nod all season, definitely when the foliage
is still thick. I have had good success with Brittanies and English
setters. No doubt, the other pointing breeds also have their
advocates.
So, you have access to a good dog. Now, he/she must be equipped
with either a beeper or bell. I use a bell because it is less
hardware to go haywire and for the dog to carry. Except for personal
preference however, a beeper is probably best. It beeps when
the dog stops whereas a bell stops when the dog does. Almost
invariably the dog will be pointing in the thick cover woodcock
prefer. The dog is easier to locate with the sounding beeper
than the silent bell. Dogs that are very staunch on point, waiting
patiently until you show up are fine with a bell. A beeper would
be better for an impatient dog. In my experience, neither impacts
upon the woodcock's decision when to flush.
It is important for dogs to hold their points, especially during
the early season. Most hunters will not shoot at a bird that
flushes wild or one the dog bumps prematurely. The object is
to get a reasonable shot and the dog must learn that the boss
wants to be right there when the woodcock flushes. Your self-discipline
will help the dog learn. If you are the owner's companion, you
should develop an understanding about this before the hunt begins.
Speaking of companions, I often hunt alone yet much prefer a
companion or two. Companions more than double your chances of
scoring on almost every flush. They can maneuver into position
while I move in for the flush. Many times the hunter making the
flush is buried in the cover with no chance to shoot and it is
not unusual for my companions to get more chances to score than
I do. Of course, a well-disciplined dog will allow any hunter
to move in for the flush so you can take turns. |
During the early season you are dealing with local birds.
Woodcock dearly love some of the nastiest cover imaginable, yet
they still like edges the same as most wildlife. You simply can't
hunt some of the covers that might be available when the leaves
fall, but can -still do right well by working the edges of such
cover. Even the densest areas have small openings here and there.
Knowing the territory is essential. By moving from one small
opening to another, you may surprise yourself at the number of
opportunities you get. Many hunters do not even try some of my
early season hot spots because, from the road, they look like
jungles out there.
One doesn't have to be nuts to hunt
woodcock that way, but it helps
Gus hadn't gone more than 50 yards and was
on point again. This woodcock went twittering up through some
black cherry trees and I smashed the trigger at just the right
time. Wow. I was two for two on opening day.
We started back toward the vehicle because two companions were
to meet us there in one half hour. The bell stopped again. I
found Gus solid as a rock in a fairly open spot overgrown with
ferns. The woodcock scooted out low and zig-zagging barely over
the ferns. I have no idea how I hit it.
Three for three on opening day. Barely one hour of hunting. The
foliage and mosquitoes didn't seem nearly so bad as I showed
my three woodcock to my buddies when they arrived. Fortunately,
this hunt took place before the limit was reduced from 5 to three
birds, so I could con
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tinue to carry my gun. It really didn't
matter, and I am not going to tell you how I did the rest of
the day. Of course, my companions made me walk in to make the
flushes. They did pretty good.
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