in Suffolk which was only 12 miles away from where it was shot , so I often wonder if they are like Swallows and come back to the same place each year. One thing for certain is we will never know everything about this fascinating bird , and I now only shoot one each season and I know one day that will be my last one . Very modest sir :-). I understood they can carry their young but between their legs! My old keeper friend of mine has seen it, he is a honest gent and do not doubt him ever! U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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