Here in North America we only have our woodcock in the eastern regions. I live in the far west, so I’ve never had the opportunity to hunt them. They are a popular bird in their range and are frequently written about in books and magazines.
Wanting to try woodcock shooting for myself, my wife and I in 1985 made a trip to New Brunswick, Canada, principally for woodcock. The experience couldn’t have turned out better.
Not only did we encounter very good numbers of woodcock – along with ruffed grouse as a bonus — our guide had a drop-dead beautiful Irish setter that was extremely good at finding the birds in heavy cover. But in most cases I found the shooting to be a little too easy.
This was because, by and large, when flushed North American woodcock tend to flutter up through the branches until they are above the treetops then level off in a forward flight. It’s sort of like a slow helicopter taking off.
Prior to that trip, my wife, son and I made our first visit to Scotland in 1983. We were there in August, shooting woodpigeon and had a day of walked-up grouse on the Cardney estate near Dunkeld. On that day I shot five black grouse and failed to appreciate just how lucky I was until later years. During the trip woodcock were mentioned several times and caught my attention.
Denne historien er fra January 06, 2021-utgaven av Shooting Times & Country.
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Denne historien er fra January 06, 2021-utgaven av Shooting Times & Country.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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United we stand
Following United Utilities' decision to end grouse shooting on its land, Lindsay Waddell asks what will happen if we ignore our vital moors
Serious matters
An old gamebook prompts a contemplation on punt-gunning
They're not always as easy as they seem
While coneys of the furry variety don't pose a problem for Blue Zulu, he's left frustrated once again by bolting bunnies of the clay sort
Debutant gundogs
There's lots to think about when it comes to making the decision about when to introduce your dog to shooting
When the going gets rough
Al Gabriel returns to the West London Shooting School to brush up on his rough shooting technique
The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition
In this excerpt from the 60th anniversary edition of the BDS's Field Guide To British Deer, Charles Smith-Jones considers the noise they make
A step too far?
Simon Garnham wonders whether a new dog, a new gun and two different fields in need of protection might have been asking too much for one afternoon's work
Two bucks before breakfast
A journey from old South London to rural Hertfordshire to stalk muntjac suggests that the two aren't as far detached as they might seem
Stalking Diary
Stalkers can be a sentimental bunch, and they often carry a huge attachment to their hill
Gamekeeper
Alan Edwards believes unique, private experiences can help keepers become more competent and passionate custodians of the countryside