First Woodcock Of The Season

[bell 3,503]

Unlucky Neil, just let the dog out tonight, came straight out of her kennel into a bramble patch not 20 foot away and out popped a Woodcock. Came past me that close I could have thrown my hat over it !

[neil cooney 10,415]

Bell, I would think I've seen more Woodcock so far this Winter than I seen for the whole of last year.

Still annoyed over that bird this morning though. I hate to see that.

Seen two this morning, my mate missed the other one.

[bell 3,503]

I'm away upto the west coast of Scotland first week in January chasing them.....always do well with a few snipe and teal chucked into the mix......sport of kings.

[neil cooney 10,415]

Wild game is indeed the sport of Kings, you can't beat it.

 

I just had a quick look over at Boards.ie on the shooting forum and there's a few lads on it saying there's a lack of Woodcock in their areas. A funny year for Woodcock.

[Born Hunter 17,629]

Our little shoot bagged the first woodcock of the season this weekend. Where we are it's very poor woodcock country, the most we've ever shot in a season is 3 I believe! LOL

 

Neil, I feel your pain regards lost woodcock. Last season I set out to shoot my first snipe, having never really bothered before and with seeing good numbers in the boggy rape fields it was the sort of challenge that keeps this sport fresh and exciting. I didn't think I'd need a dog so left my usual companion at home resting from the previous days beating. It was a beautiful sunny and cold winters day, within 100 yards of setting off the first snipe rose right to left at 30ish yards and it dropped to the first shot! I was so impressed with myself I decided to reload in case another should rise while on the way to collect my trophy....... FATAL MISTAKE, that momentary lapse in concentration on marking where that little bird dropped cost me! I spent probably three quarters of an hour looking for it to no avail. I was gutted and still haven't bagged my first. This season however, things are going to get serious.

[neil cooney 10,415]

Ouch, loosing anything is never nice but your first !

It's an achievement in it's self to drop a snipe and the eating is the icing on the cake, hope you get a few this Winter.

Then you'll be looking for your first left and right. Something I've never done.

Last year I dropped a snipe, swung on a second and missed. Then 5 minutes later missed one, swung on a second and dropped it.

I reckon a 50% strike rate on snipe is good going, LOL.

[pjmc 90]

What about the cooking of your woodcock lads what way do yous do them?

[bell 3,503]

Roasted on a piece of white bread, covered in streaky bacon, guts in for me.

[neil cooney 10,415]

I've been getting braver with pheasant lately (done one in cider last week, beautiful) so I might do something different with my next Woodcock (when I get one) but I usually keep it simple as I think they're beautiful and don't need messing with.

I cooked one and a snipe last year with the guts in, never again, the guts popped inside and tainted the meat. I also remove the head.

An old timer I know who's big into eating game said to me once that eating woodcock and snipe with the guts in is an old method that goes back to a time before there was such a thing as pollution and any pollution that these birds are ingesting is lying in the guts.

[Lab 10,979]

Last week walking the dogs is say I saw 2/3 every day I was out. All shoot able distances as the dogs were putting them up.

On sat I decided to take a wee daunder with the gun and of course I saw none.

Best way to see no woodcock is take the gun with you....??

A brace of pigeon had to do...??

[ollie391 74]

I literally just seal them in a pan, roast in the oven for about 15 minutes, leave to rest for a few minutes & it should be a nice blush pink. I eat them with some spuds & gravy. Don't forget the best bit...the legs!!!

[neil cooney 10,415]

I agree 100% about the legs.

[neil cooney 10,415]

I've just finished a Woodcock for my dinner that I shot Sunday morning. Delicious and it's great to do such a beautiful bird justice.

He came out of a tree about 20 feet above my head as I was standing waiting for my shooting partner to get through a ditch.

To be honest I thought it was a hawk at first and it was gone about 70 yards before I copped that it was a Woodcock and dropped it.

Has anyone ever seen a Woodcock in a tree before ?

[bell 3,503]

Little owl with a deformed beak for sure, never tried one myself.

[neil cooney 10,415]

Ha f***ing Ha Bell, but we don't have the Little Owl.

I thought someone would make a smart arsed remark and ask me what does Sparrowhawk taste like but I always know what I'm pointing my gun at, even though now and again (very rarely though) I have been known to miss, LOL.